Thank you so much! I love this little Healey, it's one of the best cars ever made. Only thing I enjoy as much as it is the Isuzu Bellett, that thing is a riot. It's a challenge to keep them all running, but so worth it!
FINALLY!!! After seeing the healey in the background of many of the computer restoration episodes, like the elephant in the room, we finally get to acknowledge the real star!
Usagi Automotive! Im totally down fr this as a car guy and and electroncis guy. I really enjoy your video style and seeing it on another car video is awesome.
Writing as a Brit; I worked in Houston overall for a couple of months in 1997, and was shocked to see how small a Range Rover looked compared to all the trucks, so takes some guts to drive those little Japanese cars on the roads love that you love our little sports cars. I'm not a car guy so don't know much about the Austin Healey, so great to actually see one, (and being driven by someone who's got a Japanese car to get them to work). My dad and grandpa both had Austin Morris Minors, so recognise the engine, although half the size from way back; and my dad loved the Triumph 2000, and remember topping up the damper pot of the SUs, as part of the virtually continuous maintenance. Regarding the floats. I thought that removing as much as possible of the solder would be required in order not to increase the mass of the float causing it to float a little lower and hence have the engine run a bit richer.
It hasnt changed at all. Trucks in the US just get bigger and bigger. Modern "small" pickup trucks dwarf today's sedans. And its not as if sedans stayed the same size. A 4 seat family car is bigger than a pickup truck from the '90s.
@@finkelmanaexactly right… as you say, not much changed I have a lot of fun driving my MGB in Houston but is scary when you stop at a light and can see the car one live over from UNDER the truck next to you.
Carburetors are part science, and part black effing magic. So intricate in how they work, and any little thing will make them work less well than they can. So many little things go on inside a carb. Fuel injection, by contrast, is simple and direct. But back in the day carburation was the only thing, and it's amazing how well they worked. The amount of engineering that went into those "simple" devices is insane.
My parent's neighbour is a long retired mechanic, and when I used to talk cars with him he always had positive things to say about the Heely 3000 engine; easy to work on, easy to diagnose, easy to drive, easy to tune to crazy (for a 60s roadster) power. I'm jealous, man, that thing looks like so much fun! Greetz from England! ✌️
So much electronics in new cars, in a few years your two passions will mix, repairing a vintage car will mean turning a wrench and retro-engeneer a computer. Love your videos
My dad had a 1965 Austin Healy when I was a kid, i I had noticed yours in the background on several occasions. It's great to see it in the foreground! Over the years he had also had a TR-3 and an MG-TC and later on a Mista. I know the world of SU carbs and know every Lucas joke. I love all of your computer suff, having learned on minis in the 70s. So much good stuff here!
Man, if i lived not on the opposite side of the country, we could be friends. Cars are my first hobby, i picked up old computers only about 6 years ago. I love seeing automotive content on uour channel!
I wish I had such luck (or skill). The other day I stripped down the carb on my 1972 Hillman Avenger (Plymouth Cricket) to try to diagnose why it was running intermittently, but didn't solve the problem. I had to pay someone to do it properly, he cleaned it all up internally, reset the mixture accurately, replaced a bad condenser (capacitor) and set the timing. Now it runs like new again.
Thank you for sharing this Interesting the parallels. Currently doing a frame on restoration on Dad's 1964 Volkswagen Beetle he bought in 1968. I am now faced with a carburetor with a leaky needle and seat, this video is encouraging.
Usagi, I feel the same way about my late mother's 1990 Miata NA. It's like a MG, but with mostly Ford electrics. Of course, I drive it and have had the bearings done, fluids replaced, and fixes for stupid maintenance mistakes from a not to be named mechanic. I do run errands with the car, and people do appreciate seeing such a car still running, going strong. It's not car show material, but it is pure fun. The battery is the only problem area with the car, but battery replacement is simple.
Absolutely brilliant. That first fishtail onto the driveway could easily have been Sean Connery in an Aston Martin. Love it. I’d also love to see more on the Honda Beat.
Love this change of pace, and I can absolutely identify with the need to step away and do something as different as possible to give yourself a break. It’s like you need to let the part of your brain that’s tired get a break and cool down before you can come back with fresh perspective. Your car collection is super cool, by the way, and I envy all the shop space you have to work on stuff like this. Looking forward to the next episode no matter what the topic. I’ll be just as excited to watch the next video if it’s cars or old computers. 👍
As a fellow British car nerd (old Land Rovers in my case) I love it! Always funny to see how all the British manufacturers just used the same parts smashed into different form factors.
