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Who Am I Kidding?

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HealeyPassion said:
Rick,
Love your car! I think you've done a stellar job of keeping it period correct looking while thoughtfully crafting the V8 installation. I also really like your choice of small block Ford. I'd like to see an article in the Marque about your car.

Have fun with it!!

Steve
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Thanks, Steve. After you're feature spread, I'm not sure I could meet the challenge. Reid expressed some interest in a story, I guess I'll have to get off my butt and submit one to him.

bighealeysource said:
Hey Rick,
You need to put that video on with you starting up the Nasty Boy - or maybe a new one since that one is from when you first got it running !!! And you're right, nothing sounds better than that V-8 staring up and scaring the women and children !
Regards,
Mike

Just noticed you have the video up but that one's two years old - get us a new one to listen to so we can drool even more !
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I'm not much of a videographer and It still sounds like it did two years ago. If I can arrange it, some videos of unsuspecting bystanders at start-up would probably be good for a chuckle or two. I've seen some pretty amusing double-takes.
 
Seems an ambitious ask to me as well and I wouldn't trust an original Healey transmission to last long behind a V8.

Here's a couple of my favorite 283 conversions done back in the day:

Max Balchowsky's 283 Chevy swap into a Healey 100 featured in Hot Rod magazine in June 1956 Note the triple carbs.

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A 283 in a 100 at the 1959 Oakland Roadster Show. Look carefully at the hood scoop between the bonnet louvers (hope it wasn't an "M") Really wish I could read the show placard.:

HRDS-070033-WHERE-1-HR.jpg
 
Great period pictures, especially the hot rod show. Either Ford or Chevy, what I have always wanted is a ratty old Nasty done in period, running well but unrestored. Most are probably knackered, though.
 
Thanks. Been installing my gas pedal, on a trip right now but will get it finished early July. Then I'll DRIVE! It's been hot so I'll soon see what's necessary in regard to the cooling.
Chris...


HealeyRick said:
Hey Chris,

The original radiator was recored with extra fins per inch. I also have a 16" Maradyne electric fan installed on the rear of the radiator as a puller with a shroud I fabricated. It cools acceptably, and I stay between 190-212 degrees. I was a bit concerned about the upper temps at first, but realized that's what 5.0L motors run in newer Mustangs and Explorers. Even still, I'd be concerned that driving this car in a warmer climate than New England (say, like SoCal :devilgrin:) might result in some cooling problems. I suspect that's why you have that ducting in the front of your car ... someone was trying to fix cooling problems by directing as much air as possible to the radiator. The problem is that there's not a lot of room in the Healey for a bigger radiator without converting to a rack and pinion steering system.
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