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After all the work done to perform my engine swap, you might well ask, "Was it worth it?" After logging some miles on the Nasty Boy, I am happy to report it totally was. Despite the fact my BJ7 had a ported head, Isky cam and triple HD8s, I felt the performance never lived up to the expectations created by the Jerry Coker lines. Hence the transplant. My goal was to do a period motor swap ... as if a Healey guy in 1966 went out to create a "poor man's Cobra" and managed to snag a 271 hp HiPo Mustang motor (as it turned out, I ended up with a 345 hp motor, but let's not quibble about a little more hp). It was to be a engine and transmission swap only. No huge flairs, wide wheels or anything else that wouldn't keep the Healey lines all Healey. The 72 spoke wires would stay as would the stock rear end with 3.54 Lempert gears.
The AC Ace, on which the Cobra was based had a 0-60 time of 9.1 sec, which compares to a 9.3 time of a BJ7. Once it was Cobraized with the Ford 289, the Ace's 0-60 time dropped to 5.2 sec. It totally transformed the car, and the results have been similar with the Nasty Boy. The engine/transmission combo is lighter, so handling has improved. And the acceleration is truly impressive. Out of respect for the wire wheels and splines, I'm not going to be doing any smoky tire burnouts and standing starts, but with a moderate start and rolling into the throttle the acceleration just pushes you back into the seat. My daily driver is a 425 hp Chrysler SRT8 and the Healey acceleration feels much quicker. Otherwise, it drives like a Healey. It's just not some nightmarish out-of-control beastie.
I wanted to put these few words together because it seems we spend way more time describing what we do getting our cars ready to drive and not so much on what they are like once we get to drive them. Hope this gives you a window into Nasty Boy driving.
The AC Ace, on which the Cobra was based had a 0-60 time of 9.1 sec, which compares to a 9.3 time of a BJ7. Once it was Cobraized with the Ford 289, the Ace's 0-60 time dropped to 5.2 sec. It totally transformed the car, and the results have been similar with the Nasty Boy. The engine/transmission combo is lighter, so handling has improved. And the acceleration is truly impressive. Out of respect for the wire wheels and splines, I'm not going to be doing any smoky tire burnouts and standing starts, but with a moderate start and rolling into the throttle the acceleration just pushes you back into the seat. My daily driver is a 425 hp Chrysler SRT8 and the Healey acceleration feels much quicker. Otherwise, it drives like a Healey. It's just not some nightmarish out-of-control beastie.
I wanted to put these few words together because it seems we spend way more time describing what we do getting our cars ready to drive and not so much on what they are like once we get to drive them. Hope this gives you a window into Nasty Boy driving.
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