The Accidental Healey

[stuntflyr]

There's still time to abandon the project and reclaim your life.

I've done what is most sane! I have bought the runner.
The white one will be parted out. I'll have all of the 100 parts listed after Christmas.
Chris...

 

[HealeyRick]

I've done what is most sane!
Chris...

That statement right there is the first sign of insanity! With two Jamaicans, you've just become the world's greatest Jamaican collector. This one looks pretty good. Good luck with it.

 

[Healey_Z]

Chris,

That green one looks like a great starting point! Looking forward to following.

 

[stuntflyr]

I borrowed a buddy's van and rented a U-Haul trailer and am in Columbus right now to pick up the Green Jamaican.
It's a 1957 100-6, BN4L O 28007, O28007 on the title.
The cockpit looked workmanlike, good looking SW gauges and the doors open and shut. It's raining so I didn't uncover it anymore than that. Will post pics tomorrow.
Chris...

 

[stuntflyr]

Picked it up today, Graham the owner was a good guy. His father was a Wellington pilot from NZ. We liked the same cars and airplanes. He didn't really do much to the car, just kept it in one piece. The car has been in the Columbus area for 40 years by the paperwork I have.
A previous owner chopped into the top to wedge a little more headroom. A bit of repair, but at least they didn't cut through the main frame rails.
The Camaro tail lights make it so the gas tank doesn't fit, so someone cut into the bottom of the rear body. I think I'll cut off the back of my white one and graft it onto the green one.
The frame's good, one outrigger needs replaced and some accident damage rt front and rear but not too bad. I've recruited a friend Dave that did some work on my MGB way back (and deconstructing the Swamp Rat) to weld the frame and correct the fibreglass to my desires.
The engine lights right off. Nice to hear a 327 again, I've loved them since my parents had a twin engined cabin cruiser with them. What a great soundtrack. The instruments work except the oil pressure gauge needs something, probably replacement.
Here are a few pics.
Chris...

 

[BigGreen]

Thanks for the update.
Great to see it saved.

 

[HealeyRick]

Looks like a much better starting point than the Swamp Rat. The 327's a plus (they were all Corvette engines, you know. At least everyone I ever saw advertised was, even if the came out of an Impala and had a two-barrel). I'd look around for a new air cleaner. That one has a reputation of collecting gas fumes in the foam and with one backfire ... whooomp!

 

[stuntflyr]

Yeah,
This one has a 4 bbl so it must be from a Corvette, right? I think it's all from a Camaro in reality, just like the door handles, ignition switch, light switch, rear end, rear wheels, and those gawdawful tail lights.
I take air cleaner off when I run it, it's to keep the rain out I think! New stuff will be on order soon. It ran great at 40F yesterday, could only get pops and a little fire today at 26F.
Chris...

 

[stuntflyr]

Hi Rick,
If I can't see the top of the differential and axle, how can I tell what rear end this car has? I'm not well versed enough in Chevy's and Healey's to know. Any good ideas?
Chris...

 

[HealeyRick]

1st measure the wheel bolt circle 5x5" is a Healey (as well as a bunch of other cars) next jack up one wheel. Put the car in neutral and turn the wheel 10 rotations while counting the number of times the driveshaft revolves. If it's 41, you've got a 4.10 rear, which is also a Healey. If you come up with a different number for the driveshaft revolutions, it's probably something American.

 

[healeyblue]

Chevrolet rear ends usually have a bolt on cover at the rear of the pumpkin. The healey axle is solid at the back and the whole front half (the part the drive shaft enters) is the removable portion.

 

[stuntflyr]

Healey Rick; Thanks for the formula, man. I'll check that out. The overdrive serial will probably bear out that high rear end gear. I think I'll order those 3:54's if so!
Healey Blue; The bolts are on the front with a solid rear for sure, thanks for the tip.
Chris...

 

[Healey_Z]

Chris, glad to see you drag it home and can't wait to see what you do with it. It has great lines, should have plenty of performance and I think you have a future classic on your hand.

