Bagged Coupe

Brandon - THAT is a seriously BAD-ASS car!! Exactly how I would have a coupe built if I ordered one. Enjoy the ride!! 

The first coupes lacked that chrome surround on the rear windows---your car has seems I read somewhere that those pieces weren't available at first. Those pieces and it makes a lot of difference.

 

You are going to get a LOT of attention with that great looking outlaw!

 

The black color is sensational---I think this may be the first JPS black coupe.

 

Congrats.  Plesae keep us posted as you sort out the minor issues.

 

What kind of carbs does it have?

Yeah! Looks great. I'd be PIIIISSSSEEED if I paid that much for a car, waited that long; to have it arrive dirty.  That's crap.

 

Can't wait to see you you improve on it.

Ted

Brandon, it looks wonderful. I sincerely hope your " sorting out" is kept to a minimum!

Is a trip to Carlisle this year still on your schedule?

 

 

 

Thanks a Lot!  

 

Thanks!

 

Glad you noticed the rear window trim.

 

I'm not sure on the carbs.....its got the 2110 engine.

Thanks Rich

 

 

I doubt I'll get the car there...but will try to make it myself.

Sounds like JPS has given up on quality control and customer relations.  Not a place it would recommend a friend to. 

 

Would love to attend....but I'm in Florida. 

Wicked and Badass! And love the 17' rims. A change of locale shouldn't affect the carburetors; I would bet the linkage needs to be adjusted. Al

 

Tire sizes?

Very sinister looking! Very nice.

       
       
Shoot, missed that in your comments about the carbs. What's up with the CALIF plates?

In the trademarked words of Paris Hilton, "That's Hot!"

 

-=theron

Outstanding! Keeps us posted on the teething pains...

Florida, huh?  Sounds like you're a candidate to join the southeast caravan to Carlisle.  I'll bet the carb issue can be easily sorted out.  Get the Tomlinson Weber book.

Right.  Lane can help you with the carbs...

 

where in fla are you? and dont do the stero till you drive it more and enjoy the sound of the motor. you may not want to hear any music. bill

 

 

Thanks

 

I'll look into the linkages….appreciate that.

 

195/40/17 all around…..but will probably change out the fronts to 185/35/17

 

 

 

 

Thanks guys!

 

This was a strange one for me…..John said I can legally run these plates for 30 days…..never heard of this before. 

 

Orlando area.

JPS registers the donor frame in the customer's name upon receiving the customer's deposit. He does this at the local California DMV. Then he starts building the vehicle.

 

When your friend asks where to get a custom coupe built who would you recommend then? 

Brandon, your car looks phenomenal!

 

Yes, it's going to draw A LOT of attention.

 

195/40-17 is a fairly common tire.  I didn't even know there was a 185/35-17 sized tire.  Tire Rack doesn't show anything in that size.

 

Edit:  looks like Nankang offers a 'high performance' tire in that size.

I have a JPS Subie Coupe and I'd say any money spent on an audio system is a waste of money.  You can't hear above the sound of the engine.  I would think that not uncommon across the range of these cars.  

 

Sharp looking car.  Hope it performs well for you.    

Would love to see some shots of the interior.

 

As to the CA plates, as mentioned above, this is what comes w/ the car, and so you need to re-register where you live. There is a grace period to do so.  

 

Quality control:  well, yes, this is a JPS "trademark", sad to say.  There will be issues.  I am going to say that the engine is not broken in at all, and needs to be.  It will run hot very early on, and this plus getting worn in a little will give a high idle.  Just back the idle setting screws back some, evenly on each side a little at a time, until in calms down.  after a while you can deal with a proper balance of the linkage and idle settings using a snail, and then tweak in the mixture needle valves.  Change oil at ~300 mi, and again at 1500, I'd say.  Maybe the best way to do this is drive it to Carlisle w/ the southeast caravan.  Sure would be great to see you there, w/ or even w/out the car.  If you are running w/ the folks, you will never be w/out help, and knowledgeable help at that.  Even guys w/ tools on board.  Just sayin' . . .

 

I am always worried about all that cool black paint exposed where most have bumpers.  Gives the car a serious bad-ass look, no doubt about it, but makes me nervous.  You might consider getting a bra for everyday running.  Gonna be a lot of sand and sh** on the roads where you live, no doubt.  This car and Merlin #36 are going to be peas in a pod, sort of.

Yeah, what is it with the over-loud exhaust note of most replicas?

 

I took a short ride in a friend's original '65 356 Coupe last Fall and it's downright quiet in there!  We had the windows up and it was really easy to carry on a conversation over the engine noise.  I could see that listening to a radio would be easy, too.  

 

It still has a note, just a little louder than a VW sedan (nice growl on acceleration) but it seems that NOBODY sells a quiet exhaust system for these cars.  I would think that a 1,915cc or larger would still have plenty of power even running a quieter exhaust.

 

I'm running a Gene Berg header/extractor and it has a pair of BIG mufflers in parallel and while it's not as loud as a bunch of cars at Carlisle, it's still loud when cruising back roads.  Be nice to put on a pair of mufflers slightly quieter.........

