[Healeys] BANG!

[Michael Salter]

After thinking carefully about your experience I'm inclined to think that there are 2 likely scenarios.
First is that the clutch disc failed and the center spline broke away. I had this happen on my Bugeye race car on the start line and the symptoms were exactly as you describe. I had just enough forward momentum to pull to the side to avoid being annihilated by the Mustang starting in behind me in the 2nd row. 😳
The other likelihood, although fairly unlikely in a Big Healey, is that a halfshaft broke. This is usually evident by one rear wheel developing a little negative camber.
Do let us know what is found.

M


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From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> on behalf of Simon Lachlan via Healeys <healeys at autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, 18 September 2026 06:14:52
To: 'Richard Antal' <rantal243 at yahoo.com>; healeys at autox.team.net <healeys at autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [Healeys] BANG!


I had something quite similar recently. No “BANG”, but some very nasty noises indeed. In my case, the carbon thrust bearing thingie was giving up. One of its clips was half on/half off. Luckily, MOWOG(?) in their wisdom allowed for the future invention of an endoscope. There is a suitable hole in the casing through which you can insert yr scope and inspect the bearing or whatever else may be in bits!!

At a guess, you could do it from underneath if the car was high enough. My car is a BT7 so removal of the tunnel cover is a bore but not the drama that I’m told it is in a BJ8 so I went in from above.

Best of luck anyhow, Simon



From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of Richard Antal via Healeys
Sent: 17 September 2026 22:38
To: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: [Healeys] BANG!



Salutations fellow Healeyphiles,

     I came to a stop sign on the steep uphill slope and wanted to enter a busy road with a lot of traffic going 40mph. A window of opportunity presented itself finally. The stick was in 1st, my foot on the depressed clutch pedal. I

quickly move my right foot from. the brake, gunned the engine and quickly released the clutch. The car lurched forward the saluted me with a loud bang which I could feel through the floor and immediately became lost propulsion. No response to the stick in any gear. The initial lurch allowed me to ooze across the road and get most of the car out of traffic. The engine was running just fine. AAA to the rescue. I and my 65 BJ8 rode to Competition Motors in Portsmouth NH where they do extensive work on vintage cars of all makes. I await their diagnosis. What happened? What horrendous bill am I looking forward to? Thanks for your wisdom.

Rich Antal
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