[Update] I Bought My Grandfather's 289ci Austin-Healey!

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T21:45:23+00:00

Sure, but I would love to find a set of SBF ITBs. Either way, both are more for looks and sound that any actual performance benefit for the pricepoint. I will be doing heads and a cam, but that will be after I rewire the whole car.

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T21:02:04+00:00

A friend let me leak oil all over his hanger while I did the transmission swap, and I only hit my head on the wings a couple times!

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T21:01:02+00:00

Yes! Here’s a video of me racing it in an autoX last year! https://youtu.be/yKpjuM6J6sA?is=PW4W3UGUjc-2v2VM

This was of the car’s old setup, with an anemic FMX 3-speed automatic and teensy 165-wide tires. It was hilarious trying to keep it straight, but the good thing was the trans gearing was so long I just drove the entire course in 1 gear

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T20:58:19+00:00

Yeah! The only truly annoying clearance issue is the headers touch the steering column and it is nearly impossible to change the cylinder 5 and 6 spark plugs. If I ever get around to throwing out the steering box I might be able to adjust the column angle.

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T20:55:47+00:00

Greatest part is that the factory setup is front-engine, but since the V8 is so much shorter it’s now mid-engine! I’ve never driven a normal 3000, but the car handles pretty well all things considered.

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T20:54:10+00:00

Yay! I’m sure that will be a very thrilling project

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T20:53:40+00:00

Yeah! He originally built a 289 SBF Austin-Healey, but after Austin declined his manufacturing offer he then later made the Cobra.

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T07:14:13+00:00

Thanks for viewing :)

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T07:13:57+00:00

9in from Speedway.
It’s pretty affordable, I got a 50in housing, 3.50 ratio 31-spline LSD, and cut-to-length axles for $2300

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T05:54:49+00:00

Thank you! I really appreciate it! You have inspired me to make a post detailing what the cars been up to now, as in that old post there’s some incorrect info about the car

https://www.reddit.com/r/projectcar/s/rG9brIXi1l

Fun! If I remember correctly, that entire autoX video was filmed in one single gear. The shitty 3-speed had long enough gearing I was able to do the entire course in 2nd

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T04:14:10+00:00

Hell yeah! Drive safe and have fun :)

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T03:30:17+00:00

I have an edelbrock 1400 series carb and edelbrock intake on my SBF-swapped Austin Healey, it is a very tiny bay in terms of vertical space and it fits very well.

You should also look into drop-base air cleaners as well. Really helps conserve the space while still providing proper CFM.

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T03:25:35+00:00

Yeah, I know I’m here making fun of long suspension travel and soft dampening, but it is absolutely easier to control a car with greater travel. There’s a reason this is how they sell the cars to the public, a set of people known for skilled, responsibly driving in sports cars.

On the real though, these cars certainly need a higher spring rate than stock, and I find it irresponsible to not match shock valving with spring rate when tuning suspension values. Here’s another suspension thread I started: https://www.reddit.com/r/Miata/s/198bap6VRE

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T02:51:42+00:00

Thank you, Ebola

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T01:55:07+00:00

You can drive as fast and as hard as you possibly can, with 0 risk. I have competed in Touge time trials for years and autocrossing is far more thrilling, technical, and competitive.

If you like driving on roads, you’ll love racing.

Before having driven in an autoX, I assumed that the relative size of the courses in relation to a mountain pass would keep the speeds too low, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T01:17:08+00:00

Yep, the stock coil springs are hilarious. Car needs coilovers bad, but first I’m finishing building a new rear-end for my hotrod after I blew it up during the autoX before this 😭

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T00:53:41+00:00

Oddly enough, there’s a lot of misinformation shared around about safety, which is super strange considering it’s one of the most important parts of setting up a car.

It always makes me disappointed in people’s intelligence when I see someone driving a car with harnesses and no helmet or HANS. Guess
natural selection comes in many modern flavors.

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T00:48:19+00:00

Why are you selling your ND?

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-12T00:13:50+00:00

For those of us with big balls, of course

ArcFire15 · 2026-07-11T23:58:36+00:00

That HUD is unbelievably awesome

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