Thanks for featuring your Austin Healey! Seeing it in the corner of one of your videos was what first got me watching the channel. I had one very much like yours 50 or so years ago when I was in high school. I was a bit of a flake back then and I knew it. So, I gave it back to my dad and he restored it only to have it stolen soon afterward. I miss that car every day. So seeing you enjoy yours is very gratifying! Don't ever let it slip from your hands. Now I design synth modules and actually have the same scope as you have. Let's just say that I relate to what you do. I never miss an episode and I can't say that about any other YT channel. I'd like to meet you in person if you are ever in the Pacific NW.
I got a ride in one of these many years ago, and it's so low you really feel like you're moving even when you're not going that fast. The one I got a ride in was fully restored, showroom ready, it really was a great-looking car. Sadly I never got to ride in any of the guy's other cars. He had half a dozen 1960s Porsches, most of which were equally well restored.
dude no way, I first started watching this channel a year or two back because of the cool vintage hardware and your great entertainment. now here you go working on cars, sweet classics at that. my two passions in one channel? you are awesome Usagi!
When I hear "Single cam side draft something carburetors" I think I get a good feeling of how some other people might feel when you're talking about things like sequential startup of the power supply in the Bendix. 🙂
A little bit of car fiddling always clears up the mind. As being a vintage electronics restorer, maker of new adapters for old computers, photographer and a person with generally too much hobbies for a single being I can say I really do love the car and motorcycles repairs too. But, a little bit about the carburetors floats. The floats usually are very precisely weighed. If you solder on the float, you are pretty much guaranteed to change the weight of the float. Increase in weight decreases the buoyancy which results in the fuel level going up. That can result in fuel overflow to the cylinders making it go rich. Or it can dribble through the gaskets and make a mess. The correct way to do it would be to heat up the whole float with a heatgun or a torch and desolder it to two pieces. It's surprisingly not that hard and if you are not afraid, you can do it even when full of gas, it just takes longer for the fuel to evaporate and escape. Since the float is full of fuel and fuel vapors, it is not going to explode since there is no air to burn the fuel. Once separated, it can be cleaned from the old solder and checked thoroughly. And at the end, you can solder it back together the same way as the copper plumbing is done. That's just a FIY from a fellow repairer, you already have the new floats on the way :) Also - spark plugs are very tough, yes, but... :D The inner electrode can get damaged by the wirebrush. That makes uneven surface which makes the spark jump in a single point, wearing the spark plug down. The best way to clean it is with - again - propane torch. Just burn all the junk off and then brush the ash off with a toothbrush :D
My dad had an Austin Healey back before I was born, but it's long long long gone! He used to talk about it when I was a kid, he clearly had fond memories of it. He, and later he and mom, had a succession of weird cars, he had a DeSoto he shipped to France after the war where it was a ginormous monster vehicle compared to everything else, they had a Peugeot when I was tiny that I'm not sure I actually have any memories of, a VW Rabbit (orange!) and a VW Dasher (blue!) that I do remember. He was an aircraft mechanic in the air force and had lots of comical stories of how unreliable the old cars were and the work he had to do on them!
I really loved this video. I love old cars and old computers. Hope there's more need for your brain resets :) My dad owned an ex-racecar Healey 100. Hilariously it was his first car (long story). Lesson in life.. You do not give a 17yo as a first car something like this. He was brought home too many times by the WA police. Many stories. I remember dad saying that the SU's were always needing to be fiddled with, the gearbox needed rebuilding three times in the 4-5 years he owned it and the chrome on the spokes would flake off due to trying to outrun friends in other cars from a standing start. Loved watching your 3000 adventure, I've spotted it a few times in videos.
First car was a '71 MGB. Tahiti blue with an Autumn Leaf interior. Black top with wire wheels. As with all British cars of that era, you had be able to work on it if you wanted it to have any semblance of reliability, and the first two lessons I had to learn were how to charm SU carbs and the calendar of ritual sacrifices one must make to Lucas, Prince of Darkness. (With the wires, the third thing I learned was always keep a spare tube in the car, because by 1991, tire shops didn't have them anymore.) Oh, the memories of the old pre-internet Moss Motors catalog with no prices listed so they could send out an updated price list every...what was it? Quarter? 6 Months? I don't remember, but I still have that circa 1992 catalog around here somewhere... When I started school in Denton, I'd take the back roads from my parent's house Arlington: 360 north to 114 west to 377 rather than taking I-35 so I would always be a relatively short walk to somewhere with a phone, just in case. God, I loved that car...took a Dodge Intrepid in the driver's side door around 1998. The damage was serious but repairable, but far beyond my mechanical or financial capability at the time. But it's just few more years 'till the kids are all out of the house....should probably start looking now.... I also feel a sudden, urgent need to go listen to 'Red Barchetta...'
