[Healeys] BJ8 1967 Engine Rebuild failure

Sat Feb 10 12:02:38 MST 2024

I've heard (I have not substantiated it) that there a an electric swap
available for a Datsun Z.

Tom Mitchell
65 BJ8

On Sat, Feb 10, 2024, 11:59 AM Bob Spidell via Healeys <
healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:

> The most rational, pragmatic swap at this point would be to an electric
> motor and batteries; done right, it would blow the doors off an LS or
> Coyote swap (up to a 100MPH or so, I wouldn't push a Healey chassis much
> past that, for long anyway-BTDT). How many owners do more than day trips
> anyway (my days of 5K mile trips are, unfortunately, in the past).
>
> I wanted a big V8-powered car with all the modern improvements, so I
> bought a Mustang GT and left my Healeys as Austins (Jensens) un-mutated,
> and without the 20-50% drop in market value* (my survivors will have to
> sell my Healeys someday). 475HP--480 if I could get 93-octane--disks all
> around (Brembos in front), electric throttle and steering (several modes),
> 19x9/10 wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4ses, IRS, MagneRide and Steeda
> suspension upgrades (the IRS is a bit shaky); 0-60 under 5s (supposedly;
> I'm not good enough and the A10s are quicker). Bigger and heavier; I reckon
> a Nasty Boy would take me on a narrow twisty, but on the sweepers and
> straights it's sayonara. The Mustang hauls ass, and it's fun, but the
> Austin-Healeys are simply more satisfying to drive--by far--warts and all.
>
> Disclaimer: I am very much an "It's your car, do what you want with it"
> person. I've made small mods to my cars: Pertonix Ignitors in both; taller
> rear-end for highway driveability, Texas Cooler with shroud in the BJ8 but
> I never have, and never will, understand why people buy a car they don't
> actually want just to change it (owners with broken/missing engines who
> think 'Why not?' I can see). Why not buy a Saxon and build it up the way
> you want it from scratch? Oh, and for the record, I don't much care for
> breast implants either; just not the same.
>
> * Just my observations from BaT, FB, mailing lists, etc.; I've yet to see
> a Nasty Boy cross the block at B-J or Mecums--doen't mean it hasn't
> happened--but the muscle car 'restomods' with SBCs, LSes, etc. are a
> dime-a-dozen and, IMO, not particularly unique or imaginative (they do have
> garish paint jobs though).
>
>
>
>
> On 2/9/2024 10:25 PM, Chris Scholz via Healeys wrote:
>
> 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>
> <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> 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>
>> *Sent:* Friday, February 9, 2024 1:32 PM
>> *To:* rfbegani at gmail.com
>> *Cc:* 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> 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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