healey100jedi Dan Wolters Tucson (25 posts) Registered: 07/20/2008 10:56PM Main British Car: 1956 100GT Supra 7MGTE |
1956 Austin Healey 100-GT
Hey. I'm Dan. I built an Austin Healey 100 Coupe. It's taken me five 'an a half years to get this far; I think it's the only one around. Can you identify the top? I built the frame from 1/8 inch wall 2 x 4 steel. Thought the 7MGTE (Mk III Supra turbo) with 232hp and R154 tranny would complement the coilovers, double wishbone front suspension, rack & pinion steering, power discs, ABS, Ford 9 inch, triangulated four bar rear suspension, and detachable steering wheel. I had to make an english wheel to fab a couple of the rear panels. I spent a lot of time a the local U-Pull-R-Parts trying to identify piece parts. I used the ABS on a drive earlier this Fall. Car weighs in at 2400lb. Still have to validate that the cooling is sufficient. Drove to the Mitchell SD Outkasts show last September from the Twin Cities. Gonna drive it next summer (Spring Extravaganza, Healey Hill climb, Back to the 50's, Healey gymkhana, Hastings, Hazardous Waste, Pantown, TinMan, Osceola, Outkasts, and Hunert) then tear it apart next Winter to cleanup the body. See you on the road!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/18/2019 11:03PM by healey100jedi. |
BlownMGB-V8 Jim Blackwood 9406 Gunpowder Rd., Florence, KY 41042 (6497 posts) Registered: 10/23/2007 12:59PM Main British Car: 1971 MGB Blown,Injected,Intercooled Buick 340/AA80E/JagIRS |
Re: 1956 Austin Healey 100-GT
healey100jedi Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------- > Can you identify the top? Sort of reminds me of a GT6. Nice car. Quite unique. Jim |
healey100jedi Dan Wolters Tucson (25 posts) Registered: 07/20/2008 10:56PM Main British Car: 1956 100GT Supra 7MGTE |
Re: 1956 Austin Healey 100-GT
David,
Yeah, it attracts a certain crowd. Seems to offend the GT6 people, too. The only original Healey parts that can't be used on a factory Healey are the rear fenders and rear shroud. All three were in extremely bad condition - leftovers from other restorations. I had to weld on new flanges on the rear shroud. The top came from a GT6 racer that was in an accident. The previous owner was going to send the empty shell to the scrap yard, and I negotiated a free deal by removing it for him. The Supra also was in an accident, but the motor and transmission, wiring, and computers were still good. All the other parts I either made or bought as new reproductions. Its kind of funny, some people are really interested, others walk away shaking their head with disappointment (I even had an American street rod guy wondering why I even did an LBC). I've really enjoyed building this car. It's different. Dan |
Re: 1956 Austin Healey 100-GT
Well I like it a lot and would take it to every British show I could. Speaking of such things, maybe you can make it to Durham in June. You'll be a hit!
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HealeyRick Rick Neville (491 posts) Registered: 12/19/2007 05:01PM Main British Car: 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 Ford 5.0L |
Re: 1956 Austin Healey 100-GT
Looks a bit like the old Kellison hardtop:
Nice work! Rick |
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BMC Brian Mc Cullough Forest Lake, Minnesota, USA (384 posts) Registered: 10/30/2007 02:27AM Main British Car: 1980 MGB '95 3.4L 'L32' SFI V6, GM V6T5 & 3.42 Limi |
Re: 1956 Austin Healey 100-GT
Hi Dan,
You should know that I have always had a stick on my shoulder and I hope to meet you at a few autocrosses, Healey Hilclimbs and Gymkanas to beat (or be beaten by) you. You can't have built a car like that to sit in the garage so what do I have to do to egg you on? I just love the appearance of the 100/4. I have seen Dan's car in person and can say that he has placed quite a bit of time into it and makes my project appear quite simple. Great work Dan. -BMC. |
healey100jedi Dan Wolters Tucson (25 posts) Registered: 07/20/2008 10:56PM Main British Car: 1956 100GT Supra 7MGTE |
Re: 1956 Austin Healey 100-GT
BMC
Thanks. I don't know if you realize it, but your work in transplanting MG's gave me confirmation that this sort of thing was going to work. Don't expect too much competition at the Hillclimb - I've spent too much time and I don't want to fall into a raveen. The gymkhana should be plenty safe to go nine-tenths speed. One of the most challenging part of the build was figuring out where all the wires should go. This image from the right side of the car, through the passenger's door shows the wiring behind the dash. I used the MkIII Supra wiring harness which has a very robust electrical system with integrated relays, engine management and ABS computers. Also in the picture is the brake booster located above the passenger's footwell. #5 billards ball is the shift knob. Dan |
healey100jedi Dan Wolters Tucson (25 posts) Registered: 07/20/2008 10:56PM Main British Car: 1956 100GT Supra 7MGTE |
Re: 1956 Austin Healey 100-GT
Okay, it got up to 34F today, and I'm thinking Spring is just around the corner. I can't wait to get this thing out again on the road. It's going to warm up? Right? Please?
