1973 Jensen Interceptor MkIII
Discussion
Thanks all for the positive comments, I'm enjoying some light tinkering on the car before it goes into trusted local garage for a thorough going over and then straight in for MOT.
However I have drawn up a list and started gathering parts for the following areas which I think either warrant attention now or are regarded as preventive maintenance:
Cooling System
To flush radiator and engine block.
To replace heater hoses x3 and bottom hoses x 2 which look like they are deteriorating
Gearbox
To remove sump pan, check and work mounting flange flat (leaking)
Change gearbox filter.
Refit sump with new gasket
Exhaust
To investigate and cure leak on nearside exhaust manifold / downpipe
Fuel System
To replace inline fuel filter - mounted on underside of car near transmission tunnel
Check carburettor cold start mechanism - choke flaps not closing (shown below to right of image) making cold starts difficult.
Ignition system
To replace spark plugs
(Distributor cap and plug leads recently changed)
Other Servicing
To change engine oil (20/50) and oil filter
To change rocker cover gaskets and generally clean engine block and bay up
Replace air filter element
General check over & MOT
To check over function and condition of brakes / steering / suspension for safety.
To carry out any additional work necessary for MOT and submit for test.
Once completed the project will enter "shakedown" mode which basically means using it, checking it over, using it again and keeping the RAC card handy !
Will update during the repairs phase !
Eddieslofart said:
Looks very familiar, is Jeff Spicer one of the owners, would be from the 80's, long shot ask i know, but he had a white one, and i had a chocolate brown one, fondly christened the turd.
I actually took on a second part time job so i could put fuel in it !
Jeff Spicer not on the list of owners. I have the original build file from Jensen and it was initially owned by a Mr Wilatt of Gloucestershire then a Mr Jenkins, director of a building company in Aberystwyth. Next on the list was a Mr James of Stoke On Trent who I believe was also in the building trade. Prior to me a local Dr owned the car for five years but did very little mileage between MOT's. Plenty of evidence of servicing and maintenance work throughout.I actually took on a second part time job so i could put fuel in it !
However I have drawn up a list and started gathering parts for the following areas which I think either warrant attention now or are regarded as preventive maintenance:
Cooling System
To flush radiator and engine block.
To replace heater hoses x3 and bottom hoses x 2 which look like they are deteriorating
Gearbox
To remove sump pan, check and work mounting flange flat (leaking)
Change gearbox filter.
Refit sump with new gasket
Exhaust
To investigate and cure leak on nearside exhaust manifold / downpipe
Fuel System
To replace inline fuel filter - mounted on underside of car near transmission tunnel
Check carburettor cold start mechanism - choke flaps not closing (shown below to right of image) making cold starts difficult.
Ignition system
To replace spark plugs
(Distributor cap and plug leads recently changed)
Other Servicing
To change engine oil (20/50) and oil filter
To change rocker cover gaskets and generally clean engine block and bay up
Replace air filter element
General check over & MOT
To check over function and condition of brakes / steering / suspension for safety.
To carry out any additional work necessary for MOT and submit for test.
Once completed the project will enter "shakedown" mode which basically means using it, checking it over, using it again and keeping the RAC card handy !
Will update during the repairs phase !
I have a spare four-choke carb for a Chrysler V8 available if you fancy buying it for a modest price. It came off a Barracuda or some such thing, possibly. I can check its numbers to see if it is compatible with your 7.2, as my car was a 6.3 (smaller capacity but more power and less weight).
Eric Morecombe had one. He told the story of when he was driving and began having a heart attack, he pulled over and asked a man to drive him to the hospital in the Jensen. It took the guy several minutes to stop saying "you want me to drive an Interceptor" before agreeing to drive it. He sais he wished he had an ordinary car as he would have got there quicker as the guy was so scared to drive it.
I used to do MOT work for a Jensen specialists in Wombwell many years ago who used to restore them. They had a Bedford TK truck with the engine and box out of one as their recovery truck, it was a mental thing, all the right noises just out of place.
Hope you have a great time with it and are on first name terms at the petrol station, if not you soon will be.
I used to do MOT work for a Jensen specialists in Wombwell many years ago who used to restore them. They had a Bedford TK truck with the engine and box out of one as their recovery truck, it was a mental thing, all the right noises just out of place.
