Jensen Service Bulletins by Richard Calver
Geoff Kingston provide the following information
This morning the postman delivered another new book produced and edited by Richard Calver. It is an edited reproduction of the original factory service bulletins mainly for the home market and non-USA market V8 cars covering the period 1963 to 1976 , so CV8, Interceptor and FF with the 383 cu in engine and larger and the 727 automatic gearbox. So on the mechanical side especially relevant to anyone with a 411 but also to some of the other cars before and after with the 727 gearbox and to a certain extent the other engine sizes where similar components were used. There are obviously bulletins covering issues relating to coachwork problems, mechanical issues specific to the FF but an awful lot of information relevant to some of our cars, I can see hours being spent over the coming days picking and choosing topics within the books lavish covers.
An example, bulletin 6/71/6 Subject Failure of Gearbox Kickdown Band or Clutch, only a few short paragraphs but clear and easy to understand and giving the mechanic all the pointers needed to confirm and rectify the problem, on the following page 6/71/8 covers oil pump failure, 6/71/7 Standard Torque Tightening of Bolts. So not a book if you wanted to know the history of Jensen cars but essential if you want to know how they were maintained and repaired in period including recommendations of alternative and upgraded parts.
As these cars shared a lot in common with the Bristol V8’s of this period, for anyone doing their own work or who works very closely with their mechanic this book could be a very useful addition to the motoring library. Available directly from the Author, just search the title of this topic, or from some alterative suppliers he recommends at a typical price of around £100/£120, not cheap perhaps but worth every penny in my mind for the information contained therein.
V8 Torqueflite auto-box repairs and servicing
The following contact details and addresses are for companies who undertake supplying spares and who conduct strip and rebuilding of automatic gearboxes (ie Torqueflte) and Salisbury axles.
- American Auto Spares Ltd., Kingsbury Road, Minworth, B76 9DD.
Telephone:- 0121 351 7655. Contact: Phil - VMTP Midlands Ltd., Unit 10, Conduit Road, Norton Canes, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 9TJ.
Telephone:- 01543 270555. Contact: Nigel Bishop - Penn Autos Ltd., 3 Spring Lane, Wolverhampton, WV4 4SH.
Telephone:- 01902 344004. Contact: Andy Frost.
American Auto Spares Ltd. no longer conduct strip and rebuilds but can provide most engine, gearbox, starter motors, alternators, etc. which is now the focus of their business.
The others are renovation companies who have conducted strip-down and rebuilding of Bristol V8 gearboxes and axles in the past and felt confident in ensuring a good outcome.
They always prefer to have the vehicle and are quite prepared to remove the gearbox which is taken out from the inside of the car and replaced. Both stated that the final adjustment to the auto-box is best achieved by a series of road trials.
The axle can also be stripped whilst still assembled to the vehicle saving the cost of removing it and the shipment cost of transporting such a large and heavy item.
Laycock-de Normanville Overdrive
As fitted to 405′s, 406′s and possibly some late 403′s
The overdrive interrupter switch on the gearbox was originally listed as 31077E but was superceded by Lucas to 30451. The significant difference in various differently numbered variations of this switch was apparently the electrical terminals. Some had post terminals, some had wide spade terminals, some had standard spades and some had the terminals bent over to the side. The 30451 has standard spade terminals that stick straight up.
NOTE: 31077E is also the reverse lamp switch on a 406 and presumably 30451 is therefore a straight substitute. This is often listed on EBay and is a “relatively” common switch.
Laycock-Complete
