Healey Sports Cars

I'm thinking really really seriously about that... I'm going to get the brakes sorted out and see what it does and probably order a set after that.

I guess I should update this a little bit... I've gone through a few different engine combos on the little car in the last year. Below is when I had it supercharged with a 142 blower... I loved it but I got sick of no kidding having to fix the front end everytime I got on it and it would raise the front wheels up. Pulled that engine and put an engine I built from an old L-82 corvette. Nothing too crazy... Maybe 375 hp, but more than enough and way more manageable. Had to put it all under a 429 Cobra jet scoop. It fits but not with much clearance. I stayed with the 200-4r trans and daily drive it when it's not raining. I now reside out in the Norfolk/Virginia beach area so stop me if you see me driving by.

Just picked up a new front end for the Sprite. I really didn't want to cut the Thomas denner hood. Picked up a fiberglass frontend from a guy in eBay, drove up and picked it up. Going to figure out how to mount it and also how I'm going to modify it for the engine setup. It's super light compared to my all steel frontend. Should shave a good amount of weight off an already light car.

It's been awhile since I updated but I'm going back to the 142 supercharger setup. It was right. Similar to the pic below but with RHS aluminum heads. Updating everything in the car over the winter, new side pipes, new headers, etc. Should really do a build journal but hell been doing it this way for awhile I guess.
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OK, that will be quite something.
Look forward to seeing it in place without cutting the hood.

Ivor :}

Nope, It'll definitely be coming through the hood!!!

Power is... adequate!

Been kinda dead over here but I'm starting to get some progress done on the little car... Supercharged SBC is in, mated to the 200-4r. Thomas Denner bonnet is modified for the upgraded engine. I still have a lot of work to do but it's moving in the right direction finally!!! I'll post up more pics later today as I think I'm going to pull some parts to sand blast and powdercoat today. Nice weather outside, I'd hate to waste it not getting stuff done😀



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So, with the alloy heads it won't bend the front end because when it lands, it's lighter?
That's a nice oblique way to come at it.

That 200-4R should get a medal.

Ivor :}

The 200-4r is built with a lot of the good internals from the buick grand national crowd... I just got done powder coating the cast deep pan for it, silver vein grey. I like it. The control arms and hardware (just 1 side at the moment)I did in gloss black, and I really liked how they turned out. I did the inner spring in red and the outer spring in single stage chrome powder... I wanted some contrast and I figured, why not. It should look really good when it's all bolted together. I gotta pull the passenger side and do it now, then some other odds and ends on the front and then... bolt it all back together, shiny and clean.

Sandblasting the next round of parts so I can powder coat them this weekend. Front sway bar, some brackets, etc... going to pull the springs and other stuff out from the rear and go over them as well this weekend. Nice that ever thing fits in the oven and cabinet.

DIY powder coat... unusual.
There used to be problems with the durability of powder coat. The coat stayed together but lost its bond to the metal which then rusted underneath.
TVR had a lot of problems with powder coat shelling off the chassis tubes of their cars.

Maybe things are better now.

I like epoxy two-pack, but I don't like the faff of applying it!

Ivor

It's pretty reliable these days. I invested in good equipment and good powders and I make sure to clean the metal properly and off gas it at a higher temp than the curing temp for the powder. So far the results have been good and every time I do it it gets better and better and I learn more. Definetly sticking to the epoxy coatings on the frame though, since putting that into the oven and sand blast cabinet isn't practical... or possible. I'll still ensure that the frame is cleaned properly and residue from all oils, etc is gone before painting. Trying to make this the last time I have the car apart.

Quote:

"Anarchy99"
I make sure to clean the metal properly and off gas it at a higher temp than the curing temp for the powder...

Sadly, there is little appreciation of how soon metal begins to corrode, especially in a damp atmosphere. One can't see it, but it's beginning. A few hours at most. If the first coat of whatever isn't put on in a few hours, it's going over rust.

'When we gritblast steel in the UK it must be coated within 1 hour.
It will be fine to leave it 4 times that on a hot day in a desert, because there is no moisture in the atmosphere. On a wet day, even under cover, we might try and reduce the wait time by 4 times less - it’s so humid that rust is starting almost immediately.'
[www.quora.com]

This is one reason that 'bare-metal' repaints often fail within a few years.
Too many people think one can strip a piece of metal, leave it a few days, handle it with greasy fingers and not degrease, then they blame the paint when it starts to rust.

Sounds like you're on top of your subject.
Maybe you could start a Youtube powder coating channel.

Ivor

I got a lot done today... not as much as I wanted, a few of the parts weren't stripped as well as I wanted do I didn't coat them. Ordered a ton of parts that I needed and went digging through old boxes to find parts that I hope I can use on this one... QA1 double adjustable shocks... yeah, they are for a camaro but I hope to make them work. Also ordered fiberglass supplies for the upcoming front end work, and also bushings that I need to put everything back together. I think I'm going to redo the expansion tank so that I can clean it all up a little nicer. Slowly getting progress in but at least it's progress...



Shinyness comparison... not quite chrome but still pretty nice.


Shocks and a dipstick I'm planning on using...

Nothing too terribly crazy going on, besides an insane amount of rain... I moved just about everything out of the way on the driver's side so I can get after it this weekend. The plan is:

1) change how the master cylinder is mounted... it sits a smidge too high and interferes with the hood fitment in that area.
2) install the new gas pedal assembly; this time its going to be floor mounted.
3) clean up the firewall and footwell area so it looks a lot cleaner.
4) start fabrication on the exhaust routing from side pipes to exhaust manifolds.
5) finish fabbing up the steering, from the column down to the rack.

Some parts have already begun to show up but a ton are still on the way. Also thinking about installing a line lock this go around. I have one sitting around from a previous project so why not.

I like your rear license plate surround. Do you have a better picture of it?

Sure thing, I'll snap one tomorrow morning from inside the trunk and behind the car.

Boy, this is turning out to be a BEAST! Would love to see it in action. Really like that new fiberglass front end.

Jim, I'm a terd I forgot to post these up for you. Let me know if you need particulars and I can measure or take more detailed stuff...

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2021 10:26PM by Anarchy99.