Austin-HealeyÂ’s and the Austin Healey Car Club of NZ and Others

[Ray Bell]

But does that description match that of a crank made for the diesel version of this engine?

That's what I'm getting at, the facility Healey made of useful alternative parts from the BMC product range.

[BMCBOY]

This may be of help

[Oldfart]

But does that description match that of a crank made for the diesel version of this engine?

That's what I'm getting at, the facility Healey made of useful alternative parts from the BMC product range.

Perhaps that's one of those questions (urban legends/myths) that should have been asked a few years back Ray. I don't know how you would find out now.

[Oldfart]

Is this, pinched from trolling of any help whatever?
The much heavier and stronger EN40B nitrided crankshaft from an FX3 Austin Diesel taxi engine can be installed in the 100 block.


NOS AUSTIN TAXI
FX3 CRANKSHAFT

To accommodate the much heavier webs the center main bearing is narrower which necessitates some creative machining of the block and the addition of a substantial “strap” to reinforce the narrowed bearing cap. Custom connecting rods and different pistons are required to accommodate the 0.250” increase in the crank pin diameter and 3/8” shorter stroke of this crankshaft. Because of its increased mass a substantially lighter flywheel can be used. This radical modification addresses the inherent design issues with the 100 engine and has proven to produce the basis for a powerful and reliable engine however, the crankshafts are now very hard to find. A custom made billet crank of similar dimensions could be produced.

[Roger Dowding]

I had never seen these until posted on a Facebook page
Had other " cigarette " and " cereal " cards - have my Dad's cigarette cards from the 1930's of cars and my own set of Hot Rod cards - by Weetbix - Sanitarium in the 1970's

This is a Classic - would like to know what the other 24 cars were ;

[Ray Bell]

Wow! All that verbiage and they don't even mention, directly, that it had a bespoke alloy head!

So it looks like it wasn't the crank from the taxi engine...

And then you look at that long list and you can see that the car must have cost a LOT more than a regular 100 or even a 100M.

[BMCBOY]

This is an interesting article about John Chatham's 100 using the 2.5 litre Austin diesel taxi engine

[Ray Bell]

Actually, with a quarter-inch bigger crankpin they could well have machined the 100S crank out of a diesel crank...

They only needed a 0.175 increase in the throw.

[Roger Dowding]

Re ;" This is an interesting article about John Chatham's 100 using the 2.5 litre Austin diesel taxi engine ".

Thanks for that Ross, had heard /read about the car many years ago.

Cheers ; Roger

[Oldfart]

When living in Bristol in the 1980s I went and bothered John Chatham a few times.I found him easy to get on with and very forthcoming. He persuaded me to Not buy a big Healey!

[Roger Dowding]

When living in Bristol in the 1980s I went and bothered John Chatham a few times.I found him easy to get on with and very forthcoming. He persuaded me to Not buy a big Healey!

Rhys ; Thanks for that, wished I had known, bought my one and only AH 100 in 1982 - sold as a project in 1995 - did use it until 1990 though !!..
Here not long after being purchased.

Had previously in the late 1970's looked at an AH 3000 - an early one with triple Webers and massive wide wheels on the rear .. was talked out of that one by the then President of the Austin Healey Club NZ. Had the money to buy but not enough to put it right !!..

Just found the photo of the 3000 - and one of my 4 Sprites from about 1979.

A wise decision !! - ??.

[Oldfart]

JC told me about bi-annual body rebuilds to cope with tin worm as the major issue!

[Kwaussie]

Yesterday at Spa

[Roger Dowding]

JC told me about bi-annual body rebuilds to cope with tin worm as the major issue!

Rhys ; my 100 had oil leaks so the chassis was very oily and rust free-ish, some of the bodywork not so good.

[Roger Dowding]

The real car was badly damaged although the crew were OK.
Before

and after

Spark have made a 1;43 scale model of the car -available through JohnB of SPR Models a TRS sponsor

Must decide if I want one -

[Roger Dowding]

The Programme cover - thanks GD66

The entry list Sports cars - thanks Annie Swain [nickname on Facebook ] - actually ran the huge 1970-ish Pontiac at the event and still has the car I believe - sent me photo's of it.

The Sports cars on the pre-race grid - Healeys near the back

The two Austin Healey's in the programme
Des "Spinaway "Spillane from Temuka #66 Des still has the car but now a project after many years of South Island use, Racing and Road - Rego number BH2270 now not valid

Neil Ferguson from Waiau #67 Believe from Des, Neil still has the car - time for a look at " Carjam ".

Year: 1955
Make: AUSTIN
Model: HEALEY SPORT
Colour: Blue
Body Style: Sports Car
Plate: DU5511
Engine No: 225573
Chassis: BN1225573

Carjam says the engine is 1900cc - ?? actually 2660cc
Posted before on the Dunedin thread but now grouped

[Roger Dowding]

information and picture - Rick Neville

This car from Oz, originally owned and developed by two brothers, is a very early ‘53 BN1 Healey 100 raced around 1956-1963 with a number of engine set ups. First, it ran the standard Healey engine, then the Healey engine with a 3-71 supercharger that protruded up and out of the bonnet, and finally it ran an Olds 324 bored out to “about 365” with a six Stromberg 97 carb set up. The alloy nose was custom rebuilt in the late ‘50’s after a paddock “ding” to the original nose. In period the car held a number of local sprint and track records, and with its Rocket engine was written up in the Australian press as “...probably the fastest accelerating car in South Australia” and “the most powerful sports car yet seen in Australia....” (it’s original owner said it would lift its front wheels a few feet in the air when under full acceleration.

