When I was a little nipper back in Dunedin, New Zealand our family car, the first I remember anyway, was a 1948 Austin 16. I have 4 siblings so journeys in the Austin with 3 in the front and 4 in the back were cozy affairs. There was always a race for which of the… Continue reading Early Austin Healey 100 Steering Wheel Detail.
Category: Restoration Techniques
Austin Healey 3000 bores in a 100/6 block.
Over the years I have been asked many times if there is any good reason why a 100/6 (3.125†bore) should not be overbored to 3000 specifications (3.281â€). Back, before I knew better, I believed that there was no good reason not to do so and in fact we successfully rebuilt more than one 100/6… Continue reading Austin Healey 3000 bores in a 100/6 block.
Austin Healey 100 #174 Heatshields
The drivers footwell heatshields on #174 were original and somewhat different from those that I have seen on later cars. These heat shields are installed on all “Big” Healeys to limit the amount of heat that is radiated onto the driver’s footwell from the exhaust manifold and down pipe. The Original Heatshield on the Front… Continue reading Austin Healey 100 #174 Heatshields
Brake Pipe Flare TSB
Austin Healey BJ8 Water Pump Rebuild
Because the only available reproduction pumps are such c**p I have been selling a bunch of Austin Healey 3000 MkIII water pump rebuild kits and many people have asked me how difficult is it to rebuild one of these pumps? The kits cost $US68.65 which includes domestic or international shipping. The following is a step… Continue reading Austin Healey BJ8 Water Pump Rebuild
Austin Healey Steering Lever Removal
One of the difficult jobs when repairing or restoring the steering box or steering idler on an Austin Healey 100 – MkIII is the removal of the steering levers. These levers are fitted on to a tapered spline and without the correct tool can be very hard to release without damaging the steering box, steering… Continue reading Austin Healey Steering Lever Removal
Austin Healey Roadster Windshield Post Repair
The windshield frame on the pre-1963 6 cylinder Healeys is secured to the windshield posts with four 10/24 chromed Phillips head steel screws. The 100 posts used 10/32 threads. If the windshield has been fitted to a car that has been winter driven in areas where road salt is used it is very unlikely that… Continue reading Austin Healey Roadster Windshield Post Repair
Valve Seat Recession ….at last
Back in the early ‘80s the word on the street was that all little British Cars were doomed. Unleaded gas was coming, the sky was going to fall, and the exhaust valve seats in the Austin, MG and Triumph engines we all love to tinker with, which were made from cast iron, would be destroyed… Continue reading Valve Seat Recession ….at last
Restored Healey Body Panels
I’m not trying to make things difficult but I have found that describing corroded or damaged body panels is impossible therefore I have decided to sell the few that I have left in stock in restored condition only. The restoration work has, or will be, done by a former employee who used to do all… Continue reading Restored Healey Body Panels
Crownwheel Bolts: Solution Found
Thanks to the very welcome advice of Jim Hockert, Mike Gladwin, Bob Haskell, Richard Ewald, Dallas Congleton and Ken Freese, all of whom made very worthwhile suggestions, I think we have the problem solved. My idea of the tab washers became a non starter when I realized that I would be unable to get a… Continue reading Crownwheel Bolts: Solution Found