1960 Austin Healey - Pro-Tour?

[OLDFLM]

With all the threads about Stielow's Solstice and the Eco-tech Chevette I've been wondering "what could I do with that old Bugeye'd Sprite I've had in storage for 25 years?"

I bought the car at 15 from a local guy as a father & son project that a change to 2nd shift prevented from happening... it's still setting there waiting. Most of the parts to restore it are there... many still in the packaging that they came from. Obviously after all these years of just setting in pieces everything will need to be gone through mechanically... so I've been thinking... would it be easier to ditch the stock suspension and the anemic green Austin 4-cylinder in favor of something more modern?

Keeping it simple and as budget minded as possible, what would you do?

V/R,
Ty

[deuce_454]

the healey frame isnt that stiff.... and the suspesnion isnt that modern... dependung on your budget... but id' stuff a different frame under there

i saw a picture of a healey in an old magazine that had the daytona fenderflares and an SBC.. and it was the coolest thing ever.... totally AC cobra with austin genes....

[awr68]

What is the car worth restored?

[frankenstang]

I'm helping my friend rebuild a 61 3000. It was his dad's car from the 60's. I guess his old man used to road race it to. We're going with a carb'd 302 Ferd and a T5 trans. Probably going to use a narrowed 8.8 with some kind of 4 link. We kind of thought min-tubs should work since he isn't going to keep the back seat. I have found a few pictures around the healy fourms that show some creative suspensions.
There will be some kind of upper and lower A arms on this one when we get done.

[OLDFLM]

Originally Posted by frankenstang

I'm helping my friend rebuild a 61 3000. It was his dad's car from the 60's. I guess his old man used to road race it to. We're going with a carb'd 302 Ferd and a T5 trans. Probably going to use a narrowed 8.8 with some kind of 4 link. We kind of thought min-tubs should work since he isn't going to keep the back seat. I have found a few pictures around the healy fourms that show some creative suspensions.
There will be some kind of upper and lower A arms on this one when we get done.

If mine were a 3000 I'd be going the resto route! If I'd only known then...
My wife loves the black one that Steve Martin drives in Father of the Bride 2!

[awr68]

Doesn't sound like they are bringing much money...I say PT the hell out of it!!

[OLDFLM]

There are 4 on eBay right now with bidding between $6000-8500.
I've been thinking that a full frame would be easy to fab with dual tubular A-arms with coil overs up front and a simple 4 link out back. I was thinking Buick V6 Turbo or one of the newer 4-6 cylinders. Stock the cars only weighed about 1300lbs! A like the mini-AC Cobra idea. I remember seeing a Hot Rod article on one with a tradition SBC when I was a kid too...