[Healeys] BJ8 1967 Engine Rebuild failure

josef-eckert at t-online.de josef-eckert at t-online.de
Sun Feb 11 09:23:36 MST 2024


Michael,
I do not mind and I am fully with you. I even do not mind if one puts his 
car in the dining room or fills it with water or throws it down a bridge. 
Its his/her car and everybody can do with belongings what they want as long 
others are not hurt.or their belongings are not damaged with.
But I usually try to understand why others do such things my mind cannot 
follow.
 
Josef eckert
Königswinter/Germany
 
 
 
-----Original-Nachricht-----
Betreff: Re: [Healeys] BJ8 1967 Engine Rebuild failure
Datum: 2024-02-11T17:09:02+0100
Von: "Michael Oritt" <michael.oritt at gmail.com>
An: "josef-eckert at t-online.de" <josef-eckert at t-online.de>
 
 
 
Joseph--
 
As the famous Wellerism goes ''Every one to his own taste,' said the old 
woman as she kissed the cow".
 
Best--Michael Oritt
 

On Sun, Feb 11, 2024 at 10:30 AM josef-eckert--- via Healeys <
healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> > wrote:
  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
  <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> >
  An: "HealeyRick" <healeyrik at gmail.com <mailto: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
      <mailto: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

                    

                    

                   _______________________________________________
                   Support Team.Net<http://www.team.net/donate.html>
                   Suggested annual donation  $12.75

                   Archive:<http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys>
                   <http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys>

                   Healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:Healeys at autox.team.net>
                   <http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys>


                   Unsubscribe/Manage: 
                   http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/healeyrik@gmail.com
                   <http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/healeyrik@gmail.com>

                _______________________________________________
                Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
                <http://www.team.net/donate.html>
                Suggested annual donation  $12.75

                Archive:<http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys>
                <http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys>

                Healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:Healeys at autox.team.net>
                <http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys>


                Unsubscribe/Manage: 
                http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/drscholz@visioncenterpc.com
                <http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/drscholz@visioncenterpc.com>



            _______________________________________________ Support Team.Net 
            <http://www.team.net/donate.html> Suggested annual donation $12.75 Archive: 
            <http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys> 
            <http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys> Healeys at autox.team.net
            <mailto:Healeys at autox.team.net> 
            <http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys> Unsubscribe/Manage: 
            <http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/bspidell@comcast.net> 

        _______________________________________________
        Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
        <http://www.team.net/donate.html>
        Suggested annual donation  $12.75

        Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys
        <http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys> 
        http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys
        <http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys>

        Healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:Healeys at autox.team.net>
        <http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys>


        Unsubscribe/Manage: 
        http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/healeyrik@gmail.com
        <http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/healeyrik@gmail.com>

      _______________________________________________
      Support Team.Net<http://www.team.net/donate.html>
      Suggested annual donation  $12.75

      Archive:<http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys>
      <http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys>

      Healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:Healeys at autox.team.net>
      <http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys>


      Unsubscribe/Manage:
      <http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/drscholz@visioncenterpc.com>


  _______________________________________________
  Support Team.Net<http://www.team.net/donate.html>
  Suggested annual donation  $12.75

  Archive:<http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys>
  <http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys>

  Healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:Healeys at autox.team.net>
  <http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys>


  Unsubscribe/Manage:
  <http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/michael.oritt@gmail.com>


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/healeys/attachments/20240211/855fc471/attachment.htm>


More information about the Healeys mailing list