[Healeys] BJ8 1967 Engine Rebuild failure

josef-eckert at t-online.de josef-eckert at t-online.de
Sun Feb 11 08:06:25 MST 2024


What I do not understand is, why you want to convert an Austin-Healey to 
V8, Electtric, etc? For me the decision is clear to keep an Austin-Healey 
as Austin-Healey and when I like to have a V8 as well i would buy a Jaguar 
XK8 or similar as an addition. We did this with our holiday car which is a 
Mazda MX-5 Miata. The car is absolutely great and in many ways superiour to 
the Austion-Healey, especially when it comes to the heavy traffic on 
European roads and Safety. Meanwhile I do not go on any  motorway here in 
Germany with one of my Austin-Healeys. Its just painful.
 
Josef Eckert
Königswinter/Germany
 
 
 
-----Original-Nachricht-----
Betreff: Re: [Healeys] BJ8 1967 Engine Rebuild failure
Datum: 2024-02-11T14:44:08+0100
Von: "Chris Scholz via Healeys" <healeys at autox.team.net>
An: "HealeyRick" <healeyrik at gmail.com>
 
 
 
I would be concerned with the lack of passion with a full electric 
conversion.  
 
An aluminum V8 keeps the spirit and improves the driving experience.  

Sent from my iPhone
Chris Scholz OD


    On Feb 10, 2024, at 9:16 PM, HealeyRick <healeyrik at gmail.com> wrote:


    Now, you've gone too far, Bob.  An electric Healey? Bleah!  As you say,
    to each their own. There's plenty of room in the Healey tent for
    concours, modified, big Healeys, little Healeys, Nash Healeys, Healey
    boats, etc. Can't we all just get along? 😀
     
    Rick

    On Sat, Feb 10, 2024 at 1:22 PM Bob Spidell via Healeys <
    healeys at autox.team.net <mailto: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>
              <mailto: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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