 

If you're breaking in the engine on your new JPS, I would try to get 1,500 local miles on it and the 300 and 1,500 mile oil changes done before you head off to Carlisle.  That should get most of the break in done before you leave.  Then try to vary the engine RPM's a bit for the trip up, varying speed between, say, 55 and 70-ish.  After Carlisle it should be as broken in as it's gonna be so just drive it home (you could continue to vary the speed, but it's less critical after break-in).

 

And about JPS and quality control, well........YOU are Steele's "Final QC Inspector" and whatever you find as issues will have to worked out between you and Steele.  Most of the time, he let's you find a competent, local mechanic to do the remedial work for whatever isn't up to snuff and he pays for parts and labor (or he just sends you needed parts).

 

Good Luck!

Your car looks awesome!  Not usually a big fan of big wheels, but you nailed it.  Those wheels really make the car look great.  Love that coupe!

More pics please!

I hope you have good roads cause those rubber bands are going to be quite bumpy...

How do you get a safety check without a side view mirror?

Yep, Between the engine and the transmission whine with my car an audio system (and it does have a pretty nice one in it) seems illogical.   

 

I'd like a more refined car from A to Z.   Not to be overly critical.  I was looking for a different reality.   My ideal would be a modern car which just looked like a old 356.  That is not for the most part what we are dealing with here with the possible exception of possibly the IM cars.  I haven't felt and touched an IM.   

 

Yes quieter would work for me.  

Kelley said -

I am always worried about all that cool black paint exposed where most have bumpers.  Gives the car a serious bad-ass look, no doubt about it, but makes me nervous.  You might consider getting a bra for everyday running.  Gonna be a lot of sand and sh** on the roads where you live, no doubt. 

 

He's in FL so has the annual dreaded Love Bugs to contend with.  They have some chemical in their body that eats paint if they are not removed frequently.

 

John - I've been wanting an immediate dependable convertible beach cruiser (and wife wants creature comforts). Looking at used 911/Boxsters (scared of IMS and high maint costs)- new are $70-110k; BMW X3/X4 - maybe too small; Nissan Z350/370 - used most are modified; and MB SLK - only 6 speed manual MB avail but has turbo 1.8L 4 cyl that isn't really suited to manual - can get base (everything needed in sports car ) for $40k invoice.  Next year gets a 2L but might drop 6 speed manual!.  Looking at European delivery option - save $ and great memory.

 

Look at Audi TT convertible - pretty close to a 356 in styling but quiet with creature comforts and high HP even AWD available.  I love the orange leather baseball glove stitched seats.

OH,  one thing I did learn was not to fill the car beyond 3/4 if you do and park the car tilted towards the passengers side the fuel will leak from the overflow and onto the ground.  DON'T OVER FILL THE GAS.

John,  You said what you have to do: get in an IM.  Henry has worked out the system here, and can make the quietest Speedster around. One big thing here is his fully "carpeted" top, a tightly fitted lined arrangement vs. what most use: a bare canvas over a space frame. Now, on the other hand, some in these parts think that laying down a good throaty exhaust note from time to time is part of the pleasure -- and I'd put myself in that box.  I also have a very nice radio and speaker in my car, and rarely if ever use it.  The music is the machine.  That said, I am looking into toning things down a bit, esp'y when the top is up.  When the top is down, I'm into runnin' the beast, and so there you are.  But getting down the Interstate at speed, as you have to do at times, w/ the top up -- things are noisy.  Engine, tranny, and especially wind all conspire.  I have a plan to look into what can be done, and since I do not wish to tear up my carpet and do Dynamat, I'm going to look into Lizard Skin.

 

I had an opportunity to drive an old IM w/ the top up for several hours along CA freeways once upon a time, and I can tell you that the car is quiet.

 

And just to make note: my sidewinder and Magnaflo exhaust system can be reasonably quiet if you are just putting around at easy throttle.  Easy to talk inside.

Yes and it's probably not fair to compare my JPS coupe to a car costing twice the money or to my '14 Corvette.    The point is I'd give up some things to get others.    I guess that's why I trade cars frequently.   

 

All in all the JPS is pretty nice.  My only real complaint is the transmission noise.   That may be determined to be the nature of the beast and not a transmission in failure.  Carlisle next month and I'll be looking for informed opinions.   

 

Not sure what your R&P is but I think when you get into the 3:88's 3:44's you really hear the whine. You just need a passenger that talks a lot and you won't notice it as much...

Maybe that's what the stereo is for?   Can't really hear the music but it would drown out the transmission noise.   I am going into this with an open mind.   I was told it would get better and it's decidedly not and probably getting noisier.    We shall see.   

       

I'm in my third year with my JPS coupe and I'd have to say noise is my biggest complaint. Forget the fancy radio. I switched to a nice old German AM radio and upgraded the antenna and am very happy with it, but sure would like some more sound deadener in the car. My a/c compressor died after a year, turns out it didn't have enough oil in it. Keep an eye on that. Lean out the mixture on the carbs and the idle may come down. Mine did, and it runs great (1776). Power windows have been a major source of problems. I now have all the parts (I think) to convert to good old manual crank windows, an upcoming project. I love the car, even with a few problems. It is a blast to drive.

R&P = rack and pinion, as in steering box.  The std VW worm gear thing leaves a bit to be desired.