Hope you have a great time with it and are on first name terms at the petrol station, if not you soon will be.
Excellent purchase sir, but then I may be slightly biased.
I will find for you the details of a chap based down in Bristol, you can send off your eight track player to him, and not only will it return fully functional, but he'll also convert it to FM.
Anything else you need, I can highly recommend Appleyards for parts - they have pretty much anything you could ever need on the shelf, and it all turns up in the post in the next day.
http://jensen.co.uk/
Any questions also, I'll be happy to help...
I will find for you the details of a chap based down in Bristol, you can send off your eight track player to him, and not only will it return fully functional, but he'll also convert it to FM.
Anything else you need, I can highly recommend Appleyards for parts - they have pretty much anything you could ever need on the shelf, and it all turns up in the post in the next day.
http://jensen.co.uk/
Any questions also, I'll be happy to help...
Dr Interceptor said:
Excellent purchase sir, but then I may be slightly biased.
I will find for you the details of a chap based down in Bristol, you can send off your eight track player to him, and not only will it return fully functional, but he'll also convert it to FM.
Anything else you need, I can highly recommend Appleyards for parts - they have pretty much anything you could ever need on the shelf, and it all turns up in the post in the next day.
http://jensen.co.uk/
Any questions also, I'll be happy to help...
Why might you be biased, is the clue in the name? I will find for you the details of a chap based down in Bristol, you can send off your eight track player to him, and not only will it return fully functional, but he'll also convert it to FM.
Anything else you need, I can highly recommend Appleyards for parts - they have pretty much anything you could ever need on the shelf, and it all turns up in the post in the next day.
http://jensen.co.uk/
Any questions also, I'll be happy to help...
Dr Interceptor said:
Excellent purchase sir, but then I may be slightly biased.
I will find for you the details of a chap based down in Bristol, you can send off your eight track player to him, and not only will it return fully functional, but he'll also convert it to FM.
Anything else you need, I can highly recommend Appleyards for parts - they have pretty much anything you could ever need on the shelf, and it all turns up in the post in the next day.
http://jensen.co.uk/
Any questions also, I'll be happy to help...
Thanks very much for the details on the 8 track repair and conversion. I'd be very interested in FM and also a line in for iPod / iPhone music. That will keep it looking original and those 8 track units certainly look the part !I will find for you the details of a chap based down in Bristol, you can send off your eight track player to him, and not only will it return fully functional, but he'll also convert it to FM.
Anything else you need, I can highly recommend Appleyards for parts - they have pretty much anything you could ever need on the shelf, and it all turns up in the post in the next day.
http://jensen.co.uk/
Any questions also, I'll be happy to help...
Parts wise I appreciate the recommendation. On this occasssion I've used Martin Robeys, I ordered yesterday and the courier has attempted delivery today however I missed them. My car has been in at Appleyards for some servicing and repair work in 2012 and I know they have an excellent reputation.
Just in limbo now waiting for next Tuesday when I am getting the car transported in for work to start and hopefully an MOT and usable car will result!
Andy thanks for the heads up re the carbs. According to the history file it was a secondhand unit fitted back in 2012 by Appleyards when the car was with them for various jobs doing. Will be interesting to see if it's actually possible to get the choke functioning.
I have questioned whether the fuel delivery is adequate and suspected there may be a restriction in the filter (inline mounted under the car) or the mechanical pump is past its best. One ordered a new filter, pump and pushrod in any case so those will be changed.
Most cars even without choke ought to fire up with some careful coaxing but after being stood a few days this will only come to life after half a cupful of fuel is fed into the carb!
I have questioned whether the fuel delivery is adequate and suspected there may be a restriction in the filter (inline mounted under the car) or the mechanical pump is past its best. One ordered a new filter, pump and pushrod in any case so those will be changed.
Most cars even without choke ought to fire up with some careful coaxing but after being stood a few days this will only come to life after half a cupful of fuel is fed into the carb!
spaximus said:
Eric Morecombe had one. He told the story of when he was driving and began having a heart attack, he pulled over and asked a man to drive him to the hospital in the Jensen. It took the guy several minutes to stop saying "you want me to drive an Interceptor" before agreeing to drive it. He sais he wished he had an ordinary car as he would have got there quicker as the guy was so scared to drive it.
