Bad Boy Brit

[HealeyRick]

Some nice looking metal work on those fender flairs.  Here's the story:

http://www.europeancarweb.com/featuredcars/epcp_1204_1962_austin_healey/index.html

[BWA]

That car is a work of art!!  Methinks that the owner was hosed by that custom shop, how do you spend $500,000.00 on that car?  I can see maybe $100,000.00 but not much more.  What do you guys think?

Cheers
Byron

[HealeyRick]

After a bit more searching, this car is a fiberglass Sebring kit car.  I should have recognized it as such from the windshield and vent window.  It's nicely done, but I have to agree with Byron as to the build cost. Here's a pic of another one with the same fender flairs in the original fiberglass body.


 Seems like there might be the same touch of hyperbole in the metal fender flare description as the build cost.

[DC Townsend]

The combination of low camera angle and the lower stance make the black one look pretty sweet while the camera angle and high stance on the red one make it look very out of proportion. Same body, different results.

[roverman]

BWA, "That car is a work of art", well, not this Art anyway. A way different Brit Bad Boy, (AC 6.1), is progressing well. With good help, pulled 907 eng/trans and cradle by lifting front of unit body up/over, with cherry picker. This is best way to pull, by far. Car is getting close to "cage" time.  Jim N, will you elaborate on how to negate dynamic rear steering on Series II RX7 rear suspension ? I have Energy Suspension urethane busings to install. Are the "shackles" on lower controll arms, left intact ? Thanks, roverman.

[mgb260]

Art, If I remember you just use special bushings to disable the rear steer unit. I found it, here you go.

http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/rrsteer.htm

[roverman]

Thanks Jim, I shall inspect "Energy Suspension" kit for these bushings. I'm still concerned if the "shakles" contribute to dynamic steering. Jim, did you state earlier that the ring /pinion gear size can be increased, and still use the same housing/CV's ?  Onward, roverman.

[mgb260]

Art, Turbo II is largest ring gear at 8". All others are 7". You have to get the bushings from Mazdatrix(maybe other Mazda vendors). They are hard Delrin and allow no movement other than rotation. I don't know about the shackles. If not needed grind them off.

[roverman]

Thanks Jim. How do I tell 7" or 8" ring gear without disassembling ? Onward, roverman.

[mgb260]

If its out of the Turbo II 86-92 with rear steer it is the 8". Probably posi also, earlier ones clutch type, later Torsen. Earlier ones 3.9 ratio, later 4.10 I think. There might  be a tag on front where housing bolts down.

[flyinlow]

The turbII RX7's all had 4.1 ring & pinions and use a heavier axle than the non turbo cars
They can handle most anything you can throw at them short of a blown big block
I had an 87 RX7 turboII with a 96 LT1 from a corvette that I used for open road racing
Ended up putting a corvette differential in it to get better gearing for hi speed but I think the turboII diff is stronger

[roverman]

Jim and Kevin, If no tag, how else do I determine Bad Boy 8" ? Thanks guys, roverman.

[mgb260]

Art, If you took it out of a Turbo II car it is 8", if unsure you have to pull the center housing.

[flyinlow]

There is an external difference if I remember right it is in the # of ribs can't remember exactly what but will look through my old paperwork and find out

[flyinlow]

N.A differential has 9 ribs on the back cover
turboII  differential has 11 ribs

[roverman]

Kevin, It sounds like 8" third member will not fit 7" rear cover/ aluminum housing ? Thanks, roverman.

[flyinlow]

No it won't interchange and the cv axles are heavier on the turbII and wont interchange either
The turboII diff is allot stronger and worth getting the only problem is the only gear ratio available is 4,10 but if you run a t56 trans with .50 ratio 6th gear it is allot of fun and still reasonable rpm at highway speeds

[roverman]

to identify Series 5, Gen II Turbo, 89-91' RX 7 with 8" ring gear, from "Grant at Granny's Speed Shop", bolt circle on input flange is 4.120" vs 3.786" for 7" ring gear. 8" Turbo's use "Gleason" clutchless limited slip.  Kevin, I'm using R154 (5) speed and 26" tire. This works well for max hp. at approx. max speed,(I hope).  Thanks, roverman.