I relate as cars were a passion for me prior to electronics and there is nothing like fixing and driving an old car you love. It's more expensive but super effective therapy. I had a similar issue with brakes on a Jeep I was working on. Replaced everything, bled a gallon of fluid through the whole system, hard lines, soft lines, calipers, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, everything but the proportioning valve, still felt like garbage. A friend suggested bench bleeding the master cylinder again and that seemed to do the trick.
A common issue for the sneezing and coughing with these carburetors are also the rubber membrane and oil level for the vacuum pistons you see at the top with the black plastic screw head at the top of the carb, if the oil level is low or there is a hole in the rubber membrane the engine will run lean at initial throttle making the engine sneeze. these pistons are working almost like acceleration pumps and the vacuum membrane lift the pistons up during acceleration and the small oil filled cylinders makes they go slow enough for a good fuel mixture. I think these carburetors can run very good when properly tuned with new floats.
At least you have the "better", dual-carb version. I used to run tripple SU setup and mate, they cannot be kept in tune! Don't even think about it, it's not for daily driving. Yes, I have Austin Healey 3000 engine (bought from a nasty crash/basket case car) in Morris Isis Traveller, so 130-140hp is borderline lethal even on radial and relatively modern tires but we enjoy this small, family rocket from the late 1950s (1959 to be precise) every sunny day. And I replaced SUs with DellOrto carbs, much more reliable and cheaper. Otherwise I use my Cortina Mk.V, or, my new favourite, Lotus Excel. I would go into Lotus more, but I don't live in Britain anymore, so service is a massive problem.
Thank you for putting this together. I've been dying to see more of that pale blue beaut in your garage. I only drive classics myself, albeit American, but I totally dig that you also do vintage car hackery, and hope to see it more on your channel. And you are absolutely right. These old machines are their healthiest when you use the snot out of them and burn rubber. Keep that timing advanced your mixture just on the edge of lean and you will own every traffic light with style. Dings, chips, and surface patina are earned, and should not be removed without consideration.
We raced a couple of '84/'85 300ZX's with Chumpcar several years ago. Those 6 cylinder engines were bullet proof. We gave 'em a good workout. They even survived several missed shifts (3rd instead of 5th). They were a lot of fun.
I don't know the first thing about cars, nor will I probably ever develop a passion for them, but I loved every minute of this video and would gladly watch another if you posted one. I'm also really surprised how much the Texas countryside resembles the Canadian prairies where I grew up. I miss driving through that every day (I live in a desert climate now). Thanks for taking us on a ride through that landscape.
I can definitely relate as I'm also a huge fan of vintage electronics and cars. I haven't had any experience working on your specific car. But generally if your rear brake shoes aren't adjusted correctly it will make your brakes feel like garbage. This is because they usually get applied first, then the brake proportion valve kicks in and applies the front. If 2/3 of your pedal travel is used getting the rear applied your not going to have much left to stop the car.
I was rewatching some of the Centurion series last night and thought, "Wow, the Healey looks really dusty..." And here we are! Huge sigh of relief that it's getting some attention. (Now I'm tempted to ask about the Cosmo, but I won't!)
I have to be honest, I don't know if you've had car content in past, I'm pretty new, but I was a little worried. BUT I was very pleasantly surprised this was a fantastic video. Would love to see more!
I always loved Healeys, they're just so cute as cars ! I really like your content ! I think you're a great person and i completely feel at home when i see someone like you doing projects like these ! Wish i was there to give a hand haha :)
Thank you. I've seen that Beat in the background since I first started watching and wanted a rundown of your cars. My son and I brought an 88 Supra back and seeing yor Z30's engine bay makes me never want a V6 from that era. Hats off to you for keeping it up
More than happy to see more automotive shenannigans. your fleet is very much relevant to my interests. Love the sentiment that that will always be "Dads Car". My Ol boy had a Fiat 124, which as a 19 yo I absolutely never ever took out without permission for silly buggery-abouty business. no sir-ee. the breaks in that were shocking to... but an incredible ability to slap a smile on your face. Im quite sure he'd love a Healy, even for an afternoon.
I still have a few old printouts from college in the mid-80s when we used an HP 9000 mini computer I haven't been able to find very much out about this one
I am not really used to the big Austin lumps , being more familier with the upto 1300cc A Series - in single and twin carb set up (and twins are a pain to balance), but the SU/exhaust rasp is just soo good going downhill in a small car , where the road holding scores more than the notional power output of the engine.
