[Healeys] Lightweight Flywheel

Sun Jan 6 14:02:09 MST 2019

Regarding lightening flywheels on a BN2, the best  solutions I've heard of
comes from Bruce Phillips at "Healey Surgeons" in Maryland, and is
something he did on his BN2 decades ago with great success.  Substitute the
stock 100 flywheel for one from a BJ8... This accomplishes several things,
first, it greatly reduces the weight without having to compromise an
original flywheel (plus it's an original Austin Healey part), and secondly
allows the use of the superior BJ8 diaphragm clutch.  Bruce and others
who've tried this swear by the conversion.

Supposedly, it does not work too well with a BN1 transmission since
according to Bruce, the setup requires that the BN1 transmission bell
housing be modified, i.e., material ground away for clearance?  I have not
been able confirm this, but fellow Concours member and performance expert
John Hodgman told me he didn't think there would be a problem, and was
investigating whether or not it could work on his BN1.

Comments?

Cheers,

Curt

On Sat, Jan 5, 2019 at 6:13 PM <glemon at neb.rr.com> wrote:

> I had my flywheel lightened by a local machine shop.  It was done in
> conjunction with an engine rebuild to M spec, so it was hard to evaluate
> the effect on performance.  However I can say there were no I'll effects as
> far as idle or clutch/take off operation with the lightened flywheel.
>
> Greg Lemon
> Former BN1 owner
>
> ---- WILLIAM B LAWRENCE <ynotink at msn.com> wrote:
> > I have a lightened flywheel in my BN1 (26 pounds as opposed to 42) and
> I've used it for over 13 years with no known ill effects. The engine has
> been out for an unrelated failure and the crank checked out crack free. I
> use the car for highway cruising and around town and I don't spend much
> time above about 3200 RPM. I have Mike Lempert's 3.54:1 gears (hypoid final
> drive) and the 28% overdrive which gives an 80 MPH cruise at around that
> RPM. No land speed records, but no speeding tickets either...
> >
> > Bill Lawrence
> > BN1 #554
> > ________________________________
> > From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> on behalf of Michael
> Salter <michael.salter at gmail.com>
> > Sent: Friday, January 4, 2019 1:03 AM
> > To: Charlie Schott
> > Cc: healeys at autox.team.net
> > Subject: Re: [Healeys] Lightweight Flywheel
> >
> > Read this first
> >
> http://www.netbug.net/blogmichael/2017/01/03/austin-healey-100-crank-failures/
> >
> > On Thu, Jan 3, 2019, 7:42 PM Charles Schott <schottc at knology.net<mailto:
> schottc at knology.net> wrote:
> > Has anyone used a lightweight flywheel on their 100 BN1? I plan on going
> with a complete Le Mans kit and a lightweight flywheel and the car will be
> for street use. If you have, what are your thoughts on it? Thanks.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Charlie Schott
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: "Michael Salter" <michael.salter at gmail.com<mailto:
> michael.salter at gmail.com>>
> > To: "Bob Spidell" <bspidell at comcast.net<mailto:bspidell at comcast.net>>
> > Cc: healeys at autox.team.net<mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>
> > Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2018 9:51:43 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Healeys] tri power for sale
> >
> > I encourage as many people as possible to "M" up their 100's.
> > Makes original cars that much more valuable.
> >
> > M
> >
> > On Thu, Dec 20, 2018, 9:52 AM Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net<mailto:
> bspidell at comcast.net> wrote:
> > My understanding is that the 'kits' installed by dealers varied; the
> > complete one--the one done at the Healey shop--includes higher
> > compression pistons, a more aggressive cam, some suspension tweaks
> > (stiffer shocks, maybe a larger anti-sway bar), a different distributor
> > and, of course, the louvred bonnet.
> >
> > Someone wrote up a list of mods that could be done--even better cam
> > profile, for example--that could be done to a 'stock' BN1/2 to achieve
> > performance superior to a M, while keeping the original 'flavor' of the
> car.
> >
> > Bob
> >
> > On 12/19/2018 11:14 PM, sentenac.rw at gmail.com<mailto:
> sentenac.rw at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Well, for starters you can look at page A34 of the  Moss Motors
> > > catalogue.  The section labeled "100M Conversion".  It may be a
> > > different page on the latest catalogue.  Carbs, Manifold set, cold air
> > > box,etc.
> > >
> > > -Roland
> > >
> > > On Wed, 19 Dec 2018 18:48:10 -0500 (EST), you wrote:
> > >
> > >> I recently purchased a 1955 100-4 for a frame off restoration. Since
> I'm going to rebuild the engine, I'd like to give it the "M" upgrade. Does
> anyone know where I can purchase the parts for what they call the LeMans
> kit? Thanks.
> > >>
> > >> Regards,
> > >>
> > >> Charlie Schott
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
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