[Healeys] Fx4D = Bighealey?

[John Harper]

Alan

What one has to bear in mind here was that for the introduction of the 
A90 Westminster almost all the original Austin designed parts were 
modified. Mostly they were beefed up. One has to remember that most 
parts were first introduced on the A40 and then used on the much heavier 
and more powerful A70 and A90 Atlantic. As items such as the suspension 
was destined for larger cars and medium size commercial vehicles there 
was a real need for strengthening.

So we have the BN1 with the Austin A40 etc. suspension and the BN2 on, 
with the BMC Westminster stronger items. This was the time that for 
example the bottom links were cranked up and UNF threads introduced. 
There was however the strange period when later BN1s had the Austin 
front suspension and the BMC rear axle.

The FX4 Taxi used the BMC units and just as an example the bottom front 
spring pan will fit the early BN1's but is made of thicker material. One 
example of strengthening. Another example was the rear hubs. Using these 
on early BN1s was pushing the strength almost to the limit. The 
replacement on the BN2 and onwards was much heavier and if my memory 
serves me correctly was last used on a large delivery van after A-H 
production has ceased.

Having said all this it is important not to get the two timeframes 
muddled up. Many parts look very similar until one gets them close 
together or tries to fit them.

Regards

>Almost all of the  Austin vehicles shared most, and in some cases, all of
>the components of the Austin suspension.  Kingpins, A-arms, hubs, etc.  In
>the day a common upgrade for the 100 was to bolt on the larger drum brakes
>from an A90 Atlantic Saloon.
>
>Suspension of the 100 & 3000 is virtually identical to the suspensions they
>put in the A90 Atlantic, the A40, the A70, etc., etc., I would suspect the
>A110  used the same suspension too.

-- 
John Harper