Dave, I am a old computer ( 2 IBM 1401s) geek and old cars (1924 Dodge Brothers Screen Side Truck). The float in the truck sponge a leak in the middle of aq parade 50 miles from home. A guy said "I live a couple form here. Would you like to come over to fix your tuck? At his his house I pulled the float out and took it into the kitchen. His wife boiled a pot of water. I held the float under water had found a stream of bubbles from the leak. I turned the float so the leak was down and let the gasoline drain into the water. Now I knew where the leak was, I soldered it over. That was 15 years ago and it was never leaked again. When you drilled the two holes you created new leaks. The original leak and the two you drilled. You soldered over over the tho holes you drilled and not the original leak. Stan Paddock
My dad owned two Triumph 2000s and did all the maintenance on them. Don't recall any problems with the electrics. Applying some waxy substance to stop them rusting away seemed to be a perpetual activity on the other hand.
I've never been particularly interested in cars but I've spent my fair share of time working on them out of necessity. Somehow this video made me want to buy a car again just so I can work on it lol
I'd still love to see a revival of Usagi Motors; these videos are so fun, and the same for me as these ones, since I don't really understand cars OR computers!
As far as washing the car, I used to use the Mr. Clean wash system on my truck. Worked great! When my wife decided to buy a new car, I had to scour Ebay for one because they discontinued the product long ago. I was still able to find a system, soap, and some spare cartridges for it but they are getting very hard to find. Still works great!
Beautiful cars, beautiful story, good job and amazing video! Thank you for sharing, and good luck with further fixes! Oh and please do keep sharing your car stuff with us.
Speedo drive looks like it’s missing a gear? Love your cars man! Cool to see that theres someone else out there who loves old computers and old Japanese cars! Just like with the computers, they’re working one day, and then back to square one the next! 😂
Nothing like a nice break needless to say. Great video! For those who may not be aware, SU stands for Skinner's Union. They had an interesting approach to carb design.
David, great video! I really enjoyed watching you and your friend work on the carbs bringing back memories working on my own carbs. Check the slave cylinders in the rear drum brakes -- they ought to be relatively inexpensive to repair (assuming that kits are available) or replace. Let us know how you fix the brake-feel problem and the jumpy speedometer too!
I'll be the first to admit that I don't understand half the things you talk about here, but I can tell from your enthusiasm that this means a ton to you. Also: "go-kart with licence plate" is my new favorite type of car
I admire you You care for family haritage and take good care for everything you own And also have a very nice place with a lot of space to store your tresures I dont know who tought you this things (to not throw everything that is old away and instead try to fix it) but I realy hope u will manage to pass this good values to your ofspring
Looking at the pic and thinking: oh, dear, somebody is a bit burned out, but also, what a beautiful car and if it's Usagi Electric's then it's a well, and very carefully loved car - this will be a treat
Classic cars and vintage computers all in one channel? As a professional technician and a shop foreman for a speed shop, I LOVE IT!
Thank you so much!
I love this little Healey, it's one of the best cars ever made. Only thing I enjoy as much as it is the Isuzu Bellett, that thing is a riot. It's a challenge to keep them all running, but so worth it!
FINALLY!!! After seeing the healey in the background of many of the computer restoration episodes, like the elephant in the room, we finally get to acknowledge the real star!
Usagi Automotive! Im totally down fr this as a car guy and and electroncis guy. I really enjoy your video style and seeing it on another car video is awesome.
Definitely, there's a lot of crossover between vintage computing and vintage vehicles. Old stuff doing work is great whatever it is
Same here. If he started a second channel for his car stuff I'd watch it. 👍
Writing as a Brit;
I worked in Houston overall for a couple of months in 1997, and was shocked to see how small a Range Rover looked compared to all the trucks, so takes some guts to drive those little Japanese cars on the roads
love that you love our little sports cars. I'm not a car guy so don't know much about the Austin Healey, so great to actually see one, (and being driven by someone who's got a Japanese car to get them to work). My dad and grandpa both had Austin Morris Minors, so recognise the engine, although half the size from way back; and my dad loved the Triumph 2000, and remember topping up the damper pot of the SUs, as part of the virtually continuous maintenance.
Regarding the floats. I thought that removing as much as possible of the solder would be required in order not to increase the mass of the float causing it to float a little lower and hence have the engine run a bit richer.
It hasnt changed at all. Trucks in the US just get bigger and bigger. Modern "small" pickup trucks dwarf today's sedans. And its not as if sedans stayed the same size. A 4 seat family car is bigger than a pickup truck from the '90s.
@@finkelmana It's similar the world over, occasionally I'll see a "large" car from the 1980s, and it's dwarfed by even a compact car.
@@finkelmanaexactly right… as you say, not much changed I have a lot of fun driving my MGB in Houston but is scary when you stop at a light and can see the car one live over from UNDER the truck next to you.
Carburetors are part science, and part black effing magic. So intricate in how they work, and any little thing will make them work less well than they can. So many little things go on inside a carb.
Fuel injection, by contrast, is simple and direct. But back in the day carburation was the only thing, and it's amazing how well they worked. The amount of engineering that went into those "simple" devices is insane.
