Austin Sheerline Project

[Cgantner5150]

Update:
Got the rest of the front body work off today. Pressure washed the front end and got the 60 years of gunk off. Either the shock or the jack system was leaking on the right side. Man was it thick and caked on. Also finally located the frame plate and a plate on the engine. Body is coming off next to ease the frame mods. The engine appears to be painted gold. Was this original?

Located the hand crank and tried to spin the engine. No go. Removed the spark plugs and sprayed some penetrant and oil in the cylinders. Sprayed down the valve train and tapped them loose. Going to let it sit overnight and give it another try. Going to pull it after we remove the body anyway, just want to see if I can free it up.

 

[JPSmit]

Update:
The engine appears to be painted gold. Was this original?

Not completely sure for Austins - but generally a "gold seal" engine refers to one which has been re-built. This is what I read at another website:

"Gold seal and silver seal engines were normal engines originally fitted in production but then showed a fault after been sold and were replaced by dealers under warranty. The engines then went back to the factory to be reconditioned. The extent of work required designated them as either gold or silver. They were issued with a new engine number which was quite different from the normal designation so this should tell you for sure assuming it is as original."

this came from here: https://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=26099

thanks so very much for the updates BTW - it is great to watch!

 

[Cgantner5150]

That would then explain the last picture. The tag says "BMC Replacement Unit".

Thanks for the info. I guess I am not sure where to find all the info during my searches. I know where to find all the Corvette stuff. Haha.

 

[78Z]

What a fantastic project! I suspect you hot rod version is probably going to be the most cost effective way of getting it back on the road.

I don't I've ever seen one with the smaller headlights. There is one close to here in roughly similar shape with larger headlights.

 

[Cgantner5150]

The headlights are a bit of confusion for me as well. The Princess had the same headlights as ours but the rest of the body is different. I'm not really sure, but oh well.

I worked yesterday on wrestling the engine and tranny out and we are setting up a fixture to set the body on when we separate it from the frame. The engine still wont turn over. Then the real work begins.

Sorry, nothing worth taking pics of this past weekend, but I did get the TIG welder and an Argon bottle.

 

[Cgantner5150]

Finally got some more work done on the Austin. We fought the engine trans removal. She definitely did not want to come out. The engine appears to be stuck to the trans - I can't get them to come apart. The bell housing is full of rust on the clutch pressure plate. The V8 transplant is going to be quite a weight loss. The engine and trans unit must be all of 9 feet long - it's huge.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Good progress - thanks for keeping us posted!

 

[billspohn]

V8 swaps are old hat. Have you considered a swap that would look classy, like a Jag 6? The suspension is certainly built to take the weight.

 

[Cgantner5150]

Not sure that an EFI V8 Austin Sheerline is "old hat", but that is the plan. I thought about a BMW straight 6 (I have an X5 3.0) but there is nothing affordable about those.
For what it's worth, the suspension is getting changed out also. I want conventional and accessible parts. Probably Mustang II front and we already have an Explorer disk break rear. Need to find out about flipping a power rack and pinion to keep the right hand drive.

 

[Cgantner5150]

Back on track.
Got the frame out from under the body. Body is up on blocks. Started frame cleaning and removed all brackets lines and wiring. Aplied some spray bomb primer to stop new rust. Started mock up of the 8.8 Ford Explorer rear. It's pretty scary how well it fits. I flipped the upper control rods and they fell into place. Sway bar will connect where the old shocks mounted.
Now for pics:

 

[Mickey Richaud]

We're passin' a good time now! Looking good!

 

[pdplot]

That's a classic-looking car. Never saw one over here. Good luck with your project whatever you end up with.

PD

 

[Cgantner5150]

Time for some updates. We have been busy life as well as the Sheerline. We got the rear 3/4 of the frame mods and repaint done. The underside of the body was thoroughly wire brushed and we sprayed on SPI Epoxy primer. We are going to leave it in that Semigloss finish. The frame and rearend were sprayed in Satin Black. Yesterday we put the body back on and put in new poly body bushings and grade 8 bolts/washers/nuts.
Next up is body work and still looking for a deal on an GM LS based engine trans and ECU/wiring.