Here's a summary of the car. Engine: 89 Toyota Supra MkIII 7MGTE straight 6, 3 liter, Intercooled turbo, EFI Cooling: 84 Volvo 240 radiator with thermostatically controlled Cutlass puller fan Exhaust: Short & Straight Glasspack, exits ahead of rear wheel on passengers side Transmission: 90 Toyota Supra MkIII R-154 Rear Axle: Narrowed Ford 9 inch, 3.5 gear ratio Frame: 2x4 1/8 wall, FCAW (per SAE AMS-STD-2219A except Section 3.12) Front Susp.: 89 Toyota Supra MkIII double wishbone with QA1 coilovers Front Kickup: 3.25 up and 5.00 narrow Rear Susp.: Triangulated four bar with QA1 coilovers Rear Kickup: 15.25 up Brakes: four wheel disc with ABS, twisted master and stainless steel flex lines (master) 89 Toyota Supra MkIII (front) 89 Toyota Supra MkIII (rear) 93 Chevrolet Camaro Wheels/Tires: Painted Chrysler Town and Country steel wheels, P205/50R16 Body Mods: Coupe. No fender fares! Interior: Kirkey racing seats, flat steel, needs sound deadener Electrical: Toyota Supra MkIII wiring harness (with computers) Note the fabrication/blending of GT6 top to Healey superstructure And at 2008 Wheels & Wings in Osceola WI |
healey100jedi Dan Wolters Tucson (25 posts) Registered: 07/20/2008 10:56PM Main British Car: 1956 100GT Supra 7MGTE |
Re: 1956 Austin Healey 100-GT
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healey100jedi Dan Wolters Tucson (25 posts) Registered: 07/20/2008 10:56PM Main British Car: 1956 100GT Supra 7MGTE |
Re: 1956 Austin Healey 100-GT
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BMC Brian Mc Cullough Forest Lake, Minnesota, USA (384 posts) Registered: 10/30/2007 02:27AM Main British Car: 1980 MGB '95 3.4L 'L32' SFI V6, GM V6T5 & 3.42 Limi |
Re: 1956 Austin Healey 100-GT
Fantastic Dan! Your putting more miles on your Healey than I have been able to place on the B. Guess I need to get out more. :-)
Have you taken the opportunity to see any speed in the Healey yet? -BMC. |
Re: 1956 Austin Healey 100-GT
Cool ride. I was visiting family and stopped by a friend of my dad's- inside the garage--1956 Austin healey 100 - beautiful resto with a chevy zz350. He also had a 1920 locomobile (Warren g. Harding's wife's car), a 1915 stutz hearse (being converted to a roadster) and a 1915 brewster.
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healey100jedi Dan Wolters Tucson (25 posts) Registered: 07/20/2008 10:56PM Main British Car: 1956 100GT Supra 7MGTE |
Re: 1956 Austin Healey 100-GT
I entered the 2010 Autorama in St Paul (February 26 - 28).
Won best in class. Not sure which class I was in or who else was in it. Must have been "Orange 1956 Austin Healey 100-GT" class. Had a good time. Drove the car to the show and back, no trailer. Had to construct my own people barrier - used authentic wire wheels, knockoffs, black iron pipe, ford torque converter backing plates, and a length of air hose. Kept the car within arms reach of the people. They love to touch the welds, and ask if it's plastic. It's not, but it needs some. |
healey100jedi Dan Wolters Tucson (25 posts) Registered: 07/20/2008 10:56PM Main British Car: 1956 100GT Supra 7MGTE |
Re: 1956 Austin Healey 100-GT
Hey gang. I was doing a little internet search last night on "Healey + Bonneville" and found a thread on my car. Evidently some think the workmanship is "TERRIBLE."
I don't know, it's an award winning car. LOL, too funny. LMAO. [www.britishcarforum.com] I'm just trying to find a wheel barrow of time and money, so I can finish it. |
Re: 1956 Austin Healey 100-GT
I think you should leave it with the "rough look" as it kind of falls into the "rat rod" category. Your car is unique and I think you have done a cool job of it. Don't worry about the purists it is all about you enjoying your creation. I think you nailed it on the shape of the top as the GT cars of this era had similar profiles. The 100-4 is such a good looking car that they look good either as a roadster or a coupe or a GT.
Keep up the good work Byron |
healey100jedi Dan Wolters Tucson (25 posts) Registered: 07/20/2008 10:56PM Main British Car: 1956 100GT Supra 7MGTE |
Re: 1956 Austin Healey 100-GT
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