My parent's neighbour is a long retired mechanic, and when I used to talk cars with him he always had positive things to say about the Heely 3000 engine; easy to work on, easy to diagnose, easy to drive, easy to tune to crazy (for a 60s roadster) power. I'm jealous, man, that thing looks like so much fun!
Greetz from England! ✌️
So much electronics in new cars, in a few years your two passions will mix, repairing a vintage car will mean turning a wrench and retro-engeneer a computer.
Love your videos
That tree over your driveway is lovely.
Indeed, amazing canopy!
@@awesomecronk7183 I agree, it is a nice canopy!
My dad had a 1965 Austin Healy when I was a kid, i I had noticed yours in the background on several occasions. It's great to see it in the foreground! Over the years he had also had a TR-3 and an MG-TC and later on a Mista. I know the world of SU carbs and know every Lucas joke. I love all of your computer suff, having learned on minis in the 70s. So much good stuff here!
Ah, what a sound! I'd like to see more of these videos from time to time :)
Man, if i lived not on the opposite side of the country, we could be friends. Cars are my first hobby, i picked up old computers only about 6 years ago. I love seeing automotive content on uour channel!
Wonderful! Sometimes you just have to climb out of the rabbit hole...
And into another one😂
I wish I had such luck (or skill). The other day I stripped down the carb on my 1972 Hillman Avenger (Plymouth Cricket) to try to diagnose why it was running intermittently, but didn't solve the problem. I had to pay someone to do it properly, he cleaned it all up internally, reset the mixture accurately, replaced a bad condenser (capacitor) and set the timing. Now it runs like new again.
I used to own a 1967 AH 3000. Thanks for the memories.
Thank you for sharing this Interesting the parallels. Currently doing a frame on restoration on Dad's 1964 Volkswagen Beetle he bought in 1968. I am now faced with a carburetor with a leaky needle and seat, this video is encouraging.
Usagi,
I feel the same way about my late mother's 1990 Miata NA. It's like a MG, but with mostly Ford electrics. Of course, I drive it and have had the bearings done, fluids replaced, and fixes for stupid maintenance mistakes from a not to be named mechanic.
I do run errands with the car, and people do appreciate seeing such a car still running, going strong. It's not car show material, but it is pure fun.
The battery is the only problem area with the car, but battery replacement is simple.
Absolutely brilliant. That first fishtail onto the driveway could easily have been Sean Connery in an Aston Martin. Love it. I’d also love to see more on the Honda Beat.
I'm not a huge car guy and wasn't sure I'd even want to watch this one, but glad I did, loved every minute of it!
Love this change of pace, and I can absolutely identify with the need to step away and do something as different as possible to give yourself a break. It’s like you need to let the part of your brain that’s tired get a break and cool down before you can come back with fresh perspective.
Your car collection is super cool, by the way, and I envy all the shop space you have to work on stuff like this. Looking forward to the next episode no matter what the topic. I’ll be just as excited to watch the next video if it’s cars or old computers. 👍
Another Brit here!
Great to see you working on this classic car, I bet it feels fantastic to drive.
Vintage Cars and Computers what a fun combination👍
As a fellow British car nerd (old Land Rovers in my case) I love it! Always funny to see how all the British manufacturers just used the same parts smashed into different form factors.
Thanks for featuring your Austin Healey! Seeing it in the corner of one of your videos was what first got me watching the channel. I had one very much like yours 50 or so years ago when I was in high school. I was a bit of a flake back then and I knew it. So, I gave it back to my dad and he restored it only to have it stolen soon afterward. I miss that car every day. So seeing you enjoy yours is very gratifying! Don't ever let it slip from your hands. Now I design synth modules and actually have the same scope as you have. Let's just say that I relate to what you do. I never miss an episode and I can't say that about any other YT channel. I'd like to meet you in person if you are ever in the Pacific NW.
Absolutely! You can work on classic cars of motorcycles anytime!
I love SU carbs, they are simple to work with and I find them very reliable
Great to see the car content! I got sick of SUs and swapped to a Dellorto, haven’t had to touch it for over 10 years and it always stays in tune 🙂
I got a ride in one of these many years ago, and it's so low you really feel like you're moving even when you're not going that fast. The one I got a ride in was fully restored, showroom ready, it really was a great-looking car. Sadly I never got to ride in any of the guy's other cars. He had half a dozen 1960s Porsches, most of which were equally well restored.
dude no way, I first started watching this channel a year or two back because of the cool vintage hardware and your great entertainment. now here you go working on cars, sweet classics at that. my two passions in one channel? you are awesome Usagi!
When I hear "Single cam side draft something carburetors" I think I get a good feeling of how some other people might feel when you're talking about things like sequential startup of the power supply in the Bendix. 🙂
That initial peelout onto the driveway brought a large smile to my face. Hope you figure out those brakes.
