[Healeys] Rover V8 in a Healey

Tue Feb 13 07:31:09 MST 2024

The Rover V8 is basically the 215 ci Buick aluminum engine that Rover later
bought the rights to.  It really doesn't put out enough power in stock form
for the heavy big Healey but is much better suited to a Sprite.  For me,
who loves these old Healey drag cars this was a very fun read from Facebook:

[image: 427027841_2893378360801157_2524321546069948917_n.jpg]

"
David Van Weele
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/537339426646017/user/100003870632662/?__cft__[0]=AZWofg1JW_qoTFNaekfgzlfLMwzVzLqu2wI3BPYAm5GVe-YFXAuSRqP_yjTd99qJfM8wJFdUrLwJ7pwYyCWQJBg3GObGDeA2FIBE1HNq6ZjBmYbjH9OT1TQsfFw8dHjA-f1iYRZBx2Ldxhk0UT2Xxvy-T5zi6mT6FBzhmhobeTqAxgFNippsVoX2UK7OWtj7cwSIuVScQgIN7pa0_h6myehDk9ZkMZG9Hxlh4cGIEVLUrg&__tn__=-UC*F>
rsdeSontpo 62t0My:11liamam1g3t 5P0 0cu9t 1u7F0brm1g2g1hgf0re
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/537339426646017/posts/2005694813143797/?__cft__[0]=AZWofg1JW_qoTFNaekfgzlfLMwzVzLqu2wI3BPYAm5GVe-YFXAuSRqP_yjTd99qJfM8wJFdUrLwJ7pwYyCWQJBg3GObGDeA2FIBE1HNq6ZjBmYbjH9OT1TQsfFw8dHjA-f1iYRZBx2Ldxhk0UT2Xxvy-T5zi6mT6FBzhmhobeTqAxgFNippsVoX2UK7OWtj7cwSIuVScQgIN7pa0_h6myehDk9ZkMZG9Hxlh4cGIEVLUrg&__tn__=%2CO*F>
  ·
This is a picture of my brother driving my car back in 1969 at Morosso in
Palm Beach, Fl. I purchased the car new in 1960 a dealer in Bayport NY. I
street drove the car until 1963 when I purchased a new 1963 Corvette Z06. I
had an accident in 1962 that destroyed the bug eye lights so I purchased a
Peasmarsh fiber glass bonnet. It looked like an XKE Jag with the headlights
under plexiglass covers. With the Z06 to drive on the street my brother and
I installed a Buick 215 CI aluminum engine. We built the engine with
Hilborn fuel injection, Isky cam and kit, 13:1 Forge True pistons, Mickey
Thompson Alum rods, Thomas magnesium rocker arms, Vertex Magneto, T-10
transmission, 57 Chevy rear end shortened to fit under the body and used
M&H slicks on widened Corvette wheels. With the hood surround we ran B
Modified Sport and If we removed the surround we ran C Altered. It ran very
well, the cam and set up produced max HP at 10,500 RPM so the straight
exhaust had the sound of any Indy car. This is what happens when a H
Production car grows up."