Photo of the Car.

Have found out more about the car - an article in the Austin Healey Club of Victoria magazine 100's and 1000's Page 7.

" http://www.healeyvic.com.au/hundredsandthousandsmagazine201604.pdf "
V8's in Healey's - now have the Allan Dick article in " NZ Classic Driver "issue #63 from Nov-Dec 2015.
Will put a precis of the article on the thread with a few pictures - mine and others.

[Roger Dowding]

In 2015 Allan Dick wrote an article in NZ Classic Driver Magazine Issue #63 Copy located and précis of story here ;


1953 Geoff Mardon – well known Speedway rider and later Car racer bought the 1953 Austin Healey BN1, an early – reputed to be one of the first sold and registered in the UK.
Car used in the UK and then brought to New Zealand when Geoff returned in 1955.

1955 Geoff part swapped the AH 100 for a Riley 2.5 RM with Arthur Kennard – the Healey was Black and has remained so.

1955/56 and 1956/57 racing seasons Arthur Kennard raced the car “ with some success, but then decided to send the car on a ‘ Charles Atlas ‘ body-building course “.
1957 Arthur Kennard : “ went to the Christchurch Chevrolet dealer - Blackwells – and ordered a brand new Chevrolet Corvette engine “ the current Chevrolet and Corvette V8 was a 265 ci one at the time [ 4.3 litre ].
“ When Blackwells placed the order they were advised if they waited a week or two, Chevrolet would be able to supply a new 283 cubic inch motor instead of the then standard 265 cubic inch “
[ 4.64 litres instead of 4.34 litres ].

“ the engine produced 283 bhp [ 211kw ] – that is one bhp per cubic inch “

Once fitted and with other modifications – “ American sourced four speed transmission “ and “ replaced the diff with a British Salisbury unit “
Brakes “ he [ Arthur ] obtained a full set of Dunlop disc brakes off an Aston Martin DB2 “

The car could now complete “ the standing quarter “ in 14.5 seconds and top speed was nudging 140mph “ In standard from he had achieved a “ standing quarter mile time of 16.78 seconds and a flying kilometre speed of 115 mph “

Springs were uprated and a set of “ adjustable front shock absorbers “fitted.

Car was Raced in this form in 1958/59

1959 at the end of the season Arthur sold the car after his wife Ngaire “ averaged 128.52 mph to become the ‘ fastest women in Australasia “

“ The Healey – Corvette was sold to Eddie Candy who continued to have success with it and then to Graham Smith “

1966 “ But then in 1966 it was traded at Vogue Motors in Dunedin and then the road crash in 1967 “ when owned by Bruce Cole
” The wreck was bought by a Christchurch enthusiast who simply stored it away “

1984 Years later the car was bought by Dave Bunn who restored it with “ Lindsay O’Donnell for providing the wherewithal that’s seen in back on the track – “
From the information board Dave Bunn restored the car over a period of 14 years - there have been other comments of people owning it or storing it posted on a facebook feature on the car with the Ron McPhail photo's

Allan Dick writes that “the job was completed 18 months or so ago when I reconised the car at Highlands “ that would be in 2013 – article written in late 2015.

Car runs 72 spoke wires that were available on TR6 and other BMC/BL Sports cars,orginally ran 48 spokers and at some time steel wheels on the rear.

From the information board Dave Bunn restored the car over a period of 14 years - there have been other comments of people owning it or storing it posted on a facebook feature on the car with the Ron McPhail photo's

Allan Dick further comment " The owner at the time of the crash was Bruce Cole of Timaru. And I got it wrong in the earlier comment I made, Bruce bought it off Lindsay Neilson before Fairmonte Motor Court, it was when Lindsay was still at Vogue Motors. I have the crash photos sent to me by Bruce somewhere "

As raced by Arthur Kennard

The Vogue Motors For Sale advert

The accident

above from Ron McPhail but Allan Dick has them too - from the Kennard family archives.

The car in recent times - Allan Dick photo

The information board -my photo

Thanks to Allan Dick for the information words shown in inverted comma's " " are direct quotes form Allan's article

[Kwaussie]

I can remember seeing this car at Wigram and the lower part of the bodywork was in a Teal colour which looked great with the main black paintwork. Have I confused this scheme with another car?

[Roger Dowding]

I can remember seeing this car at Wigram and the lower part of the bodywork was in a Teal colour which looked great with the main black paintwork. Have I confused this scheme with another car?

Kwaussie - you are correct. It was two tone before the accident [ and rebuild ] - now just in the Black.
It is hard to tell from the Black and White photo's - must see if there are other photo's out there !!