Olds V8 Healey

[Tomcomm]

I configured a 1954 Austin Healey AH 100 with a big block 348 ci Oldmobile V8 in mid 1957, 10 years before Shelby's 427ci Ford big block. It had a curb weight of 2486# and a F/B ratio of 48/52% verses a weight of 2529# and F/B 48/52% for the Shelby 427. I have always wondered if Shelvy was aware of the "OldsHealey" when he went "Big Block Cobra".

Seems Shelby's first attempt at a big block was to drop-in a 427 BB in place of the 289 SB, performed by his guys in Southern Calif. The guy that did the install apparently replaced a small block engine with a big block with no additional rear setback! He relates he went for a ride with Carroll thru the neighborhood. It was the most freighting time he had ever experienced in his lifetime!

Shelby was assembling 289 ci Cobras in a LA Airport Calif industry zone in Elsungundo, virtually adjacent to Inglewood Calif where I did my engine swap. Seems strange they came out with exactly the same 48/52% F/B ratio, the same 90 inch wheelbase and the same curb wieght within 48# curb weight! Amazing! Big Block 427 ci engines alone must have weighed 200# to 300# more than the Small Block 289 ci with no additional rear setback!

Anyway, I moved to Santa Inez Calif in early 2000 to a Woodstock Calif 20 acre ranch with Judy and my classic cars: The '54 OldsHealey 418ci, '56 Chevy hardtop 327ci and '70 GTO 400ci.are garaged along with a John Deer tractor and a golf cart.

In all these 18 years I have only met two car guys. A neighbor Dan Gerber with competitive Healeys and Larry Westbury with a competitive Shelby Viper V10. I only rode passenger once with each. I was impressed, but scared shitless!

I still do an OldsHealey 0 to 60mph in less than 4 seconds on the road that runs along side our property, so there!