[Healeys] Shocks

[Joe and Lenore Armour]

Chris Dimmock wrote:

>Yeah. It's 2012.
>But as Joe said just yesterday, DMH set his Salt lake records with Lucas
>Ignition. Joe forgot to tell you DMH also used Armstrong Shocks.
>Oh. And Joe's fuel injected Le Mans Sprite? It's got both Armstrong rear
>shocks and rear  telescopics. 4 rear shocks.....
>Fronts? Oh. That would be Armstrong levers.
>His 1965 Healey GT Sebring car (BJ8 based)?
>Armstrong shocks all round.
>Correct me if I'm wrong Joe....
>It's 2012. Fit whatever you want. But pleeezssze don't try to kid the rest of
>us it's better. On a road car?
>If its better? Beat one that is original.
>Me? Best ride improvement ever was new seat cushions..
>I kid you not.
>Sincerely.
>Chris
>

Chris is correct. From my experience all 'works' Healeys built by 
DHM.Co  and rally cars by BMC  were fitted with the production car 
suppliers equipment. Maybe the Lucas stuff was of higher output and the 
shocks had modified valving. I believe my Sebring car has Armstrong 
front shocks that are the same as MGB bodies.

Geoff Healey was obviously very clever and careful in the selection of  
ordinary production items but he controlled tolerences, adjusted items 
to spec. and addressed basic maintenance issues.
I believe that it is most important to read the manuals and understand 
why Healey/ Lucas/ Armstrong etc specified certain maintenance and 
adjustments.
Healeys never built 'sprint' cars but targeted long distance and 
reliability events.  Why can't we reproduce this reliability?  Obviously 
adjusting 40 - 60 year old items that were never well looked after all 
that well when new is difficult.

Joe