You've not finished the story.When the guy dropped Eric off at the hospital he said:- "Can I have your autograph NOW, just in case you don't pull through"
bigfella70 said:
Andy thanks for the heads up re the carbs. According to the history file it was a secondhand unit fitted back in 2012 by Appleyards when the car was with them for various jobs doing. Will be interesting to see if it's actually possible to get the choke functioning.
I have questioned whether the fuel delivery is adequate and suspected there may be a restriction in the filter (inline mounted under the car) or the mechanical pump is past its best. One ordered a new filter, pump and pushrod in any case so those will be changed.
Most cars even without choke ought to fire up with some careful coaxing but after being stood a few days this will only come to life after half a cupful of fuel is fed into the carb!
It's most likely that the Quadrajet is off something like a smallblock Chevy and parts for those carbs are becoming more of a challenge to obtain. I suspect therefore that your fuel delivery may be down to incorrect jetting for your much larger application. The basic carb has adequate design capacity though at around 750 cfm.I have questioned whether the fuel delivery is adequate and suspected there may be a restriction in the filter (inline mounted under the car) or the mechanical pump is past its best. One ordered a new filter, pump and pushrod in any case so those will be changed.
Most cars even without choke ought to fire up with some careful coaxing but after being stood a few days this will only come to life after half a cupful of fuel is fed into the carb!
If the above is the case then it may be easier in the long run to consider replacing the carb with something you can maintain more easily (Holley / Edelbrock) though your manifold spread-bore configuration will limit choices unless you replace that too.
Andy
Andy-IM said:
It's most likely that the Quadrajet is off something like a smallblock Chevy and parts for those carbs are becoming more of a challenge to obtain. I suspect therefore that your fuel delivery may be down to incorrect jetting for your much larger application. The basic carb has adequate design capacity though at around 750 cfm.
If the above is the case then it may be easier in the long run to consider replacing the carb with something you can maintain more easily (Holley / Edelbrock) though your manifold spread-bore configuration will limit choices unless you replace that too.
Andy
Thanks Andy I'll look into the carb situation and do some research into possible replacements. Would be nice to initially run the car as is and see what performance is like and if I can get the cold start sorted ok....If the above is the case then it may be easier in the long run to consider replacing the carb with something you can maintain more easily (Holley / Edelbrock) though your manifold spread-bore configuration will limit choices unless you replace that too.
Andy
Nice car. Have you considered a conversion to EFI. I fitted a kit to my car, it was quite simple and it's great for cold starts, throttle response is better along with fuel consumption and I have mine controlling the cooling fans and ignition timing. http://www.hotrod.com/articles/car-crafts-giant-ef...
Coatesy351 said:
Nice car. Have you considered a conversion to EFI. I fitted a kit to my car, it was quite simple and it's great for cold starts, throttle response is better along with fuel consumption and I have mine controlling the cooling fans and ignition timing. http://www.hotrod.com/articles/car-crafts-giant-ef...
My mate who lives in California had a friend a couple of years ago that ran an Edelbrock E-Street EFI kit. ally heads etc on his 440RB powered Plymouth - was his daily driver.spaximus said:
Eric Morecombe had one. He told the story of when he was driving and began having a heart attack, he pulled over and asked a man to drive him to the hospital in the Jensen. It took the guy several minutes to stop saying "you want me to drive an Interceptor" before agreeing to drive it. He sais he wished he had an ordinary car as he would have got there quicker as the guy was so scared to drive it.
I used to do MOT work for a Jensen specialists in Wombwell many years ago who used to restore them. They had a Bedford TK truck with the engine and box out of one as their recovery truck, it was a mental thing, all the right noises just out of place.
Hope you have a great time with it and are on first name terms at the petrol station, if not you soon will be.
Love the Eric Morcombe bit. I used to do MOT work for a Jensen specialists in Wombwell many years ago who used to restore them. They had a Bedford TK truck with the engine and box out of one as their recovery truck, it was a mental thing, all the right noises just out of place.
Hope you have a great time with it and are on first name terms at the petrol station, if not you soon will be.
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