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Re: Front Suspension Swap

To: <healeys@autox.team.net>, "Doug Newton" <dnewton@nappco.com>
Subject: Re: Front Suspension Swap
From: "Allen C Miller, Jr." <acmiller@mhcable.com>
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2005 12:05:00 -0400
 wDoug Newton wrote:
>
> Does anyone know if you can take the complete front suspension from a late
> model Big Healey and install it on a car as early as a BN1 or BN2 without
> having to modify the frame or any of the suspension parts?




Doug~

I did this with the guidance of several, and the answer is definitely yes.

A hightop box can be fitted with a brand new worm gear cut for a 'fast road' 
steering ratio. On advice from David Ward, who rebuilt my box in England, 
this was done, and the steering response is teriffic. The levers, idler, 
cross tube, etc must also come from a lateHealey. I saved all my BN2 
steering gear for quick reinstallation by the NO (Next Owner), who has, 
hopefully, not yet left the cradle.

The flat top box that came out of the BN2/M had had a rough life, and still 
had a lot of slack even with a new sterring peg. Putting in a new peg only 
cures half the problem, and you are still left with uneven wear on the worm 
gear, hence the struggle of compromising between tight spots and slop. The 
new computer-cut high ratio worm that David fit is remarkably like rack and 
pinion. I leave it a little loose (~3/8" +/- of circumferential play on the 
steering wheel), and enjoy a very smooth, light resistance feel to the 
wheel. Strongly recommend this modification; it's completely reversible.

Allen




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