Se
On Mon, Feb 12, 2024 at 9:25 PM <alfuller194 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Has anyone here put the Rove V-8 in a Healey? I think I heard that was a
> nice balance between weight savings, increased power and level of
> difficulty.
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------
>
> All the best,
>
>
>
> Al Fuller
>
>
>
> *From:* Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> *On Behalf Of *Chris
> Scholz via Healeys
> *Sent:* Friday, February 9, 2024 10:26 PM
> *To:* HealeyRick <healeyrik at gmail.com>
> *Cc:* healeys at autox.team.net
> *Subject:* Re: [Healeys] BJ8 1967 Engine Rebuild failure
>
>
>
> I love my LS1 swap.  It was a lot of work.  Aluminum dual passage Wizard
> radiator with 15” spal fan-I can drive in a parade at 110 heat index and
> car stays right at 195 degrees.  Lots of work to get the alternator to
> fit-I modified a bracket from a Jeep wrangler LS swap kit.   Everything
> barely fit longitudinally-there is one inch between the electric radiator
> fan and my water pump.   Had to cut the steering shaft and u joint.  Works
> great.
>
> Like Rick, I have the stock 3.55 Healey rear with a quaife limited slip
> diff and it works perfectly.  72” Daytona wire wheels with 205 wide tires.
>   Lowered the front spring perches -my front was so much lighter it was up
> in the air by 2-3”.  It rides and handles so well.  My car was a 1959 100-6
> so it wasn’t worth as much stock as a BJ8.  I feel my value went up.
>
> I love my reliability and the torque is amazing.  Car is so much fun to
> slowly cruise and then hit the gas and go.  I would never go back to the
> heavy iron block.  I feel this an aluminum V8 would have been Healey’s
> first choice if GM would have worked with him.
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> Chris Scholz OD
>
>
>
> On Feb 9, 2024, at 7:58 PM, HealeyRick <healeyrik at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 
>
> A V8 swap is nothing to be undertaken lightly. It's not as simple as
> "dropping in a V8". That's the easy part, mostly focusing on making engine
> and transmission mounts and cutting away pieces of the footwells so the
> motor will fit with the exhaust headers in place.  It's all the other stuff
> you need to do that will really add the work. New electrical system,
> radiator, upgraded brakes, fuel system, transmission shifter, etc, etc.
> It's worth it in the end if you want a Healey/Cobra, but you'll also knock
> off about 30 percent of your car's value or more.  You can see the work I
> had to do to put a Ford 5.0L and 5 speed transmission into my BJ7 here:
> http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?13,8264  The Ford 5.0 is narrower
> than the Chevy LS so less body cutting to do, but not a huge difference. LS
> motors are more likely to be found in a junkyard with low mileage now and
> with your brother a GM mechanic, would be very helpful.  I did about 50-75%
> of the swap myself, except for the engine rebuild and body fabrication. My
> car has 350 hp and I run the stock rear end with 3.55 gears and Dayton 72
> spoke wires.  Much more power than that and those parts will start
> braking.  A good engine swap is really a joy, but if you do a bad one it
> will be a nightmare forever. Chris did a really nice swap with his LS but
> he can speak to how much work it was.
>
>
>
> My first choice if you don't have that "Need for Speed" would be to try a
> replacement Healey 6.
>
>
>
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick
>
>
>
> On Fri, Feb 9, 2024 at 2:11 PM <rfbegani at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Funny you should suggest a v8 replacement.  Chris just made that
> suggestion to install an LS1 with GM Trans.  My Bother is a retired GM
> mechanic, and he agrees.  Did you do the exchange?  What engine trans etc.
> did you use?  All options are on the table.
>
>
>
> Bob
>
>
>
> *From:* HealeyRick <healeyrik at gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Friday, February 9, 2024 1:32 PM
> *To:* rfbegani at gmail.com
> *Cc:* healeys at autox.team.net
> *Subject:* Re: [Healeys] BJ8 1967 Engine Rebuild failure
>
>
>
> Sorry to hear this Bob. What you've been told so far seems correct.
> Without the main bearing caps you're in a tough spot.  Maybe trying to find
> a BJ8 block or a rebuildable BJ8 motor is the best of a bad group of
> choices.  Too bad, I gave away a bare block with caps from a BJ7 a few
> years ago for a donation to our club charity.  I'd put a wanted ad in the
> club magazines and Healey forums, Facebook pages and hope someone out there
> might have one. Try Hemphills, Healey Surgeons, David Nock, maybe they have
> one that needs rebuilding somewhere. Or do what I did and put a V8 in there!
>
>
>
> Best of luck,
>
> Rick Neville aka "HealeyRick"
>
>
>
> On Fri, Feb 9, 2024 at 11:12 AM <rfbegani at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Gentlemen:
>
>
>
> I arrived back to Florida in May and decide to drive my 67 Austin-Healey.
> Drove it a mile and heard clanking engine, looked at the oil pressure, It
> was O! Instead of stooping to have towed home, I drove it back slowly.
> Last month, I dropped the pan and started to remove the rod and crank caps
> and bearings.  My mechanic friend said you got lucky the crank may only
> need polishing and new bearings.  So, I packed and marked each of the main
> bearing caps, bolts, and bearings along with piston rods and caps in
> individual plastic bags. Then packed them into a larger plastic bag which
> was put under the workbench near the garbage.  We towed the car to Mikes
> garage so he could pull and disassemble the engine.  Tuesday, he asked me
> to bring the parts I had removed from the engine so he would have
> everything in one place.  I looked around but could not find this black
> plastic bag and then remembered it got pitched in the garbage. So, I am now
> up the famous creek and am asking this group what I can do?
>
>
>
>    1. I am told the engine is finished because the Main Bearing caps are
>    not available and even if you could find them, they would need to be line
>    bored on the engine.
>    2. I am told that finding an engine block for a 3000 with original
>    main bearing caps is almost impossible.
>    3. Finding an engine to be rebuild might be possible.
>
>
>
> My engine was rebuilt 6000 miles with years ago everything new, so I would
> like to find a way of fixing the existing engine, if possible.
>
>
>
> Please give me your advice.
>
>
>
> Best regards,
>
>
>
> Bob Begani
>
> 67 Austin-Healey BJ8
>
>
>
>
>
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