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Re: Engine and Transmission

To: "Hanna, Mark" <mhanna@ball.com>
Subject: Re: Engine and Transmission
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 11:51:43 -0700
Cc: "'Trevor Boicey'" <tboicey@brit.ca>, spridgets@autox.team.net
References: <53654725144FD111A24100805F57DEC00586351F@aeromsg2.ball.com>
Mark,
     You should have put an original Healey front anti sway bar on it.  After
all that work to try to stay original.
Mike MacLean-60 Sprite

"Hanna, Mark" wrote:

> Hi Trevor ,
> With all due respect I would like to share a different view. First let me
> say that if the car is an unmolested
> original example that has never been in a significant shunt , has little or
> no rust and is basically a time capsule.
> Then I completely agree with you. It would be a crime to modify a car like
> this.  On the other end of the spectrum
> is my car. It is missing it's original engine and transmission and
> suspension and interior. Three out of four wings had
> been heavily dented and filled with massive amounts of Bondo. On the plus
> side the car's suspension mounting points
> are true, and the car has almost no rust. I have replaced the three wings,
> both "A" posts , one "B" post , one sill , and
> a bunch of other mangled flat sheet metal parts. These repairs have been
> carried out to the highest standards that I can
> perform. I have used some lead and a very small amount of plastic on this
> car. I have been collecting all of the correct
> missing parts that give these cars so much of their charm. Like original
> seats , uncut dash , original gauges , steering
> wheel, all of the original Bakelite switches and controls. I've even
> acquired a radiator with perfect sheet metal that needs
> re-coring. (Didn't I get that from you ?) It could have ended up in the
> scrap heap. I also bought a copy of the originality
> standards , so that when I put the whole thing together it will look correct
> (mostly). But no matter what I do... even if I find
> rubber floor mats and ribbed door liners, it wont be an original car. In the
> 40 some odd years since these cars were first
> produced a lot of development has gone in to them. Some of it has been very
> successful. Are there any list members out there with
> Datsun 5 speeds or 1275's in their Bugeyes? Or alternators or disk brakes or
> Webers ???...Do you see what I mean ? So I am NOT
> sorry for putting all of the above and Polly bushings and a front sway bar
> and a rear panhard rod and leather interior and Wilton
> carpet into my Sprite. My Sprite will never be in the same class as "Old
> Grey" But it will have class and be a kick in the Ass.
> My .02 cents
>                    Mark Hanna
>                    AN5
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Trevor Boicey [SMTP:tboicey@brit.ca]
> > Sent: Monday, October 23, 2000 8:30 PM
> > To:   ryan marro
> > Cc:   Daniel1312@aol.com; robert@woozy.com; toyman@digitex.net;
> > spridgets@autox.team.net
> > Subject:      Re: Engine and Transmission
> >
> > ryan marro wrote:
> > >  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 think that's the fundamental "discontuity" in the logic.
> >
> >   The Healey is not a car of today. It's a car of yesteryear,
> > and that's what's wonderful about it, and they "ain't making
> > any more".
> >
> >   To try to put a modern engine into it because "Donald would
> > do it today" would imply that you are trying to modernize
> > the car. If you want a new car, you are likely better off to
> > just buy one, because after the engine and tranny swap
> > the braking and suspension is going to be horribly out
> > of place.
> >
> >   90% of these projects die. Strangely, a lot of them are
> > completed until they are driveable and even usable, but that's
> > about the time reality strikes and the illusion of the
> > dream is shattered by the reality.
> >
> >   Eventually, it all ends up in a stack of boxes as another
> > unfinished project.
> >
> > --
> > Trevor Boicey, P. Eng.
> > Ottawa, Canada, tboicey@brit.ca
> > ICQ #17432933 http://www.brit.ca/~tboicey/
> > "Wanna see me comb my hair really fast?" - Johnny Bravo


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