A degree or two won't hurt it but too much will load up the normally slack side of the chain and in turn put way too much strain on the tensioner. Valve interference is probably possible also but you won't be a happy camper if that tensioner snaps.

 

Yes, clockwise looking at the front of the motor, the same way the engine turns when it is running.
Greg

 

Thanks! I appreciate the info and appreciate your clearing up that particular hazard.

WARNING: CONTAINS MISINFORMATION:
You know, there's a post or article out there. I think it was on jag-lovers. That suggests coring a spark plug, putting a bolt in it and using it to top a piston against, note the position in the balancer, reverse the engine 170-some degrees till it stops against the bolt. and mark that. Adjust bolt to close in on TDC and repeat until you find TDC and set the scale to it.
THIS IS NOT ADVICE. if you find this in a search don't try it.

I'll try to find to URL for that article. Seems dangerous to have that lying around.

 

Yep, lots of theories out there.

When you actually get your hands "dirty", you become quite knowledgable.

Remembering that knowledgae becomes the next issue.

 

What a weekend! Having all the belts off from last episode I started fitting hoses. All day Saturday was hose day. Much alcohol was consumed. I get very zen on the jag and just wrench, flip it, wrench. Repeat. Arms like pipe cleaners. Contortionist. Upside down reaching through imposible mazes with tools too long for spaces.

But damn if it don't feel good looking at all that new rubber over a rocks glass!

Belts. More alcohol. More zen wrenching. Done.

Filling and bleeding. Alcohol. Internet. Alcohol. And coolant. Keep em apart. Done.

So here I am looking at the back end of a v12 jag that's not currently leaking any fluids. Took her out for a spin. Damn good ride. Needs tuning. Plugs. New single coil. But she's on the road and legal.

I've decided that snapping on the throttle rods is my new favorite thing. Such a great design and so satisfying. Always means I'm about done. There is a fantastic feeling that comes around dusk in Sunday when you're working on an old car and you're just wrapping up a lot of hard work and you know you're about to go drive the thing into the summer night.

 

Poetic, So true, I could not agree more.
Greg

 

Well done.

I really do like the work ethics/sequence here, standard V12 ethics by the way.

Many do not adopt those ethics, and take forever to do so litlle, or do not do them at all coz it got too hard.