I love channels that show more than one hobby
A little bit of car fiddling always clears up the mind. As being a vintage electronics restorer, maker of new adapters for old computers, photographer and a person with generally too much hobbies for a single being I can say I really do love the car and motorcycles repairs too. But, a little bit about the carburetors floats.
The floats usually are very precisely weighed. If you solder on the float, you are pretty much guaranteed to change the weight of the float. Increase in weight decreases the buoyancy which results in the fuel level going up. That can result in fuel overflow to the cylinders making it go rich. Or it can dribble through the gaskets and make a mess. The correct way to do it would be to heat up the whole float with a heatgun or a torch and desolder it to two pieces. It's surprisingly not that hard and if you are not afraid, you can do it even when full of gas, it just takes longer for the fuel to evaporate and escape. Since the float is full of fuel and fuel vapors, it is not going to explode since there is no air to burn the fuel.
Once separated, it can be cleaned from the old solder and checked thoroughly. And at the end, you can solder it back together the same way as the copper plumbing is done.
That's just a FIY from a fellow repairer, you already have the new floats on the way :)
Also - spark plugs are very tough, yes, but... :D
The inner electrode can get damaged by the wirebrush. That makes uneven surface which makes the spark jump in a single point, wearing the spark plug down. The best way to clean it is with - again - propane torch. Just burn all the junk off and then brush the ash off with a toothbrush :D
[2:27] ah, those Japanese hood mirrors
[10:35] the dog is getting worried
Nothing like a good Italian tuneup to blow out the cobwebs. Works great on the engine too. Cars, tubes, computers... we would get along just fine.
Sounds soooo good. Great to see a classic car video alongside the computers on the channel 👍👍
What a beauty! Nice to see you have a British classic. Now you need a British classic computer...
My dad had an Austin Healey back before I was born, but it's long long long gone! He used to talk about it when I was a kid, he clearly had fond memories of it. He, and later he and mom, had a succession of weird cars, he had a DeSoto he shipped to France after the war where it was a ginormous monster vehicle compared to everything else, they had a Peugeot when I was tiny that I'm not sure I actually have any memories of, a VW Rabbit (orange!) and a VW Dasher (blue!) that I do remember. He was an aircraft mechanic in the air force and had lots of comical stories of how unreliable the old cars were and the work he had to do on them!
I really loved this video. I love old cars and old computers. Hope there's more need for your brain resets :) My dad owned an ex-racecar Healey 100. Hilariously it was his first car (long story). Lesson in life.. You do not give a 17yo as a first car something like this. He was brought home too many times by the WA police. Many stories. I remember dad saying that the SU's were always needing to be fiddled with, the gearbox needed rebuilding three times in the 4-5 years he owned it and the chrome on the spokes would flake off due to trying to outrun friends in other cars from a standing start. Loved watching your 3000 adventure, I've spotted it a few times in videos.
First car was a '71 MGB. Tahiti blue with an Autumn Leaf interior. Black top with wire wheels. As with all British cars of that era, you had be able to work on it if you wanted it to have any semblance of reliability, and the first two lessons I had to learn were how to charm SU carbs and the calendar of ritual sacrifices one must make to Lucas, Prince of Darkness. (With the wires, the third thing I learned was always keep a spare tube in the car, because by 1991, tire shops didn't have them anymore.) Oh, the memories of the old pre-internet Moss Motors catalog with no prices listed so they could send out an updated price list every...what was it? Quarter? 6 Months? I don't remember, but I still have that circa 1992 catalog around here somewhere...
When I started school in Denton, I'd take the back roads from my parent's house Arlington: 360 north to 114 west to 377 rather than taking I-35 so I would always be a relatively short walk to somewhere with a phone, just in case.
God, I loved that car...took a Dodge Intrepid in the driver's side door around 1998. The damage was serious but repairable, but far beyond my mechanical or financial capability at the time.
But it's just few more years 'till the kids are all out of the house....should probably start looking now....
I also feel a sudden, urgent need to go listen to 'Red Barchetta...'
I relate as cars were a passion for me prior to electronics and there is nothing like fixing and driving an old car you love. It's more expensive but super effective therapy.
I had a similar issue with brakes on a Jeep I was working on. Replaced everything, bled a gallon of fluid through the whole system, hard lines, soft lines, calipers, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, everything but the proportioning valve, still felt like garbage. A friend suggested bench bleeding the master cylinder again and that seemed to do the trick.
That smile at @18:44. Tells everything. :)
I enjoy all of your videos. Well done as always.
