HELP - Jensen Healy - Cam Timing Need Photo

[RNV]

Howdy Pardners

Well leme see here if I can give ya’ll an intro dukshun.. I am out here in the wild west of California. I been playin with cars since I was about 3-4 years old… Yep, my Daddy says my first word was carburetor.

Since then I learned a lot more words and many I care not to actually utter.. You know whut I’m talking about--- words like --- Suzuki --- Honda --- and four letter words like --- YUGO..

So for now I think I said enuf about me… No here is why I was searchin for you guys and what I am up to.

I picked up a Jensen Healy – Had my eyes on them since about 1976 when one of the race cars I ran with popped in with an engine out of a Jensen.. Yep there it was a twin cam Lotus engine in a BCRA Edmunds Midget Oval Track Race Car…… COOL!

Well, here is the deal with my Jensen. It does not run….. It has compression, fuel and spark.. But I am positive the timing has got to be off…

Reading posts on the forum I see MANY threads about playing with the cams and ignition, but not a single mention about exactly where the timing marks are supposed to be for initial set up…….. NO, I do not have a service manual.. I don’t think I can get one until AFTER the holiday….. And I WANT to play with the car NOW--- Yep Like an NEW KID, I want it NOW!!!

So---- Is there anyone out there that can explain to me where to place the cams, crank and distributor gear marks ?????

And YES, I do know how to roll things over so as NOT to damage valves…… Just need to know where to set marks!!!! BEFORE I put the timing belt on…

 

[DrEntropy]

Welcome aboard!

Hold on fer a sec, I'll see if the manual I have has an "explosive drawing" of th' beast.

I will need an e-mail addy as the scan is too big to post and if reduced to allowable size the detail would be unreadable.


Looking for the dizzy data, haven't an illustration. That shouldn't be too much aggro to figure out, tho. Firing order is 1-3-4-2 (common), static timing around 8° BTDC... the dizzy ~should~ be driven by an offset dog type slot and should only fit one way.

 

[DrEntropy]

Try this (and obviously #1 at TDC):

 

[DrEntropy]

OKAY?!!? Are ya DONE yet?!?!

 

[RNV]

GREAT!

Now I can go out and play! Yep, sure enough, it is not correct at all.........
Now with this I can do it!!
After it runs, I can go play with some of the other toys out here:
Facel Vega
Maserati
Chevy
Mustang
Eldorado
Continental MKII
58 Impala Convert
57 Chevy Convert
29 Cad Roadster
29 Packard

naw------ maybe I go jump in the pool.. HOT HERE in California

 

[DrEntropy]

Here too. But I have enuff other stuff, that pool is just a distraction.

BTW: You're welcome. :wink:

 

[DART]

Doc- looking at the engine bay on this fleabay https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1975-Jens...c1ceed237#v4-37
offering and it looks, to my untrained eye, like it has a blower. What am I seeing there with the pulleys?

And to top it all off, it's in Manitoba.

 

[DART]

I may have answered my question with the view in this listing. Sweet powerplant!
https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JENSEN-HEALEY-/120744194492?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item1c1cea31bc

 

[AngliaGT]

"THIS CAR RESTORED WILL SELL AT BARRETT JACKSON FOR $25-35K".
He must have smoked something before he posted that.

- Doug

 

[DART]

After all, it's fleabay. Optimism comes with your ID package...buyers as well as sellers.

 

[DrEntropy]

Slant four, twin overhead cams. You're seein' nekkid cam sprockets.

 

[DART]

Compared to how ALFA does it, you think it's good or bad?

 

[DrEntropy]

I think it STINKS ON ICE. Alfa went to Gilmer belts too, with the V6 engines.

Gimme chains. And keep all that timing gear INSIDE the engine where it belongs. :smirk:

 

[JPSmit]

I think it STINKS ON ICE. Alfa went to Gilmer belts too, with the V6 engines.

Gimme chains. And keep all that timing gear INSIDE the engine where it belongs. :smirk:

+1 and non-interference please

 

[DrEntropy]

Interference or not, if that belt breaks there's a MESS.

 

[DART]

Exactly what I was thinkin, but wanted your validation. You be the xpurt.

 

[DrEntropy]

Izzat like "a prior fawcet leak"?

 

[JodyFKerr]

once you have the timing down check that fuel system.

The tank on the JH rusts something fierce. It has to do with the wonderful horsehair sponge directly underneath it and leaking from the top. Every JH I havew awaken has needed a good cleaning of the fuel system.

Double check the fuel Tee by the carburettors. If it's the original plastic replace the stupid thing immediately with a metal one.

Also, if you're messing with cams, etc. please make sure you're using a new belt!

Oh, and the points in the distributor tend to get extra gucky, something about the position. Depending on generation you have either a resistor wire or a ballast resistor in the ignition circuit. Make sure you're getting the full 6 volts (12 when the starter's engaged).

Jody

 

[DrEntropy]

Double check the fuel Tee by the carburettors. If it's the original plastic replace the stupid thing immediately with a metal one.

Amen!

...or how to make a Healy bark... "WOOF!"

:shocked:

 

[JamesWilson]

It'd probably help to explain clearly why- the plastic has been known to leak and then the car can catch fire....