When involved in an Austin Healey restoration project, the more information a person has on the history of the car and those that made it the more it can be highly beneficial. One of the greatest pieces of historical information is how and where this car was originally produced.
The first Austin Healey’s were made in Longbridge, England, alongside the Austin A90 automobile. A number of the parts between these two cars are interchangeable. The most notable of these is the engine.
The same 2660 cc engine with a 3.4 inch bore and 4.4 inch stoke was used in both cars. The same transmission was also used but the Austin Healey’s was a modified version. The second and third gears were overdrives of the Austin Healey version. This is a good way to distinguish if your project car has an original engine and transmission, or a replacement with an A90 version.
The same transmission housing was used but the gears themselves were different. If you find that your car does not obtain a speed of 100 mph, then look into replacing the gears to the Austin Healey version of gears.
In restoration projects, it is the little things that count. By restoring a 40 to 60 year old car like an Austin Healey, original parts are sometimes hard to find, if not impossible. For Austin Healey enthusiasts, there is an advantage. The last parts manager of the Austin Healey Motor Company started a parts business when the company closed its doors.
This company is named the AH Spares Limited, and is located in the UK. They have over 330,000 parts in stock ready for shipping to you. They handle original, along with OEM reproduction components. For this reason, be specific about the part you desire to purchase.
Just remember that with your Austin Healey restoration project, attention to detail is what it is all about.
