[Healeys] BJ8 1967 Engine Rebuild failure

josef-eckert at t-online.de josef-eckert at t-online.de
Sat Feb 10 07:09:28 MST 2024


I wouldn´t buy a Mercedes with a BMW engine and gearbox and a Volvo 
radiator.
 
Josef Eckert
Königswinter/Germany
 
 
 
-----Original-Nachricht-----
Betreff: Re: [Healeys] BJ8 1967 Engine Rebuild failure
Datum: 2024-02-10T15:01:23+0100
Von: "Chris Scholz via Healeys" <healeys at autox.team.net>
An: "HealeyRick" <healeyrik at gmail.com>
 
 
 
I love my LS1 swap.  It was a lot of work.  Aluminum dual passage Wizard 
radiator with 15” spal fan-I can drive in a parade at 110 heat index and 
car stays right at 195 degrees.  Lots of work to get the alternator to 
fit-I modified a bracket from a Jeep wrangler LS swap kit.   Everything 
barely fit longitudinally-there is one inch between the electric radiator 
fan and my water pump.   Had to cut the steering shaft and u joint.  Works 
great.  
Like Rick, I have the stock 3.55 Healey rear with a quaife limited slip 
diff and it works perfectly.  72” Daytona wire wheels with 205 wide tires.  
 Lowered the front spring perches -my front was so much lighter it was up 
in the air by 2-3”.  It rides and handles so well.  My car was a 1959 100-6 
so it wasn’t worth as much stock as a BJ8.  I feel my value went up.   
I love my reliability and the torque is amazing.  Car is so much fun to 
slowly cruise and then hit the gas and go.  I would never go back to the 
heavy iron block.  I feel this an aluminum V8 would have been Healey’s 
first choice if GM would have worked with him.  
 
Sent from my iPhone
Chris Scholz OD


    On Feb 9, 2024, at 7:58 PM, HealeyRick <healeyrik at gmail.com> wrote:


    A V8 swap is nothing to be undertaken lightly. It's not as simple as
    "dropping in a V8". That's the easy part, mostly focusing on making
    engine and transmission mounts and cutting away pieces of the footwells
    so the motor will fit with the exhaust headers in place.  It's all the
    other stuff you need to do that will really add the work. New
    electrical system, radiator, upgraded brakes, fuel system, transmission
    shifter, etc, etc. It's worth it in the end if you want a Healey/Cobra,
    but you'll also knock off about 30 percent of your car's value or more.
     You can see the work I had to do to put a Ford 5.0L and 5 speed
    transmission into my BJ7 here: 
    <http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?13,8264>   The Ford 5.0 is
    narrower than the Chevy LS so less body cutting to do, but not a huge
    difference. LS motors are more likely to be found in a junkyard with
    low mileage now and with your brother a GM mechanic, would be very
    helpful.  I did about 50-75% of the swap myself, except for the engine
    rebuild and body fabrication. My car has 350 hp and I run the stock
    rear end with 3.55 gears and Dayton 72 spoke wires.  Much more power
    than that and those parts will start braking.  A good engine swap is
    really a joy, but if you do a bad one it will be a nightmare forever.
    Chris did a really nice swap with his LS but he can speak to how much
    work it was.
     
    My first choice if you don't have that "Need for Speed" would be to try
    a replacement Healey 6.
     
    Best of Luck,
    Rick

    On Fri, Feb 9, 2024 at 2:11 PM <rfbegani at gmail.com
    <mailto:rfbegani at gmail.com> > wrote:

      Funny you should suggest a v8 replacement.  Chris just made that
      suggestion to install an LS1 with GM Trans.  My Bother is a retired
      GM mechanic, and he agrees.  Did you do the exchange?  What engine
      trans etc. did you use?  All options are on the table.

       

      Bob

       

      From: HealeyRick <healeyrik at gmail.com <mailto:healeyrik at gmail.com> >
      Sent: Friday, February 9, 2024 1:32 PM
      To: rfbegani at gmail.com <mailto:rfbegani at gmail.com>
      Cc: healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>
      Subject: Re: [Healeys] BJ8 1967 Engine Rebuild failure

       

      Sorry to hear this Bob. What you've been told so far seems correct.
      Without the main bearing caps you're in a tough spot.  Maybe trying
      to find a BJ8 block or a rebuildable BJ8 motor is the best of a bad
      group of choices.  Too bad, I gave away a bare block with caps from a
      BJ7 a few years ago for a donation to our club charity.  I'd put a
      wanted ad in the club magazines and Healey forums, Facebook pages and
      hope someone out there might have one. Try Hemphills, Healey
      Surgeons, David Nock, maybe they have one that needs rebuilding
      somewhere. Or do what I did and put a V8 in there!

       

      Best of luck,

      Rick Neville aka "HealeyRick"

       

      On Fri, Feb 9, 2024 at 11:12 AM <rfbegani at gmail.com
      <mailto:rfbegani at gmail.com> > wrote:

       Gentlemen:

        

       I arrived back to Florida in May and decide to drive my 67
       Austin-Healey.  Drove it a mile and heard clanking engine, looked at
       the oil pressure, It was O! Instead of stooping to have towed home,
       I drove it back slowly.  Last month, I dropped the pan and started
       to remove the rod and crank caps and bearings.  My mechanic friend
       said you got lucky the crank may only need polishing and new
       bearings.  So, I packed and marked each of the main bearing caps,
       bolts, and bearings along with piston rods and caps in individual
       plastic bags. Then packed them into a larger plastic bag which was
       put under the workbench near the garbage.  We towed the car to Mikes
       garage so he could pull and disassemble the engine.  Tuesday, he
       asked me to bring the parts I had removed from the engine so he
       would have everything in one place.  I looked around but could not
       find this black plastic bag and then remembered it got pitched in
       the garbage. So, I am now up the famous creek and am asking this
       group what I can do?

        

          1. I am told the engine is finished because the Main Bearing caps
             are not available and even if you could find them, they would
             need to be line bored on the engine.
          2. I am told that finding an engine block for a 3000 with
             original main bearing caps is almost impossible.
          3. Finding an engine to be rebuild might be possible.

        

       My engine was rebuilt 6000 miles with years ago everything new, so I
       would like to find a way of fixing the existing engine, if possible.

        

       Please give me your advice.

        

       Best regards,

        

       Bob Begani

       67 Austin-Healey BJ8

        

        

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