AH Performance?

[DesertSprite]

Aloha,

Okay, sorry for the downpour of stupid questions, but I'm kinda new to these cars.

Here's my generic question. What kind of performance can you get out of Austin-Healeys? Is there a large aftermarket for engine modifications?

I suppose I should say that I have an interest in the Bugeye & Square Sprites, and also in the 3000 BJ8 cars. I know, big disparity in performance and pricing.

For perspective, I recently sold my 1967 VW Beetle with a modified 2110cc engine equipped with 48 IDA Webers. It put out a reliable 160hp in that little car. Of course, it scared the sin out of me and it handled horribly.

Can I hope to come near this with an Austin-Healey? Would I want to have this amount of power in an AH?

Mahalo again...I apologize for the newbie questions...

 

[Dave Russell]

Joel,

The six cylinder Healeys can be 'built" to any power level that you want, depending upon how much you want to spend. 200 hp is not unheard of & 160 is fairly easy. Since they only weigh around 2200 to 2300 this gives a good power to weight ratio.

They handle great with more hp. Many people have transplanted V8's & V6's into them. Not even in the same handling class as the beetle.
D

 

[w. scott brunkhurst]

Denis Welch in England can provide you with upgrades for Big Healeys. I'm sure that 200hp is not out of the question. My 3000 was stock at 132hp, but came from the competition works with a rated 144hp, although I'm sure it is higher. That was realized by porting and polishing and a 3/4 race cam. It's just a matter of money.

SB

 

[DesertSprite]

Aloha,

Thanks for the replies.

So what about the little Sprites? I figured the Big Healeys could hit the 200HP mark quite easily.

 

[aeronca65t]

Joel:

The best stock Austin-powered Spridgets (Sprite/Midget) came with a 1275.....durable and capable of 120 HP (for about $4000 worth of work/parts).

The 1500 Midget (using the Spitfire engine) can probably make a bit more power (maybe 135), but is less durable (this is what I'm using in my trials car)....for about the same money. I doubt my 1500 is pushing more than 90, because it's basically a mild street engine.

My Spridget weights 1650 but older cars can go down under 1500 lbs. Power to weight can be pretty good...around 12 lbs. to 1 HP with a light car and strong engine, but more like 19 to 1 with a more sedate engine like mine. A big Healey with a stong engine can go around 16 to 1 with a decent engine (or obviously more, as Scott says, if you've got the $$$$).

A popular Spridget in the UK is the "K-Midget". These little rockets can do better than 10 lbs. to 1 HP with a good 1.8 Rover "K" engine.

Here's a page with these:

https://www.mgcars.org.uk/midgetspriteclub/sprite/sprite_K_series.htm

I've seen some with large American engines too.....but this spoils them in my view.

 

[DesertSprite]

Aloha again,

Aeronca - 120hp doesn't seem to bad in a car that is about 1650lbs. I did a bit of searching on 3000 parts at Denis Welch's website...wow. We're talking Porsche prices (bear with me, aircooled German cars are what I know). I like the Sprite prices. $4000 for a bullet-proof engine is more of what I'm used to with the VW scene.

Hmmm...so, how would you describe your ride in your Sprite? Neck-snapping? Surprising? Comparable with any modern compact cars' performance?

Mahalo again everyone.

 

[aeronca65t]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Joel Simmons:
Aloha again,

Aeronca - 120hp doesn't seem to bad in a car that is about 1650lbs. I did a bit of searching on 3000 parts at Denis Welch's website...wow. We're talking Porsche prices (bear with me, aircooled German cars are what I know). I like the Sprite prices. $4000 for a bullet-proof engine is more of what I'm used to with the VW scene.

Hmmm...so, how would you describe your ride in your Sprite? Neck-snapping? Surprising? Comparable with any modern compact cars' performance?

Mahalo again everyone.<hr></blockquote>


__________________________________________

I raced a Formula Vee a long time ago....I remember that VW parts seemed almost *free* compared to the price of many high-end cars. Expect Brit car parts to be a bit more pricey and more difficult to source. Still, if you hunt, you can find good deals.

In the case of the 1275 Sprite, many of the Mini Cooper "S" performance parts will fit (except, of course, the tranverse crank). Here's a bored 1380 Cooper engine with 113 HP for $4400 from "Minimania" (complete and ready to drop in). I'm sure these guys would build a Sprite 1275/1380 for the same money.

https://www.minimania.com/web/Item/1380%5FPOWERUNIT/InvDetail.cfm

If you did your own rebuild (on a decent, used 1275) you could beat this price by quite a bit.

Keep in mind that even a stock 948 Bugeye, with less than 50 HP, *feels* fast.....you really don't need a killer engine to have fun in these cars. But forget about racing 16 valve V-Tech Hondas with an 8 valve pushrod engine. Some of these import "tuner" cars can push 250 HP (or more).....you'll catch 'em at the first corner, though.

How does my car ride? Rough! My car has tube shocks all around (a conversion from lever shocks)....but even with the old shocks, it was no Cadillac....goes with the territory.

Make sure you fit in these cars.....I'm 6' and it's a squeeze.....but it's worth it, in my view.

 

[DesertSprite]

Aloha Aeronca,

VW parts aren't that cheap anymore. At least quality parts. That's part of the reason I'm getting out of that scene. Sick of shabby quality parts from suppliers who think its still 1970 and refuse to put some $$ and R&D into their products. If you want things to last and work correctly, it seems you'll be paying a similar price to the Mini engine link you posted.

Anyway...so you can catch the newer imports in the turns, eh? I'm not too worried about stoplight racing, but I'd like to be able to surprise 'em.

I don't mind rough rides either. I'm used to VW torsion bar suspensions that ride like cement blocks when you lower them and add gas shocks.

I'm 6' on the dot as well. 200lbs. Do the Sprites have a bit of adjustment for seating? Hold onto your keyboard, but I've never actually sat in a Sprite...or any AH for that matter. A friend of mine in high school had a '76 MGB which I rode around in quite a bit, and I also went for a ride in a MG Midget once. I liked those cars. Nice and cozy.

BTW - Is Aeronca your name? Unique if it is.

 

[59BT7]

The Midget is demensionally the same as a Sprite...basically a Sprite with wire wheels and a chrome strip...that is why the call the Spridgets. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif MGB is larger.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
Cheers,
Dave

 

[JamesWilson]

[ QUOTE ]
What kind of performance can you get out of Austin-Healeys? Is there a large aftermarket for engine modifications?

....a reliable 160hp in that little car. Of course, it scared the sin out of me and it handled horribly.<p>Can I hope to come near this with an Austin-Healey? Would I want to have this amount of power in an AH?<p>Mahalo again...

[/ QUOTE ]

The late model BJ8s delivered 150 HP quite easily. I understand that full-race modified engines can deliver around 225.

Common upgrades include going to triple carbs, a hotter cam- the stock BJ8 one is 252 degrees and is often used to upgarde the earlier engines. Cams with timings up to 320 degree are available, though 300 seems the maximum (see Chris Dimmock's website) streetable and ~280 might be more liveable yet.

Chris Dimmock's Healey pages

Mine is still a basket case, but I've driven a triple SU'ed, Aluminium headed, Toyota-transmissioned car with what is believed to be a ~275 cam and it was very nice indeed. The owner reckoned it put out around 180 HP, though he'd never had it tested. FWIW, I'm looking to do something similar myself except for the transmission swap.

A good place to see what's available is Denis Welch's site:

Denis Welch site

Its a good place to visit too and speak with them about what you plan, if you ever just happen to be in the neighborhood....