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bobclevenger
 Posted:
Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:59 pm |
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New Jensen owner --- almost
Hello from the States!
I just won an eBay auction for a 1976 Jensen Interceptor Mk III.  She is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and I am planning to pick her up in a couple of weeks and drive her home! Photos will, of course, follow.
I will probobly stop by K&D in Washington on my way home just to have them give her a quick look.
I have quite a bit of experience building MoPar "B" block engines, but it is all quite out of date. I once owned a 1970 Dodge Challenger with the 440 Six-Pack and A-833 trans --- it was almost stock! 
I do have a few questions for the group mind here.
1. As I am wanting to add a navigation system to the car I need to know how much room I will have with which to work. What is the distance from the top of the circular controls beneath the radio (HVAC?) to the top of the panel in which the radio resides? Essentially, I want to know if a Double-DIN unit can be mounted. I know that the radio opening will need to be opened up to 4" in height.
2. Does anyone know of a source for a pair of Jensen valve covers? This car has had them replaced with chromed steel Moroso covers.
3. How difficult would fitting a manual transmission (with the necessary clutch and clutch pedal) be?
I am so pleased to find this forum, and I shall continue my attempts to learn to speak English rather than American. 
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Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 680
Location: Reno, Nevada, USA
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Bob
1972 SP 132/5577, aka "Pirate Jenny"
"Shall we kill them now? ... Or later?" |
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| zacmarshall
Posted:
Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:23 am |
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You know K&D already, not sure if you know of delta motorsports - see http://www.deltamotorsports.com/
It may be worth speaking to Andy Brooks at Appleyard Parts - see www.Jensen.co.uk for contact details. Also www.rejen.info Both have lots of used bits and should have valve covers.
As far as the sat-nav goes would it be easier just to use a portable one, I have a Garmin Nuvi unit with mp3 player, so I have sat nav and a lead to a hidden input to the original 8 track player for more modern stuff (my better half objects to wonky Pink Floyd 8 tracks - or to be exact objects to any Pink Floyd tracks)
It's worth joining the JOC if you haven't already - Keith (membership secretary) can send you a membership pack including the magazine with useful adverts or you can join online at www.jensencv8.com/regalia/join.htm
There is an active JOC group in Southern California, not sure where abouts in California you are but I can dig out the details for you.
For any manuals / books / nick nacks see www.jensencv8.com/regalia for the club shop.
ps like your website, if you are interested in Civil war stuff this years Jensen east meet is in the Shenendoah valley, I've been to the one in New Zealand and would like to make it to the original....
Zac
(Bristol, UK)
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Joined: 17 Oct 2005
Posts: 1310
Location: Bristol, UK
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| Dave C
Posted:
Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:48 am |
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Hi Bob and welcome to the forum, be warned, it does become addictive.
My geography is not great but Canada to California does sound a bit more than a day out; your plans remind me of a quote from Quentin Willson (an English motoring correspondent) talking about the time he sold an Interceptor to a guy in Spain on the proviso that he delivered it to him, he said that despite having to refuel 17? times it was the drive of his life.
Have a great trip and take lots of photographs.
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Joined: 03 Jul 2006
Posts: 188
Location: West Midlands
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| taximan
Posted:
Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:23 am |
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Hi Bob, does your aquisition come with any spares? because it may be an idea to have K&D post some to your hotel in Canada in preparation for the first hop to Snohomish, im sure there are well qualified owner/drivers on this forum who can give you a comprehensive list of what is required on a journey of this nature, having just recently returned from a mammoth trek in their Interceptor. welcome to the forum, allow 30 mins per day minimum spent reading up to date posts, once you have read EVERY previous post! allow 1 week minimum. Enjoy! Shaun.
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| bobclevenger
Posted:
Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:12 am |
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Thanks for the welcome!
Let's see if I can remember the points to address...
1. Well, yes --- it will be a multi-day drive home from Edmonton. Fornuately I have friends in Portland, OR and plan to make a point of visiting them for a day or two. I also will have a co-driver along.
2. Re. Nav system. I really want a system that is built into the vehicle. I've had them in my last three cars and I'm spoilt. 
The unit at which I'm looking is the Pioneer AVIC-Z1 which also includes a 10GB mp3 player, iPod interface, and Bluetooth connexion. I only fear that I'll have to make a new veneered panel with lowered HVAC controls in which to mount it.
This Interceptor is just a good condition driver, not a show car, so I am not overly concerned about maintaining 100% originality.
3. Zac, thanks so much for the links! Yes, I am in Southern Calif. and I would appreciate the info for the Jensen Owners group here --- I think they are not too far away, but I have lost the info that I once had.
4. The only spares that are truly needed for the trip are tyres, which I will buy in Edmonton. All else that is not working properly is not critical.
5. Yes, I am aware that forums (forae?) such as these are rapidly addictive. I am a regular on the Bimmerfest.com forum in the 6-series sub-forum. Last night I spent a good deal of time perusing old posts. I learned a lot.