 

[HealeyRick]

If you've got 4.10s in there with a 4 spd it's going to be a screamer ... literally. Probably not pleasant for any freeway driving. I'd be looking for a way to drop highway rpms and the 3.54 is one way to go if you stay with the Healey rear. It's probably a good time to sit down and plan what you want to do with the car. You need to look at it as an entity and see how everything is going to work together. So often one change can impact other stuff downstream that you never considered. For example, start thinking about wheels. If you want to stick with wire wheels, staying with the Healey rear is a good option. But spline drive wires aren't the best option if you're going to wail on it. I'd be looking at the Dayton dental drives for the rear: https://www.britishcarweek.org/scuttle.html The steel wheels on the back of your car are the first sign of a V8 swapped Healey. Other options to drop the rear end ratio is to fit a Camaro T5 five speed, or you could do both, a T5 and the 3.54 gears. The other option is to fit an American rear axle, complete with disc brakes and whatever ratio you want. The other thing you're going to want to investigate is how to keep the motor cool. If you've got a standard Healey radiator in it, it may not cope with SoCal driving. I'd be thinking of a new cooling system and air conditioning. That car is going to be a roaster (not roadster) inside in the heat.

 

[stuntflyr]

Thanks HealeyZ, I think it's a classic too.
Hi Rick,
I'm pretty set on a moderately powered '68 period piece (that's when the receipt for the body is dated). 15 inch Dayton painted wires with carbon steel spokes and the basic 275-300 hp Chevy 327 seem to go together well and a 3:54 with 60's or 70's on the 15 inchers should be plenty fast with a nominal rpm at 70 to 75 mph. I figured 3500 at 70. I'm not looking to do standing start burnouts or top speed runs, just cruising, having fun with a drift or two on some morning canyon runs, and shooting the bull at Cars and Coffee.
I bought some really cool period lights for it, GT-40 headlights (oblong fixtures with bulbs) and tail lights (single round jobs), Dino round flush type clearance lights and Healey blinkers (with amber lenses) on the front with some period amber Sears driving lights, a Lucas reverse light and I have an old generic Lucas license light from the Swamp Rat. I found an old set of three bladed knock offs with just the right amount of patina too. I think I'm going with a medium metallic Aston Martin Racing Green. Plexiglass rear window hinged like Daniel's maroon Jamaican so I can get to the spare held down with those cool leather straps, and Dan at Fiberfab still claims he has an NOS Jamaican interior set if he can just find it (black vinyl). I think a wood rimmed Grant steering wheel would look great once I get it all together. It's supposed to have C2 'Vette chrome trim around the windshield, and I like those old boat gas caps like Cobras and race cars had back then, and I have a replica Raydot mirror, and a couple of others to choose from.
I'm looking for the look and the motivation and after I get it all together and moving well I will be greatly tempted by a close ratio T-5, I'm sure. it's just not an immediate thing.
Chris...

 

[stuntflyr]

I worked on the Jamaican Saturday, my buddy worked on it Sunday after I went to work.
The 3:54's are ordered, the rear end is a 4:10. Should be great for drag racing while it's in there, though.
The open circuit that kept the engine from starting was the voltage regulator. I thought it was the switch for a while. We jumped around some stuff and figured that one out. Custom wiring job, positive ground that they seem to have copied from the Jamaican manual, pretty simple. I'll get a new regulator this week.
I fixed the oil pressure gauge I think, plastic line was cut in two.
Tomorrow I'll be at home in SoCal, 46 degrees in St. Louis which is a good high mark. In the 30's after that when I go back, the weather is being a real factor here. I get cold working out in 40's and 50's, let alone 30's.
The gas pedal and choke cable are next after the electrical is back engine will light. Then I can drive it!
Chris...

 

[stuntflyr]

I worked on the Jamaican Saturday. The forecast was partly sunny and 48 degrees, the actual weather was rain and 38 dropping to 32 by sunset for a slick coating of ice.
The voltage regulator's main point set was rattling around in the case, I opened it up and the interior looked new. The outside was plenty rusty along with most of the wiring connections on the whole car. A light surface coat of rust. I got a new electronic replacement from NAPA and didn't feel like getting any wetter so covered the car and went to the garage to clean some stuff. It was fruitful, but I can't wait to get it running again. I bought a gas pedal like Healey Rick's, should do the gas pedal and choke cable next time out.
She's going to get a trailer ride to California, my bid to Dallas got moved up and I'm selling my little crash pad Escort and cleaning out my crash pad. Dragging it behind the van is the only safe thing to do, but it sure was fun dreaming about driving the jamaican across the country.
Chris...

 

[Healey_Z]

Thanks for keeping us updated. I like your period plan for the car. Subscribed.

 

[Healey_Z]

Oops.

 

[stuntflyr]

It runs! Pictures tonight.
Chris...