[Healeys] Westminster = Austin Healey 3000 engine?

[kags at shaw.ca]

Hi Simon:

 

I - along with a small group here - have been salvaging Westminsters,
Wolesleys, (and the odd Morris Isis) for years - it started out for the
diffs (the automatic trans sedans were equipped with the 3:545 diff that is
so desireable for the big Healey).  It later became a quest to save the 6
cyl engine from going to the scrap yard with these cars.  We probably saved
9 -10 sedan (saloon) engines over the years, most of whose parts have by now
been utilized by Healey owners needing to rebuild their engines.

 

The engine that you have found would have the exact same block casting as
your BT7 tri, and would be suitable for your tentative project.

 

The block, crankshaft, oil pan, valve gear is the same, cyl head,
manifolding, carbs, cam, rear plate are all different.  If you are looking
to create a complete spare engine for your tri-carb, you would need to
locate those Healey specific parts from other sources.

 

There were 2 different block casting numbers for the 3000 engine - the
difference being the distributor / dipstick mounting on the block that was
done for the BJ8 (and it's sedan counterparts) with the 25D distributor and
the electric tach drive - which was mounted differently.  Otherwise, the
blocks are interchangeable other than the somewhat inconvenient distributor
mounting if you put the earlier block in a BJ8.  (I know of a couple because
it was the only way when needed). The crankshaft is the same from the
automatic - can be used in the Healey with the addition of the pilot
bushing.

 

As far as I can determine, the crankshafts are starting to get a bit thin on
the ground now - our salvaged spares here have all been used.  So it's
starting to look like a good idea to round up what we can at this point.
It's difficult to determine the condition of a non-running engine.  The big
considerations: is the block cracked or otherwise not useable, and is the
crankshaft going to need an expensive repair (beyond the normal
refurbishing). It becomes a matter of not paying too much, or just taking
the leap, and hoping for the best. 

 

Hope this helps with your decision.

 

Earl Kagna

Victoria BC, Canada

BJ8, BT7 tri-carb

 

  

From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of Simon Lachlan
via Healeys
Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2020 9:09 AM
To: 'Healeys' <healeys at autox.team.net>
Subject: [Healeys] Westminster = Austin Healey 3000 engine?

 

I am on the lookout for an engine. Mine's OK, touch wood but I fancy trying
a rebuild. 

I saw this on eBay:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-Westminster-Healey-3000-Engine/29378970070
0?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225076%26meid%3D
edea0d2894e1498bae41c2ad71f3b0a9%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%
3Dnone%26sd%3D383753133286%26itm%3D293789700700%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2
380057%26brand%3DAustin-Healey
<https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-Westminster-Healey-3000-Engine/2937897007
00?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225076%26meid%3
Dedea0d2894e1498bae41c2ad71f3b0a9%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26mehot
%3Dnone%26sd%3D383753133286%26itm%3D293789700700%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D
2380057%26brand%3DAustin-Healey&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pag
eci%3A0a169643-13b6-11eb-aaa7-ca956a12330a%7Cparentrq%3A4be0a0ef1750a0f2bc3e
a8eefff338ce%7Ciid%3A1>
&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A0a169643-13b6-11eb-aaa7-c
a956a12330a%7Cparentrq%3A4be0a0ef1750a0f2bc3ea8eefff338ce%7Ciid%3A1

Quite cheap at the moment. 

The vendor was a bit sparse with information. Initially there was just one
photo; the ones with the numbers came after a query from me. Likewise, he
didn't/doesn't say if the engine turns. It does, he says.

Now, the "29" makes it a 3litre and the "H" makes it a high compression. But
what else? What am I missing? What can one tell from looking at the photos?

Any advice would be most welcome.

Simon

 



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