Afterr
Before
What an improvement!!!
This magnificent Austin Healey was displayed
and entered in the Concourse at the "Victorian
Healey Day", which was held at Como
Park on Sunday 25th of October 2009
The end result speaks for itself.
Metal finish stage, and all aligned.
Yes, it does fit through the bonnet opening
(just)!
Engine, Gearbox, and Diff. fit up.
New Chassis well on the way.
Some spec's of KNX 767
| Engine: |
GMH 5.7 Gen III |
|
| Gearbox: |
GMH 6 speed |
|
| Differential: |
Ford 9" lim. slip |
|
| Cooling: |
Aluminium Radiator |
|
| Brakes: |
Ventilated front, solid rear, no booster,
H&R Pedal Box |
|
| Steering: |
Custom rack (2 turns lock to lock), collapsible
column |
|
| Shocks: |
Telescopic all around |
|
| Fuel: |
Full emission control, Aluminium fuel tank |
|
| Exhaust: |
Full Catalytic System, HPC coated, with plenty
of heat shielding |
|
| Chassis: |
Steel, new, with added stiffeners, fully
cavity waxed |
|
| Body: |
As per original with 767 KNX modifications |
|
| Paint: |
Metallic Sage Green |
|
| Trimmed by: |
Sports and Specialist Trimming |
|
| Electrics: |
Classic Wiring Loom |
|
| Restoration & Project Management: |
H&R Classic Restorations |
|
|
|
|
Specific history of this car
In 1964 the Healey Competition Department
entered 767 KNX at Sebring. Driver Paddy
Hopkirk started well, but an early tire puncture
dropped him back, Hopkirk coming back from
the pits drove the race of his life, by overtaking
30 cars in the next three hours. After changing
over to his unexperienced co-driver Grant
Clark, who was unable to successfully tame
the 'big Healey', crashing it after just
four laps of his stint.
At Sebring in 1965, Paul Hawkins and Warwick
Banks were entrusted with 767 KNX and took
an incredible victory in torrential conditions.
After its success in Sebring, 767 KNX was
sold.
Austin Healey Project KNX 767
As usual the project started as a restorers
delight. This Healey a local purchased American
import must have had a hard life previously.
The chassis was cracked in many places. A
gas hex cut and shut was performed in it's
early life! The engine mounts revealed some
sort of a V8 was crudely fitted, and was
no longer existent. The gearbox was also
missing. The only remaining mechanical gear
was the differential. The funny thing about
the Diff. was:- that the housing was so large,
it had to be fitted through the top by the
previous owner, meaning, part of the rear
seat panel was cut! It must have been of
an F250 truck or similar.
The owner Tim Ward, from Sports & Specialist
Trimming in Richmond specified, that his
Austin Healey will be powered by a Gen III
5.7 Liter Holden V8 Engine, with a 6 speed
gearbox, and that it would be running a Ford
9" differential. As for the body Tim
wanted it to look like the Ex-Works Sebring
Healey 767 KNX.
The decision was made to build a brand new
upgraded chassis at H&R Classic Restorations,
being the most cost effective solution for
this special project. The front brakes where
upgraded with 300 mm ventilated rotors, with
4 pot calipers. The rears with solid discs
with 3 pot calipers. Due to the full catalytic
converter exhaust system we decided to go
for a booster less hydraulic brake system.
The lever shockers have been replaced with
telescopic shockers, for a smooth ride, and
top road feel.
The steering box has been replaced with
a custom built ratio interchangeable rack,
(2 turns lock to lock), coupled with a collapsible
steering column
