[Healeys] Healey 100 Mods

Tue Feb 18 14:49:43 MST 2025

Here's what I've done with my Concours BN1 in 37 years..

*Engine:*
- internal LeMans parts... cam, pistons, and original dated BN1 distributor
upgraded to "M" specs by Jeff at Advanced
- slightly lightened flywheel [the lip was milled off].
- Denis Welch Aluminum head upgraded with DW head gasket and all new engine
studs and nuts. The aluminum head alone doubles the power band from
2,500-3,500 rpm stock to now 2,000-4,200 rpm. Pulls like a freight train.

Original H4 carbs [not needed with AL head]. No louvered bonnet nor strap.

Vintage restored 9-fin aluminum valve cover.
Made in England 'ProAlloy' brand aluminum radiator with an upgraded 30%
more efficient core. Pro Alloy radiators are fantastic quality, and look
like the originals. While I got mine when the GBP dropped to $1.05
USD [paid $900 USD delivered] They have now almost tripled in price.

*Suspension:*
Brakes are all four drums, but the drums were balanced and the special
'woven-segmented' brake shoes arced to the drums. NO issues with brakes.
Almost as good as disc brakes. This was a recommendation from Don Fisher to
me 20 years ago.
Upgraded LeMans 5/8" front anti-sway bar.
All four original shocks were rebuilt by Peter Cauldwell.
Dayton 60-spoke wheels with 165HR15 Michelin XAS tires.

*Gearbox & Rearend:*
Lempert 3.54 rear end gears replacing the stock 4.11 gears in my stock
Hypoid Bevel rear end.
Eric Grunden rebuilt the original 3-speed gear box with A LOT of NOS parts.
Eric says it's the best one he's ever built. I love the 3-speeds as it
gives me synchro in all forward gears.

It may be a 70 year old classic but it will cruise the CA freeways at 80
mph all day, keep up with any stock 100M and will win a Gold Concours to
boot.

Cheers,

Curtis

On Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 11:11 AM josef-eckert--- via Healeys <
healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:

> Hi David,
> As you said you did your journey in 1982! How old were you than? And
> that´s more than 40 years ago. Here in centre Europe you wouldn´t do it
> again this year. I usually load my classic cars on the trailer when I need
> to go to an event further than 60 miles (100km) distance. I am 67 years old
> and I do not need these excitements anymore and important for me,  my wife
> wouldn´t go with me longer distances in a Healey. On our motorways we have
> massive congestions which doesn´t make it pleasant, even in a modern car.
> For longer leasure trips along country lanes we usually use our Mazda MX-5,
> which makes the same fun to drive and its much safer with airbags, etc.
> than taking an Austin-Healey.
>
> Josef Eckert
> Germany
>
>
> -----Original-Nachricht-----
> Betreff: Re: [Healeys] Healey 100 Mods
> Datum: 2025-02-18T19:30:00+0100
> Von: "WARD DAVID" <bighealey at ntlworld.com>
> An: "josef-eckert at t-online.de" <josef-eckert at t-online.de>
>
> Hi Josef,
> My wife and myself drove a Austin Healey 3000 Mk one from Perth in Western
> Australia to Adelaide in South Australia for a National Austin Healey
> rally  in 1982 I think it was. A distance of over TWO THOUSAND MILES  ONE
> WAY.  We enjoyed the Healey meet then drove the massive distance back again.
>
> Regards.
> David.
>
>
>
>
>
> > On 18/02/2025 17:58 GMT josef-eckert--- via Healeys <
> healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Bob,
> > Your Austin-Healey is not a modern car and never will be again and so
> handles like an 70 years old car. That´s what it should be and I am really
> happy my 100 handles "vintage" what makes it even more attractive to me. My
> point is, this modifications are like a face lifting to a human beeing. It
> doesn´t make things better, even worse as it makes an stylish old lady
> doubtful.
> > When it comes to selling, leave the car original and you would get a
> better price compared to a modified bitser, at least here in Europe. Here
> in Europe you rarely would drive an Austin-Healey over long distances
> anymore, even its fitted with the newest gimmicks nobody really needs.
> >
> > Josef Eckert
> > Germany
> >
> >
> > -----Original-Nachricht-----
> > Betreff: [Healeys] Healey 100 Mods
> > Datum: 2025-02-18T18:29:33+0100
> > Von: "Bob Spidell via Healeys" <healeys at autox.team.net>
> > An: "Healeys" <healeys at autox.team.net>
> >
> > The current discussion re: "What should us old f***s do with our Healeys
> > when we're too decrepit to drive them and the kids and grandkids
> > (mostly) want nothing to do with them"--and related to a couple ads I've
> > gotten recently from AHSpares--got me to thinking. I've largely kept the
> > 100M my dad found in the local newspaper that we restored together
> > original, but now I'm thinking, pursuant to that conversation, why not
> > make some 'tweaks' to improve its drive-ability, since it won't end up a
> > museum piece anyway? In particular: the brakes suck. They're all
> > new/refurbished, and stop well enough for drums, but pull badly and no
> > amount of adjustment makes any difference (my dad's '65 Mustang, with
> > all drums, was even worse, and I advised the guy who bought it to
> > install front disks since it was to be his teenage daughter's car).
> > 'Spares also hit me with an ad for an upgraded Panhard kit, which
> > supposedly improves handling--though, besides the brakes I have no
> > issues with its handling--but, why not (since I'll be shipping across
> > The Pond anyway)?
> >
> > Anyway, anyone got experience with either of these mods, esp. the brake
> > kit (the rotors look a little thin compared to my BJ8's)? FWIW, I'll be
> > 72 this year but can still drive well enough to wrangle a 480HP
> > Mustang--my wife might disagree--and I'm considering re-upping my pilot
> > medical (which, if I'm successful, should tell me something about my
> > fitness).
> >
> > bs
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