It was definitely not the easiest thing to do without a lift but this shows that a "body off" can be done in the back yard. I really need a lift.....

 

[JPSmit]

impressive! massive frame! keep the updates coming

 

[VFK44]

As you may have realised by now, the UK guy you need to contact is Andy Fowler, trading on Ebay as Slate-Hall.
https://stores.ebay.co.uk/A-P-Fowlers-Classic-Car-Parts
He's a nice quiet chap who know all about the 4-litre Austin engine.
Your earlier poster was right about the engine being essentially 1.5 x a Healey 100 engine, but it has very little in common with the later 6-cylinder Healey 3000 apart from the general design. In a Jensen 541 it raced at last year's prestigious Goodwood festival and came near the front in 8th, ahead of a Ferrari, Corvette, so it has potential if you spend enough money!

 

[Brucekoukalaka]

I find it disappointing that another survivor must be destroyed by throwing another Garbage made carelessly drive train under the beauty of a real British icon. Too bad as it would have probably been worth something as a restored car, rather than a junk pile.

 

[Cgantner5150]

"Survivor"? For real? Did the pictures not load for you?

As to your negativity - please keep it in your own thread.
Thank you

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Lookin' good! And as for a backyard restoration, all of mine have been that way.


Mickey

 

[Brucekoukalaka]

Cgant... I was using the term "survivor" referring to the fact it is still around, NOT because it was some BS. "Barn find" that looks like it just got back from a 2 week trip through the desert. As for my "negativity" do you even have an inkling as to how **** few of these were built? Let alone it was still a salvageable, beautiful car, only to be destroyed by using another chev engine rather than something more deserving and fitting such as a Jag, or the BMW engine you have. At any rate your car would have been better served by someone that would at least treat it with the respect it deserves. I'll bet you'd put a chev under the hood of a 1965 Shelby Cobra!

 

[Cgantner5150]

Bruce, I went back and re-read the whole thread to see where I "edited" one of my posts (you accuse me of editing). When I got to the end, I see that you have now edited your post (I have a copy if you would like me to post it).

"...Jag, or the BMW engine you have. I would also suggest you start by READING his original post where YOU said you know you'll be getting flack for... I just went back and see you've edited it out. At any..."

I said that some would see it as a "sacrilege". I don't edit posts unless it is for a good reason. You trying to "catch me at something" is not a good reason to me.

As for the BMW engine - it is currently residing in my wife's X5. I think she would be a little upset if I removed it.

The Chevy LS engines are phenominal machines. They have quite a history - pretty successful if you ask me. Check them out. Thankfully the British engine that was in the car originally leaked as much oil as it did - there was no frame rust.

Have you attempted to locate any parts for an Austin Sheerline? Let me know how that goes. I can tell that very few were made and from what I understand, only a handful were imported to the US. Found a few parts on eBay UK. The seller refused to ship to the US.

No, the Austin did not spend two weeks in the desert. After our research, it spent at least two weeks underwater after Hurricane Katrina. It was located in a wharehouse in New Orleans and as indicated by the amount of rust in the bell housing and inside the engine along with mold in the cabin, the story fits.

Are you offering to be the "better serving" person for this car? I'll sell it to you. Just so you know, we started "smoothing" by filling in all the handles and keyholes and fuel filler. Sorry.

If I had a Shelby Cobra, would I put a Chevy engine in it? Depends. I really don't like Fords but I respect the Cobra. If it was a 1963 Grand Sport Corvette I would not have to worry about that question. By the way, the GS Corvette beat the **** out of the Cobra as well as the Jags, Ferraris, and Porsches. And they are a **** of a lot more rare.

in closing, your opinion is noted. I'll file it away.
Good day.