[Healeys] Uprated shock absorber valves

[Chris Dimmock]

Hey Simon,
Remember that Austin sedan I posted about (yeah, in the US) a few  
weeks ago?
Well, it was actually a Healey / BMC Special Tuning Parts Mule.
You know. It had the 3.5 diff fitted as standard. The diff ratio most  
Healey guys want. It was an auto.
And it also had the Healey Special Tuning armstong shock valves. And  
the Healey BMC special tuning negative camber front shock arms.
Pick a BMC 6 cyl rear wheel drive sedan of the era. Pretty much any  
big wolseley or big Austin sedan. You know, a 6 cyl sedan - and im  
talking old fashioned straight 6, C series.rear wheel drive.
How much heavier were those old sedans?? Look at their shock valves.  
Those shock valves were designed to stop a far heavier car than a  
Healey from wallowing. Ok. So they didn't work on a 6/110.... But  
those shock valves work a treat on a Healey!
Magnus is sort of right. You can adjust your springs by tightening  
your nuts. Or you can just fit the bigger valves (smaller) with the  
stronger springs from an appropriate sedan to your Healey.
A 3 minute upgrade. Or you can buy them from the usual suspects
And then you can do what Magnus said, if you want. And if you fit the  
front sedan arms, you will get negative camber too...z
Start with some sedan shock valves.
Very easy to remove at a wreckers.
;-)
My shock valves are all Austin/ Wolseley sedan. So are my front shock  
arms.
BMC Special Tuning via the BMC donor car parts Bin.
The way Donald and Geoff did it.
Chris


Sent from my iPhone

On 06/09/2011, at 5:37 AM, "Simon Lachlan"  
<simon.lachlan at homecall.co.uk> wrote:

> I have a MkII BT7........................
>
> So, I'll be fitting new rear springs later in the year and was  
> wondering
> about the rear shocks. Has anyone fitted the so-called "uprated  
> valves"?
> With what effect?
>
> I'm still keen on this Alpine excursion next year and I know that  
> the rear
> end height and suspension is an area that'll need attention. Yes, I  
> know
> that height is a spring function, but I think that some of the  
> tracks I've
> chosen will be pretty bouncy! And my car's suspension is pretty
> low/soggy....springs are possibly original!
> Am watching the springs interleaving thread with interest. Not sure  
> yet if
> my new springs have the zinc, or anything. They appear to have clips  
> on
> either end which would possibly defy disassembly and reassembly.  
> They look a
> little "one time only". Haven't been there yet.
> I can say that one of the 4 bushes had the wrong internal size and  
> had to be
> drilled out a little!
> Simon