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Differential and rear suspension

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GregW said:
I wouldn't be surprised if there is a stock tube in the right size, 4"x3" I believe. Here is a diagram of what I'd probably do. I would also go with a little thicker wall, probably 14 ga.
Click to expand...

A few local sheet metal/ welding shops are going to help me out with some custom frame sections. My local supplier did not have 3x4x14GA tubing. I started plasma cutting out the bad sections and will post some photos when I have enough progress.

Does anyone have a good photo of the rear left outrigger and spring bracket? It would help to see what this is supposed to look like.
 
GregW said:
That's not fair man. <span style="font-weight: bold">I</span> didn't get any phone call. :cryin:
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You should call him for a discussion. He started his company about the same time a POR15, and has been awarded military contracts for his products. He's a small shop and has great prices, so I'm glad we could support him. With the snow in CA, he called to let me know that he won't be able to ship for a few more days. Awesome customer service!
 
neilert said:
Does anyone have a good photo of the rear left outrigger and spring bracket? It would help to see what this is supposed to look like.
Click to expand...
I'll get a shot if I go to work on my car tomorrow. Nothing on my computer here is really helpful. Someone else may have a photo though.
 
neilert said:
GregW said:
I wouldn't be surprised if there is a stock tube in the right size, 4"x3" I believe. Here is a diagram of what I'd probably do. I would also go with a little thicker wall, probably 14 ga.
Click to expand...

A few local sheet metal/ welding shops are going to help me out with some custom frame sections. My local supplier did not have 3x4x14GA tubing. I started plasma cutting out the bad sections and will post some photos when I have enough progress.

Does anyone have a good photo of the rear left outrigger and spring bracket? It would help to see what this is supposed to look like.
Click to expand...
Seems that when I worked at Austin-Healey West (San Francisco, circa 1978) we used to get off the shelf tubing for making splices in the frame. There were at least two (2) BJ8s that were reconstructed using "half" the chassis from a donor car; one (1) with heavy front end damage, and another with a severely truncated rear end.

See if this helps, in your quest for pictures...

This is a stock 10/6 2-seater outrigger that was modified <span style="font-style: italic">similar</span> to the BJ8 style, for exhaust pipe clearance.

exh_004.jpg
 
Here's the left rear outrigger of my BJ8. Those messy welds are not welds, but a bit overzealous paint shop application of seam sealer. Note the extra gusset.
 

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only joking, looks better than my BJ8's pan!
 
healeynut said:
only joking, looks better than my BJ8's pan!
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I don't think I've ever seen a Healey pan that wasn't dented (keep in mind that I once worked at a place called Austin-Healey West, and have rebuilt probably 30 Healey 6-cylinders engines and done oil changes on countless others).

Mine was actually one of the better ones, but the paint job (or lack of) doesn't reflect that.
 
While the finned aluminum pans look cool, I'd think the steel pans survive better. They'll dent instead of cracking.
 
GregW said:
While the finned aluminum pans look cool, I'd think the steel pans survive better. They'll dent instead of cracking.
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Yes, anyone running an aluminum oil pan would be wise to fit a steel (or heavy aluminum)plate under the chassis rails to protect it (the additional chassis stiffening wouldn't hurt either).
 
Neilert, Sorry but I have tried about a zillion times to get a pic of my left rear outrigger on here but just can't get it.
went to file manager, browsed thru my pics, down sized my pic to under 150kb, got it to load and then hit "done adding files" and it is no where to be found.
If anyone can give me any suggestions, I'll try again.
 
Hi Dave,
I usually size my photos 8.5" wide @ 72 DPI, then compress them. That makes them 614 pixels wide. If you want to email me the picture, I can post it for you.
 
GregW said:
Here are Vette's two outrigger photos. Dave, I took the liberty of cropping them, I hope you don't mind.
Click to expand...
I like the one on the top better...

... interesting to note the reinforcement inside the old one; wonder if the new ones have that?
 
thanks Greg.
 
Randy Forbes said:
... interesting to note the reinforcement inside the old one; wonder if the new ones have that?
Click to expand...
I thought that was interesting too. I don't recall them when I ditched my originals. The new ones (from Moss) did not have that.
 
Thank you Vette and GregW for the photos- they are a lot of help because I have nothing correct on my car to work from. I'm still plasma cutting and removing lines/wiring from the chassis for cutting access.
 
outrigger005.jpg


My original outrigger has a 2 bent metal plates welded in directly behind the spring bracket. You can also see the internal bracing as a dashed line of the frame plan drawing.
 
neilert said:
...

My original outrigger has a 2 bent metal plates welded in directly behind the spring bracket. You can also see the internal bracing as a dashed line of the frame plan drawing.
Click to expand...
Interesting! I wonder how may Healeys are driving around without those? I'll have to look to see where I got mine. I don't think I have those plates either.
 
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