How hard do you drive your 100?

[cj706643]

Put this up on AH Exp. but apparently they don't drive their cars...
This has to do with another post I just put up about broken cranks, thinking the underlying issue might be me...
With the 4.375" stroke the 100 motor is obviously asking for problems if revved too high, but it has managed to set endurance records with (I presume) balanced factory cranks and they're still being raced today.

I drive mine a lot gentler than I used to after the second rebuild, but I love to take it on road trips and I'll run it all day at 80mph (3400 rpm indicated), occasional stretches maybe at 90 but not much anymore. I don't often get passed even in modern traffic. Don't know if I've ever quite hit 100 'cause it caterwauls so loud and gains speed so slowly after 98 that I just can't keep my foot in it.

Those of you who drive your 100's, how long a road trip will you take in it, how often, and what speed (and rpm) are you comfortable driving for long periods? Better yet, what modifications have you done to improve touring reliability? I'm figuring on 3.5 diff. gears next, what else?

Just out of curiosity, has anyone broken a crank in normal highway driving? Two cranks?

Now that I'm starting my third rebuild I may listen to some of your advice...

Thanks,

Craig J.

 

[pan]

In Australia we need to undertake very long drives to attend our National Rallies. This last April I drove from Ipswich in South-east Queensland to Victor Harbor which is about 60 miles south of Adelaide in South Australia. We have speed restrictions of 62mph on most roads with the occasional sections of 68 (100kph/110kph). Our highways are not up to American standards, at least away from our state capital cities. In 2015 we went to Lorne on Victoria's Great Ocean Road. Both trip were completed without incident, although I have had my share of those!
I have a 3.6:1 axle ratio in my BN1. We usually travel with the top up as this gives a little more room in the cockpit.
Happy travels,
Alwyn

 

[glemon]

When I had my 100 a few years back I didn't beat it like a teenager, but I didnt baby it either. Drove it up to Elkhart Lake a couple times (1200 mile round trip) with overdrive didn't worry about the revs, even at interstate speeds (70-80 mph depending on traffic and conditions). Also autocrossed it a couple times a year. Nothing in the drivetrain ever broke from about ten years of such treatment.

 

[abarth69]

Let me post this for my wife. Not a member

6 years ago I purchased a very nice early BN1 built in Oct 1953 # 503 that as soon as I got home my better half took the keys and claimed it to be her car.

We live inToronto Ontario Canada over the last six years my wife has driven this car to the following places from home besides local stuff.

Quebec
New Brunswick
Prince Edward Island
Gettysburg PA
Cincinnati Ohio

She drives on the freeways above the speed limit and has learned to push it off the road when it dies.

The other week we went to Sault Ste Marie and she let me drive her baby there and back.


Drive it and enjoy it

Cheers

Mark

 

[Healey 100]

We drive our BN1 on long trips often, but we do not push it. I usually cruise at 65 or 70 in OD. The brakes are far too inadequate for very spirited driving and this car is 60 plus years old. We did lose a rear wheel on one trip (studs pulled out of the hub) sending her on a couple of 360's on an interstate. No serious harm done, but I was lucky. It made me realize that time takes its toll on old machinery. I'm not afraid to drive anywhere with this wonderful car, but I always treat her gently.

If I wanted to do some serious sports car driving I'd probably buy a Miata. Much newer and more capable than a Healey. It would be safer and more fun than building up my old Healey to do the same sort of thing.

 

[glemon]

The brakes are far too inadequate for very spirited driving and this car is 60 plus years old.

Good point, mine had a front disc brake conversion from a 3000 when I got it, always felt the brakes were fine. No experience with the stock front drums.

 

[Michael Oritt]

I converted to front discs about 12 years ago and frankly cannot now compare their performance to that of the original drums. But the biggest advantages of discs lie not in their absolute stopping power as better performance in the wet and much less fade, plus of course they do not need adjustment. Drums, if big enough, can still offer fine stopping power and my drum-braked Elva MK IV sports racer has outstanding braking.

I drive my 100 in a manner that many might be considered hard, usually upshifting at about 4500 rpms and downshifting in a similar manner, though my engine is blueprinted. Whatever, both of us (the car and me) seem to like it.

 

[blueskies]

Good for those of you who drive these cars as if it still were the 1950s or 1960s, and as if you were still young. Several of the descriptions above remind me of how I drove Healeys (and everything else) back in the day. Today, if we want to make good time on longer trips, we have newer, faster, more reliable, and much safer options to drive. The Healeys mainly see winding scenic two lane roads on warm, sunny afternoons. Driving them faster still happens, but not over long distances.

 

[cj706643]

Thanks all, glad to hear most of these are still getting used. I do feel bad having to knock out highway miles in a car that was made for backroads, but sometimes scheduling doesn't allow an extra day to do 1K miles (need to allow one extra day even highway driving in case you have to locate a tow truck, storage, and rental car along the way, so backroads need 2 extra scheduled days). Also being from Chicago I need to drive 500 miles just to get to roads that are worth driving on, and no way I'm taking a modern car 'cause once I get there (White Mountains of northern New Hampshire last trip) you GOTTA have a Healey.