Austin Healey

[Bernie]

This past weekend I acquired an Austin Healey Sprite. A MK 2 from 1963. The owner had some trouble with the electrics and had it sit in his garage for 40 years. It seems to have a skin of Bondo over everything, but the floor seems solid. I wondered if anyone else had worked on one of these.

[robin58]

Ahhh the joys of Lucas Electrics

Owned one decades ago. Fun cars when they run.

[Bernie]

Yes, I was hoping to get rid of the Lucas electrics with a painless kit and an alternator. I think that I have found the previous owner's electrical problem: he had put in a new battery and grounded the negative side.

[Frizzle Fry]

My Minx had some Lucas electrical components. It's getting an 18 circuit painless kit. How about some pics?

[robin58]

Originally Posted by Bernie

he had put in a new battery and grounded the negative side.

Yup those positive grounds will throw you for a loop at first. At least these days a wiring harness (even if generic) is a possibility. When I owned mine it came down to redoing it 100% yourself. I always pitied the subsequent owner of mine.

I do also remember the starter Bendix frequently getting jammed into the flywheel. Rocking it back and forth in gear usually loosened it. Of course being poorer than a church mouse when I owned it, I didn't have the funds to replace it and when it finally did give up the ghost I spent the next 6 months always having to park on a hill to start it

[Bernie]

Yes, I grew up in Britain and had various old heaps made by Austin. Very little in the way of tools and no money for parts, but the car had to be running to get me to and fro to work. Let's just say that quality control was not their strong suit. It would be nice to work on one now that I have a shop, tools and some spare cash. I'm not sure whether to keep the same engine and add a Painless harness, alternator etc, or to put in a small aluminum V8. I'll try to add photos tonight.

[robin58]

Originally Posted by Bernie

Yes, I grew up in Britain and had various old heaps made by Austin

ditto

[Bernie]

Nice to meet someone with similar experiences. Our daughter moved back to UK and was driving yesterday with her boyfriend in London when an unfamiliar car pulled up beside them at lights. It turned out to be a 1953 A30 which had been restored. I had one of those that was total junk. Her boyfriend shouts over that our daughter's father is putting a V8 into an Austin Healey. He seems to have more confidence in my abilities than I do. Where in UK were you from ? I grew up in Birmingham.

[Bernie]

Here are some pictures. The body looks better than it really is. It seems to have had a thin layer of Bondo over everything and the a rattle can paint job. An animal with a lack of house training seems to have been living in it, but it does seem to have preserved the floor.

[robin58]

Looks in better condition than the one I drove in the 70's

Where in UK were you from ? I grew up in Birmingham

2nd to last house on the right of the car dealer/garage:

map

[basemodel67]

My brother just picked one of these up from an old lady for $400 but it also has a layer of bondo under all the green paint. Too small for me- it looks like a clown car when I sit in it.

[78maliburat]

Friends sprite ..

[78maliburat]

Friends sprite ..

Hulu - PINKS All Out: Sprite Modified

[Bernie]

Robin, that's a pretty detailed response to the question "Where are you from ?"
If I was more computer literate I would return the compliment.

Basemodel, I paid a bit more than $400 but I'm quite pleased with the deal. I would have thought that one from California that was rust free for $400 would be a really good deal.

I would bet that the Sprite in the pictures doesn't have the 1098cc engine.

I'm still not sure whether to put a bigger engine in or not. Younger daughter has expressed an interest so maybe I'll stick with the 1098.