KingR--
Warning--somewhat incoherent rambling ahead:
I have the Smitty trans and enjoy driving my BN6. It makes a great sound and
looks just right--after all, it's a 2-seater with a convertible top in the
garage, right where it belongs (so. California car). I spent about $1000 for
the Smitty kit, the trans and the new driveshaft. For that I got more than
just a trans, I got one less fragile, complicated system to potentially keep
the car off the road.
You can answer your questions re the Smitty trans by yourself without
listening to anyone else--except me, of course. :-)
Ask yourself:
Would I install a Texas Kooler or 6-bladed fan on the car?
Beefed up radiator?
Oil cooler?
Alternator?
Spin-on filter?
Pertronix ignition?
Radial tires?
6" Dayton wheels?
Radio or CD player?
Stainless exhaust?
Monza exhaust?
Tube headers?
3.54 rear axle?
Tube shocks?
Modern multi-part paint job?
Wilton wool carpets with edge binding?
High-tech heat and sound insulation?
Solid-state fuel pump?
Toyota trans?
Then ask yourself "if my engine was shot, would I rebuild it or put a Nissan
280Z or Toyota Supra or Ford 5-liter engine in it?"
I'd say these 2 groups address the Healey-ness of the car. Others would move
the Toyota trannie from the acceptable group to the non-acceptable group.
Some may even find the whole of both groups unacceptable.
It's all performance art.
Personally, I think the 6-bladed fan and non-standard exhausts (I have both)
affect the car, performance-art-wise in a negative way, because they affect
the traditional Healey sound. IMHO it is most important for a Healey to
sound right as it's being driven!
Periodically, I'll have my wife drive the car up and down the street a
couple of times so I can see how incredibly cool it looks, and by extension,
how cool I must look driving it!
I had a friend who invited me over to take a ride in a Ferrari 330 GT he'd
just bought. It had a Ford trans in it, which I didn't even notice--however
I did notice it had a 351 Cleveland attached to the trans. It wasn't a
Ferrari anymore.
A lot of these things, like alternators, Smitty trannies, solid-state fuel
pumps and beefed-up cooling systems allow you to spend more time driving the
car and less time in the shop.
The simplicity of the 5-speed vs the overdrive and its electrics, solenoids
etc. is quite amazing. Fewer opportunities for sliderule-era lost arts, too.
The expertise & satisfaction argument--I used to be pretty good at
troubleshooting and repairing the DC generators on the VWs and Alfas I drove
when I was in my 20s. Now I'm darn rusty at it. Dang, another skill lost.
Just like making rolling stops with non-synchro first gears. Probably don't
know how to do that anymore either.
--
Steve Gerow
Pasadena CA
59 BN6
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