[Healeys] BJ8 1967 Engine Rebuild failure

josef-eckert at t-online.de josef-eckert at t-online.de
Sun Feb 11 09:56:12 MST 2024


Michael,
I have to say I am different. For me it would be a pain to do what you do. 
I do not see any fun. But its your live and you should do what you want.
I assume I could buy two other cars which would give me much more fun for 
the same money you spent. And at least here in Europe I have a better 
return of the iinvestment and Safety is an issue for me..
 
Josef Eckert
Königswinter/Germany
 
 
 
-----Original-Nachricht-----
Betreff: Re: [Healeys] BJ8 1967 Engine Rebuild failure
Datum: 2024-02-11T17:42:55+0100
Von: "Michael Oritt" <michael.oritt at gmail.com>
An: "josef-eckert at t-online.de" <josef-eckert at t-online.de>
 
 
 
Joseph--
 
You said:  "I usually try to understand why others do such things my mind 
cannot follow."
 
That's a different problem as what makes sense to one of us may not make 
sense to another.
 
In my case I replaced my BN1's original three-speed transmission with a 
Smitty's five-speed conversion and W58 transmission because:
 
1.  I had driven to California--about 3,000 miles from my home in 
Maryland--when the second gear cluster broke and 
2.  I wanted to complete the trip driving the car rather than having it 
shipped home, still broken, and
2.  I was about 100 miles from Smitty's shop in Thousand Oaks CA and he had 
both a rebuilt W58 and a conversion kit on hand, and
4.  Even assuming I could have found a replacement cluster and a facility 
that could have installed it in a reasonable amount of time, etc., the 
original transmission was a POS in the first place, as was the manual 
clutch which I also replaced with an hydraulic clutch (later upgraded to a 
BJ8 diaphragm unit)
 
So, my decision was easy for me to make and after a couple of days working 
at Smitty's shop and an outlay of a reasonable sum of money I was able to 
drive back to MD.  Beyond that I feel that what I gave up in originality I 
have more than gotten back in driveability.
 
Best--Michael Oritt
 

On Sun, Feb 11, 2024 at 11:23 AM josef-eckert at t-online.de
<mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de> <josef-eckert at t-online.de
<mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de> > wrote:
  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
  <mailto:michael.oritt at gmail.com> >
  An: "josef-eckert at t-online.de <mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de> " <
  josef-eckert at t-online.de <mailto: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

                      

                      

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