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Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
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Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
another odd question
- Thread starter joeq
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Wow, this is a "strange" request.
Oddly enough there is a possibility of converting to an auto transmission. Several other cars used the BMC C series engine & some had the Borg Warner type 35 three speed auto transmission. A transmission from an Austin A99 or A110 would likely adapt as would one from the Wolsley 6/90 & 6/110. These models are still around in Canada & Europe but few in the USA. Also a few of the the Triumph Stags used this transmission but I doubt if it would adapt as easily as the Austin or Wolsley unit. Someone more knowledgeable than I will have to advise of the details. I doubt if many have put an auto behind the standard Healey engine, but you never know.
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Here is a partial quote from another web site regarding the BW Type 35 auto.
"On all Mark II Super Minxes a new Borg Warner type 35 automatic replaced the Smith’s Easidrive of the Mark I. A little history of the Borg Warner type 35 transmission is in order here. Borg Warner was a major supplier of gears and manual transmissions to the American automobile companies. However, their biggest customers were the “independents”- Studebaker and American Motors; GM, Ford and Chrysler generally used their own transmissions. In the early 1950’s Studebaker approached Borg Warner and asked them to develop an automatic transmission that was more efficient then the units available from the “big three”. The reason for this was that Studebaker’s strongest selling point was good fuel economy, and this was achieved by using small engines- a 169 cubic inch six producing 85 horsepower. This engine did not have any power to spare for a transmission. American Motors Rambler engine was only slightly larger and also produced only 85 horsepower. Both Chevy and Ford’s smallest engines developed well over 100 horsepower (Ford’s six reached 145 horsepower by 1957). Borg Warner developed the Type 35 (the three indicates 3 speed-there was a later Type 45 transmission that had 4 speeds) for Studebaker and American motors."
All of the auto conversions that I have seen in the USA were behind a V8 engine transplant.
D
Oddly enough there is a possibility of converting to an auto transmission. Several other cars used the BMC C series engine & some had the Borg Warner type 35 three speed auto transmission. A transmission from an Austin A99 or A110 would likely adapt as would one from the Wolsley 6/90 & 6/110. These models are still around in Canada & Europe but few in the USA. Also a few of the the Triumph Stags used this transmission but I doubt if it would adapt as easily as the Austin or Wolsley unit. Someone more knowledgeable than I will have to advise of the details. I doubt if many have put an auto behind the standard Healey engine, but you never know.
--------------------------------
Here is a partial quote from another web site regarding the BW Type 35 auto.
"On all Mark II Super Minxes a new Borg Warner type 35 automatic replaced the Smith’s Easidrive of the Mark I. A little history of the Borg Warner type 35 transmission is in order here. Borg Warner was a major supplier of gears and manual transmissions to the American automobile companies. However, their biggest customers were the “independents”- Studebaker and American Motors; GM, Ford and Chrysler generally used their own transmissions. In the early 1950’s Studebaker approached Borg Warner and asked them to develop an automatic transmission that was more efficient then the units available from the “big three”. The reason for this was that Studebaker’s strongest selling point was good fuel economy, and this was achieved by using small engines- a 169 cubic inch six producing 85 horsepower. This engine did not have any power to spare for a transmission. American Motors Rambler engine was only slightly larger and also produced only 85 horsepower. Both Chevy and Ford’s smallest engines developed well over 100 horsepower (Ford’s six reached 145 horsepower by 1957). Borg Warner developed the Type 35 (the three indicates 3 speed-there was a later Type 45 transmission that had 4 speeds) for Studebaker and American motors."
All of the auto conversions that I have seen in the USA were behind a V8 engine transplant.
D
aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
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Welcome Joe.
I see this question asked more often on Miata.net. If you need an automatic trans in the your dream car, I'd say "Go for it!"
As Dave says, the Borg type 35 looks like it could be fitted to the big Healey engines. The MGC (which used a 6 cylinder related to the AH big six) was available with the Borg 35 auto trans (in fact, you might want to consider looking for an MGC automatic instead of a big Healey).The other obvious choice is a total engine swap: I saw an amazingly nice big AH with a Buick V6 and auto trans (but I've also seen swaps that were hack jobs).
One choice that purists may object to are AH replicas with an auto trans...some of them seem pretty good to me. Here's some:
https://www.checkeffect.net/personal/sebringMx.html
https://www.hmcsportscars.com/
I see this question asked more often on Miata.net. If you need an automatic trans in the your dream car, I'd say "Go for it!"
As Dave says, the Borg type 35 looks like it could be fitted to the big Healey engines. The MGC (which used a 6 cylinder related to the AH big six) was available with the Borg 35 auto trans (in fact, you might want to consider looking for an MGC automatic instead of a big Healey).The other obvious choice is a total engine swap: I saw an amazingly nice big AH with a Buick V6 and auto trans (but I've also seen swaps that were hack jobs).
