Limited Slip GM Healey Diff

[steveg]

Today I was at an LA area tech session attended by Russ Thompson, a long time Healey mechanic. Russ has a tricarb BN7, an ex-SCCA race car originally campaigned by Hollywood Sports Cars in the early '60s.

IIRC, he was saying it has a '58 Pontiac limited slip which was adapted to the Healey ring gear. Evidently HSC machined out the center of the Healey Ring and bolted the limited slip unit in from the back side of the ring. Then because of the different position of the ring, some kind of 1/4" shim was necessary to move the ring in the desired direction. The stock axles were re-machined to 10 splines.

The whole process sounded like a viable alternative to the Quaife.

 

[Keoke]

Hi Steve, glad to hear about Russ. I have not heard anything about him for some time. Hope the tech session at Peter's was a success. The info you presented was very interesting. Thanks for posting.

 

[dougie]

Steve -

I'm sure this was one of Doane Spencers creative answers back in the day. With all the machine work involved in that modification, I think the "drop-in ready" Quaife might still be the most cost effective. Do you you if Russ's car is the one Ronnie Buchman campiagned for HSC's.

 

[steveg]

Yes, he mentioned Doane Spencer. Seems like probably the car in the picture. HSC campaining >1 BN7-IIs doesn't seem likely.

Now painted a sinister black, has 5-bolt American or other 5-spoke mags, Girling rear discs sans parking brake. Has BJ8 dash with center-shift console, no roll bar.

I remember this car on the cover of Sports Car Graphic painted deep metallic blue.

Next time I see Russ will get more info/pictures and post it.

 

[AHS3903]

If anyone is contemplating such a modification there is some information here. This is of course a BN1 style spiral bevel diff but the process is the same.