That's what I was looking for, thoughts and ideas from both sides. When I
bought the Bugeye, it was in pieces and the 948/smoothcase had been replaced
with a 1275/ribcase, so there was really no choice in it being stock or
modified. Now, I am just looking to improve my car to make it a better
daily driver (yes, every day to work and wherever else). Never having known
any of the Healeys personnally, I can't speak with authority, but I doubt
that they would still be building their cars with a 948cc engine these days.
I believe when Geoff was still alive (God bless the entire Healey family)
he looked to continually improve the car and to put out a quality product.
I think I will probably do the 5-speed modification at some point in the
future and also change to an alternator, electronic ignition, halogen
headlights, etc, but probably leave the engine as is. I remember the first
time I saw a Bugeye with a Chevy 350, lowered and with huge rear tires, my
first thought was probably, "Blasphemy!" I enjoy the 1275 and can't imagine
giving it up for a 948, but kudos to those who keep theirs all original.
As a side note, I saw on Motor Week this afternoon that BMW had a car at the
Paris car show recently labeled as the 2002 Mini Cooper. I believe this is
actually a car that will be built, but a lot of the cars on the show were to
be sold in Europe only (I had just tuned to the channel when the Mini Cooper
was being talked about).
>From: Daniel1312@aol.com
>Reply-To: Daniel1312@aol.com
>To: robert@woozy.com, toyman@digitex.net, ryan_marro@hotmail.com
>CC: spridgets@autox.team.net
>Subject: Re: Engine and Transmission
>Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 12:24:55 EDT
>
>Hi list,
>
>I think I represent the middle of the road view here. I am not in favour
>of
>a car with no synchromesh on first gear, that while being a sports car has
>trouble keeping up with Mr & Mrs Average, their kids and a dog in the back
>of
>Euro Hatch/Rice ride and gets scary when it does get up to 90mph or a
>corner.
>
>I think that what amounts to 'period modifications' are preferable to
>extreme
>engine swaps but do absolutely believe in uprating the car. In the UK at
>least the Rover/MG K-series engine is a popular swap and I guess if the
>engine went into the MG F cannot be all bad. Likewise the Ford gearbox
>went
>into the Caterham 7. Brakes are uprated all round on my car but still
>period
>British.
>
>Let us not forget though that these old cars and others have had extreme
>engine swaps since they were first made. A saw a picture (dating from the
>1960s) in one book of a Morris Minor that had a 3.8/4.2 Jaguar XK engine
>under the bonnet (in fact half way into the car) in place of the little
>small
>block A-Series.
>
>Just how old is the Chevvy vee 8, and might it class as a period
>modification?
>
>And what is the alternative - another Spridget that goes to the crusher to
>say hello to 'Mr Cube -it'? Lets be honest our cars are not Bentley's
>(even
>vintage Bentley's get modifed with overdrive) are the historical value or
>scarcity is not such that another modified car is the end of the world.
>
>I simply wouldn't recommend a vee 8 swap in the Spridget because it just
>wouldn't go round corners. I wouldn't recomend a rotary swap because the
>engine is a deviant (I would rather get the power with a turbo K) - these
>are
>just my opinions.
>
>Each to his own.
>
>Daniel1312
>
>In a message dated 22/10/00 14:37:44 GMT Daylight Time, robert@woozy.com
>writes:
>
><< Arghhh...
>
> He could just go buy a Miata or a Z3 or a Corvette instead of
> chopping up yet another Bugeye. I still don't understand why anyone
> would want to do this to a classic car.
>
> I hope by the time I have the funds to buy a Bugyeye that there will
> still be some around that haven't been butchered.
>
> That's my rant for the day,
>
> Robert Weeks >>
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