One choice that purists may object to are AH replicas with an auto trans...some of them seem pretty good to me. Here's some:
https://www.checkeffect.net/personal/sebringMx.html
https://www.hmcsportscars.com/
thanks – heard about the mgc but really got my heart set on a big healey.
engine swaps was going to be my next question. clearly it would be a lot easier if i found one for sale rather than having to go through the trial and error of having it done my self... besides from the usual sources (ebaymotors, hemmings, etc.) any ideas where i might look?
engine swaps was going to be my next question. clearly it would be a lot easier if i found one for sale rather than having to go through the trial and error of having it done my self... besides from the usual sources (ebaymotors, hemmings, etc.) any ideas where i might look?
Johnny
Darth Vader
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by joeq:
thanks – heard about the mgc but really got my heart set on a big healey.
engine swaps was going to be my next question. clearly it would be a lot easier if i found one for sale rather than having to go through the trial and error of having it done my self... besides from the usual sources (ebaymotors, hemmings, etc.) any ideas where i might look?<hr></blockquote>
There is a fellow in the North Texas chapter of the Austin Healey Club of America that swapped a Datsun 240Z, I think, which is an inline six comparable to the Healey six, that had an automatic in it. Might be a good ideal for you to join one of the AH clubs and start receiving there magazines, both offer many cars for sale in various stages of competion.
thanks – heard about the mgc but really got my heart set on a big healey.
engine swaps was going to be my next question. clearly it would be a lot easier if i found one for sale rather than having to go through the trial and error of having it done my self... besides from the usual sources (ebaymotors, hemmings, etc.) any ideas where i might look?<hr></blockquote>
There is a fellow in the North Texas chapter of the Austin Healey Club of America that swapped a Datsun 240Z, I think, which is an inline six comparable to the Healey six, that had an automatic in it. Might be a good ideal for you to join one of the AH clubs and start receiving there magazines, both offer many cars for sale in various stages of competion.
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Joe,
This would be a good source of information on the modified Healeys. They are, lovingly or maybe not so lovingly, called "Nasty Boys". All kinds of information & some cars listed for sale. I had one once but settled for stock in the end.
https://www.ntahc.org/modifiedhealeys/
Here is a cute one with auto transmission;
https://www.ntahc.org/modifiedhealeys/Photos/118Stoddard/118Stoddard.htm
D
[ 05-05-2004: Message edited by: Dave Russell ]</p>
This would be a good source of information on the modified Healeys. They are, lovingly or maybe not so lovingly, called "Nasty Boys". All kinds of information & some cars listed for sale. I had one once but settled for stock in the end.
https://www.ntahc.org/modifiedhealeys/
Here is a cute one with auto transmission;
https://www.ntahc.org/modifiedhealeys/Photos/118Stoddard/118Stoddard.htm
D
[ 05-05-2004: Message edited by: Dave Russell ]</p>
Cottontop
Jedi Warrior
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joeq
I am the web master for both the North Texas AHC and the Modified Austin Healey Registry (I do NOT call us "Nasty Boys")
I have a 302 Ford V8 and a 4 speed Auto-OD in mine. You can view my car at www.ntahc.org/modifiedhealeys (Car # 1) and if you want to take this discussion off line I may be able to get you some information about an Auto-Trans in a Healey.
The car with the Datsun engine is # 49. The engine is actually a 260-Z inline 6 with a 5-speed.
My Email address is at the bottom of the web site home page.
Tim
I am the web master for both the North Texas AHC and the Modified Austin Healey Registry (I do NOT call us "Nasty Boys")
I have a 302 Ford V8 and a 4 speed Auto-OD in mine. You can view my car at www.ntahc.org/modifiedhealeys (Car # 1) and if you want to take this discussion off line I may be able to get you some information about an Auto-Trans in a Healey.
The car with the Datsun engine is # 49. The engine is actually a 260-Z inline 6 with a 5-speed.
My Email address is at the bottom of the web site home page.
Tim
Hangtown Healey
Jedi Hopeful
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The block currently in my BJ8 had a Ford cast iron automatic from the early 60's attatched to it. The engine also came had a modified pedal box with no clutch pedal. So it has been done before. That automatic was extrememly hard to lift into the dumpster in 1984.
One of our club members, Brian McCullough, does V6 conversions on MGB's.....he's done quite a number of them.
He might be willing and able to do one on a Big Healey......
Check out his website at: https://www.drive.to/bmc.com
He might be willing and able to do one on a Big Healey......
Check out his website at: https://www.drive.to/bmc.com