Healey Sports Cars

mods & upgrades for Healey (Nash, Austin, or Jensen) cars, including engine swaps

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Milwaukee Midget
Chris Conrad
Milwaukee, WI
(14 posts)

Registered:
04/23/2015 10:33PM

Main British Car:
1961 Austin Healey Sprite Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Frankensprite
Posted by: Milwaukee Midget
Date: January 30, 2017 09:29AM

Hey, Byron -

It's a Borg Warner T-50 5 speed out of a Chevy Monza. The shift pattern puts 1st gear down and to the left - reverse left and up.

The bellhousing is the stock Buick piece. I modified a Novak Buick V6-to-Jeep hydraulic clutch kit to fit the V8 bellhousing with a new bracket and modified a Tilton 3/4 master cylinder to fit the stock pedal box. The clutch is way stiff, but my knees are still good.

My sister visited us this last weekend, and she was just smitten with it. But then she got behind the driver's seat, fired it up, and just said, "Ohh . . .no, . . . no, I don't think so".

She's usually pretty gutsy . . .


BWA


(344 posts)

Registered:
04/13/2010 08:13PM

Main British Car:


Re: Frankensprite
Posted by: BWA
Date: January 30, 2017 04:12PM

One of your many things left to do is a nice photo shoot so we can see all the fine work you have done.
The earlier photos are good but pictures of the completed car are mandatory :-)
Keep up the good work.

Cheers
Byron


Milwaukee Midget
Chris Conrad
Milwaukee, WI
(14 posts)

Registered:
04/23/2015 10:33PM

Main British Car:
1961 Austin Healey Sprite Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Frankensprite
Posted by: Milwaukee Midget
Date: February 04, 2017 01:06PM

Hi, Byron -

Well, first off, I don't think cars of this nature are ever completed. I'll be happy with "roadworthy".

Secondly, there's some shoddiness I'm disinclined to document, but according to Puxatony Phil, Spring is only 6 weeks away. Let's get some 60 degree days and an opportunity to give this thing a solid bath, and I'll click off a few 10 footers.

I appreciate the encouragement!

One other project I'm working on -
komives13_8129172sm.jpg

In 2014, we took my "Milwaukee Midget" to Bonneville and set a record in the I/GT class.

"I" is a class for engines between 750 and 1000 cc, GT is stock bodied sports cars utilizing engines produced by the original manufacturer. Engine modifications are allowed, provided you utilize a stock block and head configuration. We ran a best a 126, setting the record at 122.539. That was with a short-stroke 1275 taken down to 999 cc. The record had stood for 22 years.

Since then, I've imported a 1400 cc MG/Rover K-series DOHC 16 valve and had a custom crank made for it, which will bring us down to 990 cc.

We took the record with modified 5-port A-series, tuned to 99 hp. Our engine modeling indicates we should see north of 125 hp with the DOHC K-series, and if it holds together, I'm thinking 135 mph won't be out of the question.

The entire build diary is available at . . .

[www.landracing.com]

Cheers!

Chris


BWA


(344 posts)

Registered:
04/13/2010 08:13PM

Main British Car:


Re: Frankensprite
Posted by: BWA
Date: February 04, 2017 01:37PM

I have heard good things about those Rover K series engines.
I wish they were available over here as they would be the type of engine you could stuff in all kinds off LBC's

Keep us posted on this new engine.

Cheers
Byron


Milwaukee Midget
Chris Conrad
Milwaukee, WI
(14 posts)

Registered:
04/23/2015 10:33PM

Main British Car:
1961 Austin Healey Sprite Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Frankensprite
Posted by: Milwaukee Midget
Date: February 19, 2017 05:10PM

Well, I said,

"Let's get some 60 degree days and an opportunity to give this thing a solid bath, and I'll click off a few 10 footers."

http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo58/milwaukeemidget/Pom%20Rod/DSCN1063_zps2hadsuqv.jpg
http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo58/milwaukeemidget/Pom%20Rod/DSCN1061_zpsydw9ecat.jpg
http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo58/milwaukeemidget/Pom%20Rod/DSCN1060_zpsn675st43.jpg
http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo58/milwaukeemidget/Pom%20Rod/DSCN1064_zpsxrtnjoja.jpg

60 in February in Milwaukee?

Yup!


BWA


(344 posts)

Registered:
04/13/2010 08:13PM

Main British Car:


Re: Frankensprite
Posted by: BWA
Date: February 19, 2017 11:52PM

Looks real good!!
Thanks for the photos.

Cheers
Byron


mnjeff
jeff laska
La Crescent, MN 55947
(3 posts)

Registered:
02/18/2017 05:32PM

Main British Car:
59 Bugeye Soon to be 215 Buick powered

Re: Frankensprite
Posted by: mnjeff
Date: February 24, 2017 02:07PM

Nice work!
I gotta ask, how does it drive? steer? Noticeably different over stock? Besides power of course...
Thanks
Jeff



Milwaukee Midget
Chris Conrad
Milwaukee, WI
(14 posts)

Registered:
04/23/2015 10:33PM

Main British Car:
1961 Austin Healey Sprite Buick 215

authors avatar
Re: Frankensprite
Posted by: Milwaukee Midget
Date: March 05, 2017 10:46PM

Hey, Jeff -

I've yet to get the front end aligned, but I did take it for a quick drive around the neighborhood this weekend -

[www.youtube.com]

Stops REALLY well - I was surprised, but I've clearly got some sorting and clunking issues to deal with. Until I get the front end aligned, I can't say how it handles, and oddly enough, I've never driven a stock Midget or Sprite, so I've got no point of reference.

The suspension doesn't bottom out, but the exhaust clearance to the ground does scrape the muffler pulling into the garage.

I've owned a '66 390 Mercury Cyclone GT and a 351 Torino with a really strong 4 barrel Cleveland. The Sprite is considerably swifter.
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