pics of gems cam and crank sensor

[virgil]

Anyone got any decent (or not so decent) pics of cam and (rear) crank position senros and wheels from a GEMS (or other factory fit) engine please?

Understand the vernier wheel in the TVR 500 serp front end might makle a tight fit for a factory fit sensor??

Cheers,

Virgil..

[Simon says]

Have you asked on that other useful forum you frequent I cant help though

[virgil]

Shhh...don't tell everyone I'm a forum tart!

[Simon says]

virgil said:

Shhh...don't tell everyone I'm a forum tart!

Loads of us are

[virgil]

My thinking is if I spread my stupid questions between 2 sites I only look half as stupid on each!

If ever I have a good idea, I'll be sure to post on both ;-)

[jeboa]

John Eales do a very neat crank sensor (picking mine up tomorrow, and dropping something off....). The trigger wheel is machined to fit nicely behind the pulleys (smaller than most other trigger wheels) and also has the threads machined into it - to replace the usual nuts.

Not sure on a cam sensor, but if you won't be needing the distributor any more - you could modify to include a wheel/sensor inside??

[MPoxon]

Are you looking at installing a GEMS ECU??

I was very keen on the idea of running GEMS on my griff until I researched and found the work involved. I still may consider it when I change the cam. It is a very impressive ECU being that it is self mapping and fully sequential. Also has the benefit of many £££s worth of R&D.

I would be very interested to hear from you if you are planning A GEMS install as to my knowledge noone else has fitted one to a TVR before.

Matthew

[Simon says]

I assumed he was talking flywheel triggers as per GEMS.

Edited by Simon says on Friday 27th July 19:52

[virgil]

Was actually looking at megasquirt rather than GEMS ECU but wanted to use OEM (and therefore I thought GEMS) locations for sensors rather than the aftermarket style on the front pulley. So yes, it was the flywheel sensor and rear mounting position I was after...Just seemed neater than sticking a sensor and wheel on the front. Got a feeling that the cam one might be trickier though...

The actual OEM sensors seem to range from cheap to down right stupid prices on fleabay and that's for used ones!

Jeboa - might give JE a call and see if he can work some magic on the front pulley/damper then while he's at it..no chance of knackering-up the balance I've just paid for then either!!...any idea of what the cost is? Cam signal...didn't want to chop the dizzy up - was just going to blank it off for now...just in case I can't for any reason get the coil packs working!!

GEMS ECU...hmmm...just popping off to google for a while

Edited by virgil on Friday 27th July 20:19

[Simon says]

The JE solution is pure quality i.e pulley and TW combined I didn't panic about the balance i just reduced the diameter of the mud plate and apart from 1 tooth missing i have not really upset the balance to any great degree as i have even retained both OE balance weights inc the threaded bent studding too ...................

Edited by Simon says on Friday 27th July 21:24

[virgil]

Simon says said:

The JE solution is pure quality i.e pulley and TW combined I didn't panic about the balance i just reduced the diameter of the mud plate and apart from 1 tooth missing i have not really upset the balance to any great degree as i have even retained both OE balance weights inc the threaded bent studding too ...................

Edited by Simon says on Friday 27th July 21:24

I'm getting the crank internally balanced and new harmonic damper and flywheel balanced separately, so guess it should be ok. Might as well just write one (slightly bigger) cheque I guess....

[dnb]

I wouldn't use the GEMS triggers on an older engine. The crank sensor is on the flywheel, so would be difficult to use, and the cam trigger is based on a simplex timing chain, so again difficult to use without compromise. I haven't found a good cam trigger solution yet for a TVR, so if anyone can suggest one I am all ears.
I have always wondered about the Bosch Motronic ECU used on the last run of P38s, but never got around to doing anything about it...
I will also add that I have used a John Eales trigger without problem for many years It's not the cheapest solution, but it bolts on and works without any trouble.

[MPoxon]

virgil said:

Was actually looking at megasquirt rather than GEMS ECU but wanted to use OEM (and therefore I thought GEMS) locations for sensors rather than the aftermarket style on the front pulley. So yes, it was the flywheel sensor and rear mounting position I was after...Just seemed neater than sticking a sensor and wheel on the front. Got a feeling that the cam one might be trickier though...

