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DEVOREBN2

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As the owner of a BN2 that my late father purchased in 1956, I am very interested in the upgrades or modifications that members have made to improve reliability, safety and performance.

The only mods I have made to date are DW Aluminum head (original cracked and not repairable), spin-on oil filter and a Petronix Ignitor electronic ignition.

Your valuable opinions and suggestions are appreciated.
 
If your father was the original owner, your car has greater value being original so in my opinion, do only things that are reversable. You have the highly sought after "one owner". It is reliable as is with great performance and tons of fun. Others will disagree. Let the barn finds be modified. You have a jewel. (again, IMHO)
TH
Okay to seat bealts (3 point attachment) and good side mirrors.
 
tahoe healey said:
If your father was the original owner, your car has greater value being original so in my opinion, do only things that are reversable. You have the highly sought after "one owner". It is reliable as is with great performance and tons of fun. Others will disagree. Let the barn finds be modified. You have a jewel. (again, IMHO)
TH
Okay to seat bealts (3 point attachment) and good side mirrors.
Click to expand...

Tahoe Healey, that is exactly why I would like input as to what I may do and not disturb the originality of the car. I will attempt to post photos later. My wife is disturbed about the lack of seat belts. And you are correct it is a ton of fun to drive and is a head turner when out and about.
 
Seat belts are an essential safety addition and would not be judged against in a show (in my experience)and would not detract from value (imo)
 
Well IMOP DevoreBN2, You are headed in the right direction but- You missed one. Get an electtronic fuel pump and relocate the pump to a cooler spot so you won't be left on the side of the road with Vapor Lock!.---Keoke-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cowboy.gif

Not the same as BJ8 TH.
 
Moss sells some 3 point detachable belts that I like cause sometimes I use the tonneau and they can be threaded through the holes quickly.

Keoke, why is it hotter on the left side with the exhaust on the right? (I'm assuming it is the same as the BJ8)
 
Keoke said:
Well IMOP DevoreBN2, You are headed in the right direction but- You missed one. Get an electtronic fuel pump and relocate the pump to a cooler spot so you won't be left on the side of the road with Vapor Lock!.---Keoke-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cowboy.gif
Click to expand...

Keoke, with the exhaust on the left side of the car directly below the SU pump that makes good since. Living in the Inland Empire of So. Calif the beast runs very warm in our hot weather and the cockpit can be an oven at times. Where would the 3rd point mount be with a three point seat belt system, I would not want to penetrate or disturb the exterior sheet metal, for the same reason I have not added a 3rd break light.
 
I would emulate the six cylinder cars and locate the seat belt attachment point on the rear wheel arch.

Third brake light can be installed without penetrating the exterior body panels. Others have penetrated the interior metal panels to gain access to the boot.

Mine is removable and I simply run the small wiring in a heavy plastic conduit under the boot lid-to-Shroud joint.

Keoke------------------------------ /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cowboy.gif
 
DEVOREBN2,
That is very cool to have a car with that history. I also own a BN2 that previously belonged to my father, although he didn't buy the car until the 70's.
I would put Grose-Jets in the SUs, between those and the electronic ignition, you should have a car that starts reliably after sitting for a while. It's really a welcome sound, or lack thereof, to hear the fuel pump stop running after 5-10 seconds when the car has been sitting for 6 months or so (hey, I live in Wisconsin...).
Later,
Wally
 
/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif I only did seat belts, electronic ignition and a spin-off oil filter (which can be reversed) to Agatha, a '56 100-M. (I have the originals just in case...)
 
devorebn2, if you google "improving safety and reliability of big healeys" the austin healey club of america has a list of mods others have done.
 
DEVOREBN2 said:
Where would the 3rd point mount be with a three point seat belt system, I would not want to penetrate or disturb the exterior sheet metal
Click to expand...
Hi Devor,
Here is the location for the seatbelt on the wheel arch Keoke was talking about. I don’t have all the placement measurements, sorry. There were two types of mounts. This photo shows the later style, the earlier style had two threaded studs mounted to the arch at an angle.
6180-seatbelt-point.jpg
 

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Maybe obvious and already there, but modern radial tires, 165/15s are not hard to find, if your tires are bias ply or old and hard/cracked or both.

I would second the grose jets, they are easy to install and end the annoying carb overflow leak.

I have front disc brakes from a later healey on My BN1, it is a bolt on conversion, so reversible.

There is an oil feed line that they say can shatter, and if it does your oil pressure drops to zero immediately. You need to get the flexible replacement from England or from on of the Healey specialty shops in the USA.

I just added one to mine, but I am doing an engine rebuild, don't know if I would have bothered had the engine not been apart.

Greg Lemon
54 BN1

Greg Lemon
 
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