G'day
Spend a day away from my computer and all sorts of wonderful things
happen.
Of course it's possible to fit a six-cylinder into a 100 chassis. I have
one just like it.
I bought the BN3/1 way back in 1974 and every time I look at it I
continue to marvel at the how different it is from the standard 100 and
100/6 while at the same time being the same.
Starting from the front there is two wide uprights in place of the X
brace. These uprights are beneath the front shroud that support the
radiator which incidentally is from a Healey Saloon. There is a smaller
horizontal brace at the bottom behind the radiator that has been cut
away so that the fan doesn't hit. The fan itself has been relieved of
about an inch so that it spins freely. The radiator hoses are unique
with the top being a 90degree angle in about 3 inches of rubber. The
bottom hose consists of a upside down 1969 Toyota Corolla bottom hose, a
4 inch straight piece and a brass insert for the heater. The harmonic
balancer spins about 1/2 inch from where the bottom hose joins to the
radiator.
The original 100 angled engine mounts are retained but have been
extended towards the rear of the car to accept the 100 mountings. The
passenger side (it's a RHD car) inner guard has been belted in to make
it all fit. The passenger side foot well has had a huge piece cut out of
it so to fit the triple dual-throat SUs plus the shroud brace has been
removed.
The firewall has been subjected to a liberal use from a very large
hammer so that the engine fits in the shorter space. An elaborate
throttle linkage has been fitted using the original 100 pedals.
The driver's side foot well has been narrowed by about 2 inches so the
100S gearbox can fit. Where the 100 brake master cylinder is fastened
has been modified to also take a hydraulic clutch master cylinder.
The chassis has been cut away in about 10 places so that the gearbox
fits along with the overdrive and shortened drive shaft.
The BN3/1 and BN3/4 are very different motor cars.
By the way the BN3/1 started life as a pre-production car that was
retained by the DHMC and used for all sort of experiments. Plus after
fitted with the six-cylinder it was also used to test how two extra
seats would look in the back. The chassis is of the normal length.
Read all about this car in a forthcoming issue of the Austin-Healey
Magazine.
So is it possible to fit a six into a 100? Too bloody right it is but
why would you bother unless it's never been done before?
Hoo Roo
Patrick Quinn
Sydney, Australia
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