6. Can't wait to go pick her up! I've wanted an Interceptor since back when they were new. 
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Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 680
Location: Reno, Nevada, USA
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Bob
1972 SP 132/5577, aka "Pirate Jenny"
"Shall we kill them now? ... Or later?" |
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| peter ullrich
Posted:
Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:17 am |
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new owner
Hi Bob,
Congratulations, while I own CV8s the manual box conversion could be the same. I have a genuine manual CV8 and a race CV8 that I modified from automatic. The standard unit is a 23 spline, short tail A833, they used the Chrysler roller type CV joint (not sure of the technical name) but as we didn't want the tailshaft joining us in the cockpit through the GRP tunnel we junked it and fitted a 1970/74 B/E body long tail 18 spline (hemi) 833 unit with the shifter mounted in the forward B body location. We run a 1370 Spicer joint on a standard slip yoke with a shortened tailshaft. I use a trick flywheel and twin plate Quartermaster clutch but have used a 1075 Centreforce diaphram clutch on a standard flywheel successfully. The original Jensen clutch actuation was critisized in period for being heavy and when you see all the articulation needed to fit an external slave cylinder in the confined space you can see why. We run a Quartermaster hydraulic thrust bearing (710100 for the Centreforce or 710200 for the twin plate) and these work a treat, nice and light and easy to instal. You do have to machine a fraction off the front bearing retainer spigot on the gearbox to accomodate the internal diameter of the bearing however.
Good luck, but be aware the the limosine feel goes away and they become a cantakerous beast, good fun though.
Cheers
Peter
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Joined: 09 Jul 2006
Posts: 79
Location: Gosford. Australia
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| chassis man
Posted:
Wed Jan 10, 2007 9:03 am |
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fitting satnav
Hi Bob, great to hear you have aquired an intercptor that fulfills a long dream!! Just a thought on you idea on fitting built in unit for sat nav.. I have a centre console from a mk111 here that has the learjet self seeking / 8 track unit in it. This unit was much bigger than the then standard size for radios etc of the day. I can take some measurements of the size of hole , it might give you some idea of if your unit is going to be a possibility!! Drop me a email and I could take a picture or two if that helps, have a great trip back with the new car, I used to drive all across europe many times in my jensens years ago, allways had a big grin on my face!!
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Joined: 13 Feb 2006
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Location: midlands
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| bobclevenger
Posted:
Wed Jan 10, 2007 9:13 am |
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Fitting the unit I wish to use will require a 6.5" x 4.0" opening in the panel.
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Joined: 09 Jan 2007
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Bob
1972 SP 132/5577, aka "Pirate Jenny"
"Shall we kill them now? ... Or later?" |
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| Wallace
Posted:
Wed Jan 10, 2007 2:35 pm |
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Hi Bob,
When you get around to removing the radio console, be careful removing the switch bank as it is easy to damage the leather on the main console itself. Once loose, protect the edges to prevent any furher damage. The heater controls are vacuum operated and there are a multitude of small rubber hoses connected to the controls so mark each hose and it's position before going any further. You may find they are already marked, check you understand the previous persons marking code!!
Regards, Mike
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| chassis man
Posted:
Wed Jan 10, 2007 5:43 pm |
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sat nav
Hi Bob I have now had a chance to measure the hole in the learjet panel ( i have also found a wood veneer version in my boxs of bits)! It measures 7.25inches bya little over 2.25! the distance down from right underneath swich panel to the top of the heater controls is, at best, 3.25", so it would seem like you either will be building a bespoke radio/heater control panel or mounting it somewhere else!
Just to say though anythings possible, I have in the past mounted the "75" wood dash into an ff, complete with series 3 centre console, (which even jensens told me could not be done)! I also produced a ski slope for a guy that wanted a quadraphonic pioneer 8track, plus an fm radio in it... so your project must be at least possible.. I wish you well and enjoy the car...
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Joined: 13 Feb 2006
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Location: midlands
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| bobclevenger
Posted:
Wed Jan 10, 2007 9:53 pm |
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Thanks for the info. It looks like I'll need to go with the AVIC-N3, a Single-DIN sized unit, or build up a new panel with the heater controls lowered.
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Joined: 09 Jan 2007
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Location: Reno, Nevada, USA
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Bob
1972 SP 132/5577, aka "Pirate Jenny"
"Shall we kill them now? ... Or later?" |
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| Ole H Sanne
Posted:
Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:56 pm |
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Nice car, guess you have fully wooden dash, this is the green double bumper car isnt it?
I see valve covers now and then on Ebay, u should find it there.
Guess this one is a bit slower than the 440 six pack Dodge u had....its one of the last Interceptors and pretty strangled with emission stuff.
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Best
Ole |
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| bobclevenger
Posted:
Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:21 pm |
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Yes, this is the green double-bumber car. I have a search saved on eBay for the valve covers, so I ought to get them one of these days.
The engine will probably be warmed back up since this car will not be registered in Calif. Not as much as my Challenger was (12:1 compression is a bit extreme for today's fuel). 
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Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 680
Location: Reno, Nevada, USA
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Bob
1972 SP 132/5577, aka "Pirate Jenny"
"Shall we kill them now? ... Or later?" |
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| Ole H Sanne
Posted:
Thu Jan 11, 2007 10:37 pm |
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This car of yours looks very nice in british racing green.
I considered offering on it about a year ago when she was up for sale then, but have a 440 so looking for a 383 instead or SP for that matter, though only one for sale at very high price.
Let me know please if u see a 383 for sale in California.
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Best
Ole |
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| bobclevenger
Posted:
Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:49 am |
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Thanks. I have always been surprised that Jensen did not offer BRG as a standard colour.
I was always fond of the 383 engine. Built many of them --- blew up many too! It can be built to rev very high; high enough to do itself great harm!
Long-term goal is to convert mine to SP specs, or install multiport fuel injection. I'm playing with the notion of using a modified 3x2bbl manifold to mount the injectors with Holley carburettor bodies as throttle bodies. That way it would look like a stock SP at first glance, but have modern FI benefits.
I will be glad to let you know if I run across a 383 Interceptor.
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Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 680
Location: Reno, Nevada, USA
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Bob
1972 SP 132/5577, aka "Pirate Jenny"
"Shall we kill them now? ... Or later?" |
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