A common issue for the sneezing and coughing with these carburetors are also the rubber membrane and oil level for the vacuum pistons you see at the top with the black plastic screw head at the top of the carb, if the oil level is low or there is a hole in the rubber membrane the engine will run lean at initial throttle making the engine sneeze. these pistons are working almost like acceleration pumps and the vacuum membrane lift the pistons up during acceleration and the small oil filled cylinders makes they go slow enough for a good fuel mixture. I think these carburetors can run very good when properly tuned with new floats.
At least you have the "better", dual-carb version. I used to run tripple SU setup and mate, they cannot be kept in tune! Don't even think about it, it's not for daily driving. Yes, I have Austin Healey 3000 engine (bought from a nasty crash/basket case car) in Morris Isis Traveller, so 130-140hp is borderline lethal even on radial and relatively modern tires but we enjoy this small, family rocket from the late 1950s (1959 to be precise) every sunny day. And I replaced SUs with DellOrto carbs, much more reliable and cheaper. Otherwise I use my Cortina Mk.V, or, my new favourite, Lotus Excel. I would go into Lotus more, but I don't live in Britain anymore, so service is a massive problem.
Healey 6s sound so damn good.
When I needed to clear my mind, I took out my 1973 Mazda RX-2 coupe manual and slid it around corners. Worked like a charm!
Absolutely gorgeous! The things to fix are features…
Wow, you're really upping your production quality with each new video. What a great little car too!
Vintage electronics and vintage cars, a great combination. Thanks for sharing :)
Thank you for putting this together. I've been dying to see more of that pale blue beaut in your garage. I only drive classics myself, albeit American, but I totally dig that you also do vintage car hackery, and hope to see it more on your channel. And you are absolutely right. These old machines are their healthiest when you use the snot out of them and burn rubber. Keep that timing advanced your mixture just on the edge of lean and you will own every traffic light with style. Dings, chips, and surface patina are earned, and should not be removed without consideration.
We raced a couple of '84/'85 300ZX's with Chumpcar several years ago. Those 6 cylinder engines were bullet proof. We gave 'em a good workout. They even survived several missed shifts (3rd instead of 5th). They were a lot of fun.
You're right. Sometimes you just gotta take a break and let the wind blow through your hair.
I don't know the first thing about cars, nor will I probably ever develop a passion for them, but I loved every minute of this video and would gladly watch another if you posted one.
I'm also really surprised how much the Texas countryside resembles the Canadian prairies where I grew up. I miss driving through that every day (I live in a desert climate now). Thanks for taking us on a ride through that landscape.
Not many Belletts here in the States. Bravo! You need an RT55.
I can definitely relate as I'm also a huge fan of vintage electronics and cars. I haven't had any experience working on your specific car. But generally if your rear brake shoes aren't adjusted correctly it will make your brakes feel like garbage. This is because they usually get applied first, then the brake proportion valve kicks in and applies the front. If 2/3 of your pedal travel is used getting the rear applied your not going to have much left to stop the car.
Awesome. I love when channels I love (like yours) end up covering other topics I also love! If you start doing gun videos next, I might have a stroke.
Old computers and old cars, I share your passions
Yup hear you. When I need a break and do something different and manual I go wrench on the Camaro
Nothing like perfect weather and a good ride to reset your brain!
I was rewatching some of the Centurion series last night and thought, "Wow, the Healey looks really dusty..." And here we are! Huge sigh of relief that it's getting some attention. (Now I'm tempted to ask about the Cosmo, but I won't!)
I have to be honest, I don't know if you've had car content in past, I'm pretty new, but I was a little worried. BUT I was very pleasantly surprised this was a fantastic video. Would love to see more!
I always loved Healeys, they're just so cute as cars ! I really like your content ! I think you're a great person and i completely feel at home when i see someone like you doing projects like these ! Wish i was there to give a hand haha :)
Great video! I enjoy working on old electronics and cars too! So good to see your enjoyment here!
Thank you. I've seen that Beat in the background since I first started watching and wanted a rundown of your cars. My son and I brought an 88 Supra back and seeing yor Z30's engine bay makes me never want a V6 from that era. Hats off to you for keeping it up
I love when computer things amd automotive things come together
That 300ZX is amazing. So many of them were poorly taken care of. I wish I could afford one in 2024.
More than happy to see more automotive shenannigans. your fleet is very much relevant to my interests. Love the sentiment that that will always be "Dads Car". My Ol boy had a Fiat 124, which as a 19 yo I absolutely never ever took out without permission for silly buggery-abouty business. no sir-ee. the breaks in that were shocking to... but an incredible ability to slap a smile on your face. Im quite sure he'd love a Healy, even for an afternoon.