The actual OEM sensors seem to range from cheap to down right stupid prices on fleabay and that's for used ones!

Jeboa - might give JE a call and see if he can work some magic on the front pulley/damper then while he's at it..no chance of knackering-up the balance I've just paid for then either!!...any idea of what the cost is? Cam signal...didn't want to chop the dizzy up - was just going to blank it off for now...just in case I can't for any reason get the coil packs working!!

From what little I understand about the GEMS trigger wheel it is a very good solution that is enclosed and completely water proof to satisfy the original durability requirement of Range Rover 4x4 fitment but apparently difficult to get hold of the parts and quite difficult to retrofit.

The JE trigger wheel solution is probably the best aftermarket solution according to those on here. There is also the triggerwheels.com solution:
http://www.trigger-wheels.com/store/contents/en-uk...

I assume you have chosen JE to rebuild your engine - good choice if so he is one of the best in the business. iirc did you snap your crank in your engine hence the rebuild. Are you getting JE to build back to standard spec or are you getting a bit extra?

I am surprised John didn't convince you to go DTA for ECU.... most of his engines seem to be running DTA:
http://www.dtafast.co.uk/

[virgil]

dnb said:

...and the cam trigger is based on a simplex timing chain, so again difficult to use without compromise....

Surely with the serpentine front end, a hole in the original location and a wheel mounted on the front of the gear...will have a look this week if I get a chance...

[virgil]

MPoxon said:

...I assume you have chosen JE to rebuild your engine - good choice if so he is one of the best in the business. iirc did you snap your crank in your engine hence the rebuild. Are you getting JE to build back to standard spec or are you getting a bit extra?

I am surprised John didn't convince you to go DTA for ECU.... most of his engines seem to be running DTA:
http://www.dtafast.co.uk/

He's just (and I say 'just' but it's pretty crucial in hind sight) doing the crank balancing for me...yes - was me with the 2 peice crank...hence the strip down. it's been the catalyst for a few improvements too, just wish it had been worn bearings like i originally thought...

I'm going to do the spanner work myself (rightly or wrongly) as I love playing with stuff :-) had a good option from V8 Dev which I was seriously tempted by (and probably should have taken!) and a similar one from John. I understand he doesn't rebuild lumps with the 2.3" TVR crank as they're not the most reliable in the world, but agreed to the blance work with a couple of caveats.

Going for a more radical cam and sequential injection with cop ignition (ordered the coils last week). do will be dropping the dizzy.

Ultimatley I want to go individual throttles with a new intake manifild, but that's a while off...if I can get into the 350 club I'll be happy :-)

[virgil]

Oh well...question answered...2.3" main block hasn't got the hole at the rear for the crank sensor...front it is then...

[MPoxon]

virgil said:

He's just (and I say 'just' but it's pretty crucial in hind sight) doing the crank balancing for me...yes - was me with the 2 peice crank...hence the strip down. it's been the catalyst for a few improvements too, just wish it had been worn bearings like i originally thought...

I'm going to do the spanner work myself (rightly or wrongly) as I love playing with stuff :-) had a good option from V8 Dev which I was seriously tempted by (and probably should have taken!) and a similar one from John. I understand he doesn't rebuild lumps with the 2.3" TVR crank as they're not the most reliable in the world, but agreed to the blance work with a couple of caveats.

Going for a more radical cam and sequential injection with cop ignition (ordered the coils last week). do will be dropping the dizzy.

Ultimatley I want to go individual throttles with a new intake manifild, but that's a while off...if I can get into the 350 club I'll be happy :-)

I have heard that JE does not rebuild the TVR 5.0s as there are potential issues surrounding the longevity of the crank (and indeed you have first hand experience of). To be fair, although it may be a weak point you do not often hear of cranks going so it is not exactly a common problem.

I know JE's 5.1 Rover engines have been singled out for particular praise in the past. No doubt this was one of the options you were offered when speaking with John.

Good luck with the build anyway fella