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Tach Drive/Oil Line Connection?

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62BT7

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Quick Question: The older style distributors had a pedestal which acted as a mechanical drive for the tachometer. The pedestal has a connection for an oil line, which connects with a banjo-style fitting. That part I know, but where does the other end of the oil line connect to the engine block (the block, correct?) to draw the oil? I've looked at Moss' schematic and the AH shop manual but see nothing in detail.

Thanks,
-Tom
 
Hi Tom,

It connects to the block about 5" aft of where the oil filter connects to the block. There are two threaded holes in this area. The one perpendicular to the side and closest to the distributor is where the banjo fitting is attached. The other hole angles toward the back and receives a short bolt to seal it off.

Cheers,
John
 
Thanks, John. For reasons not worth getting into for this narrow question, I'm retrofitting a tach drive base below my later model 25D6 distributor (long story...).I have a BJ8 block, hence no previous oil line connection.

John (or others): There are two hex bolt heads where you mention, one pointing aft (toward the flywheel) the other angles out over the starter. Any idea which is the one to connect to? I also assume there's a special bolt with a hole to allow the oil into the lower banjo fitting?

Many thanks,
-Tom
 
Oops, John, in my haste to reply I didn't read your first post carefully which answers my last post. Sorry about that, many thanks for the info.
 
Hi Tom,

Yes, it uses a special hollow and drilled bolt to allow the oil flow to the banjo. Copper gaskets are used on each side of each banjo fitting. Also a copper gasket under the head of the plain bolt which points back to the flywheel. Are you going to make up your pipe? I could supply you with pictures and dimensions to help with bending if needed.

Cheers,
John
 
Thanks very much for the offer John, but I think I'm set. I've had a few e-mail conversations with Jeff at Advanced Distributors and have arranged to purchase a refurbished tach drive/pedestal for a reasonable price, which will include the oil line. I'll get the banjo bolt connection & gaskets from Moss at a nominal price.

Just to elaborate, not that you asked, but I have a very nice looking but nonetheless "mongrel" Austin Healey. 1962 BT-7 in very good shape, but a '66 BJ-8 engine. Sounds simple enough until you try to mesh engine components with carb linkages, with wiring harnesses, ouch! I'm trying to bring it back to the original (or pretty close) tri-carb configuration and reverting it back to pre-BJ-8 dash gauges means reverting back to a mechanical tach, which means reverting back to a tach drive (with a 25D6 distributor)...Maybe you feel my pain, but this is fun in a perverse sense nonetheless. I'm getting close, I can see light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks again.
-Tom
 
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