I still have a few old printouts from college in the mid-80s when we used an HP 9000 mini computer I haven't been able to find very much out about this one
I am not really used to the big Austin lumps , being more familier with the upto 1300cc A Series - in single and twin carb set up (and twins are a pain to balance), but the SU/exhaust rasp is just soo good going downhill in a small car , where the road holding scores more than the notional power output of the engine.
Dave,
I am a old computer ( 2 IBM 1401s) geek and old cars (1924 Dodge Brothers Screen Side Truck).
The float in the truck sponge a leak in the middle of aq parade 50 miles from home.
A guy said "I live a couple form here. Would you like to come over to fix your tuck?
At his his house I pulled the float out and took it into the kitchen.
His wife boiled a pot of water.
I held the float under water had found a stream of bubbles from the leak.
I turned the float so the leak was down and let the gasoline drain into the water.
Now I knew where the leak was, I soldered it over.
That was 15 years ago and it was never leaked again.
When you drilled the two holes you created new leaks.
The original leak and the two you drilled.
You soldered over over the tho holes you drilled and not the original leak.
Stan Paddock
My Dad was a Triumph guy (TR-3 & TR-6) and I remember him constantly complaining about Lucas electrical stuff when I was a kid.
My dad owned two Triumph 2000s and did all the maintenance on them. Don't recall any problems with the electrics. Applying some waxy substance to stop them rusting away seemed to be a perpetual activity on the other hand.
So you are trying to give yourself a break and try something new? I like it!
My brother had one back in the 70s. What a beautiful beast of a car!
I've never been particularly interested in cars but I've spent my fair share of time working on them out of necessity. Somehow this video made me want to buy a car again just so I can work on it lol
Love that Healey!!
I'd still love to see a revival of Usagi Motors; these videos are so fun, and the same for me as these ones, since I don't really understand cars OR computers!
As far as washing the car, I used to use the Mr. Clean wash system on my truck. Worked great! When my wife decided to buy a new car, I had to scour Ebay for one because they discontinued the product long ago. I was still able to find a system, soap, and some spare cartridges for it but they are getting very hard to find. Still works great!
What an amazing car. With a story to tell. Thanks for bringing us along.
I love this. You are just like me. I work on EVERYTHING. If it moves, beeps, buzzes, or bangs I'll get my hands into it. This was an awesome video!!
“Electrically it all seems to be working okay at the moment.” Famous moments in hubris. Icarus got nothing on you, bro.’
The gear box shift is impressive - nice and tight.
Man your cars are so cool
Glad to see you have a great taste in cars, and i'm glad they get used and driven not just sitting.
Beautiful cars, beautiful story, good job and amazing video! Thank you for sharing, and good luck with further fixes! Oh and please do keep sharing your car stuff with us.
dunno the first thing about cars but the fun you're having with them is contagious :3
Speedo drive looks like it’s missing a gear? Love your cars man! Cool to see that theres someone else out there who loves old computers and old Japanese cars! Just like with the computers, they’re working one day, and then back to square one the next! 😂
Good that I collect cars from 90s with EFI. I can more easily connect vintage computers with cars. Computer diagnostics with computer from era :)
I'm not much of a car guy -- I'm a point A to point B type -- but that smile on your face at the end made this video worth watching for me:)
Nothing like a nice break needless to say. Great video!
For those who may not be aware, SU stands for Skinner's Union. They had an interesting approach to carb design.
I have an MGB with SU HS4 carbs. Always fun
David, great video! I really enjoyed watching you and your friend work on the carbs bringing back memories working on my own carbs. Check the slave cylinders in the rear drum brakes -- they ought to be relatively inexpensive to repair (assuming that kits are available) or replace. Let us know how you fix the brake-feel problem and the jumpy speedometer too!
I love your dogs reaction to the engine starting!!! 😂
Soon the only Healey in the world where you can type in "Hellorld!".
Thanks for this - I've been wanting to see something done to the 'Healey!
This is the good stuff. I like these old computers even though I dont understand them- but I DO understand cars.
More of this stuff, please.
I'll be the first to admit that I don't understand half the things you talk about here, but I can tell from your enthusiasm that this means a ton to you. Also: "go-kart with licence plate" is my new favorite type of car
Awesome dude in an awesome car made me smile, thanks David!
I admire you
You care for family haritage and take good care for everything you own
And also have a very nice place with a lot of space to store your tresures
I dont know who tought you this things (to not throw everything that is old away and instead try to fix it) but I realy hope u will manage to pass this good values to your ofspring
Bring that gem to the Ozarks. There are some fun roads you could rip up near the Arkansas-Missouri border.
Looking at the pic and thinking: oh, dear, somebody is a bit burned out, but also, what a beautiful car and if it's Usagi Electric's then it's a well, and very carefully loved car - this will be a treat
Checking out all the paw prints in the dust on the windshield
So fun! Great diversion. Thank you.