help, ideas to make additions to my JPS

Help!

I have a JPS. I think it's of the first cars John had built. I'm looking for help with ideas on what to add (if you could also add why I should do it). I own a basic JPS. It has a new 1776. This is what I've thought of so far:

headlight wire grills
Xenon lights
luggage rack
cigarette lighter
disc brakes
Reuters badges
3:88 transmission
Roll up windows (electric)
hard top
bigger gas tank
additional oil cooler
oatmeal square-weave carpeting
garage door opener button
4 way flashers

Thanks for your help.
David

Hi David -

These are my thoughts -

Headlight wire grills - delete - I don't really care for the look + more work to clean

Xenon lights - Yes, if you can afford to spend ~$500; they look really cool + you'll be one of the few to have them

Luggage rack - Delete - I don't really care for the look + more work to clean

Cigarette lighter - Yes - good for mobile phone, and lighting Cuban cigars

Disc brakes - Yes

Reuters badges - Yes - you'll want that original look

3:88 transmission ? - don't know anything re tran's

Roll up windows (electric) - yes on roll up, yes on electric if you can afford them

Hard top - delete - isn't the point to have a convertible??

Bigger gas tank - yes - longer range + added weight in the front may improve handling

Additional oil cooler - Yes

Oatmeal square-weave carpeting - Yes, looks great + added value at resale time

Garage door opener button ??

4 way flashers - Yes - Good safety option

Add

Anti-Sway Bars front and rear (camber compensator if swingaxle)

Hurst style trigger shifter or other short throw shifter

power & handling
check out what AJ Simms does with a set of Kadrons which would be great for your engine size.
merged exhaust
sway bars and disc brakes all 'round
stay with stock oil cooler and dog house shroud, Ive been enlightened by discussions on this forum, a local shop, and gene berg's site supporting the benifits of original cooling egineering. If you've already commited to remote cooling, locate it where air flows well and add a fan.

123

David,

Is your 1776 a stocker, i.e.; a Mexican Crate engine? If so, you might evaluate your power/driving needs before spending cash in other areas. Don't get me wrong, a 1600 is great if that's what you want. I too have a "built" 1776cc (100-110 hp est)and for me it works, although a 2007cc is still in my hopes. Having said that...

headlight wire grills? Low priority, get them last if you want them, I have them, but disc brakes are far more important.

Xenon lights? Now really... just how much nightime highspeed canyon carving are you going to do? Besides I like retro. Want cutting edge,? Get a new MR2, Boxster, Z-4, Miata M, C5, yada. JMO.

luggage rack? See headlight grills. I have it, but a better transaxle and discs would be a higher priority unless you just have oodles of cash to spend at one sitting at JPS.

cigarette lighter? Go to NAPA spend $10, wire one under your dash on the criossbar.

disc brakes? Yes! Now!

Reuters badges? Get discs before drilling any holes.

3:88 transmission? I have a 3:88 freeway X-axle with the important mods. It sure makes driving long distances a breeze.

Roll up windows (electric)? Lots o bucks... If you have those bucks, sell your JPS and buy either a used IM 59D, or order a new IM Speedster. I don't drive mine (puposefully) in rain or snowe so it's just not all that big of a deal for me... I treat my Speedster like a street rod. I have taken it on a 700 mile trip and enjoyed it... But,hey, if you have the $$$ it might be cool.

hard top? When Fibersteel gets the mold right for VS/JPS and a decent price I'll be in line for one and sliding widows too. John can fix ya up though.

bigger gas tank. Yes! I'm putting one in next month.

additional oil cooler. If you are running a stock 1776, then there's no need. I live in OKC and with a high built 1776 on a 100' plus day, my external cooler/fan/thermostat makes a giant difference, Forget all that about oil coolers that you may have read. In the HOT SW USA and a Modified "Air" cooled engine... gotta have it.

oatmeal square-weave carpeting: Nice option

garage door opener button. Go to Wal Mart, spend $10 on a mini opener, use velcro and stick it under your dash in a hidden spot....

4 way flashers: Plan on breaking down alot? I would spend my money on better things. But if you are a DIYer this is an easy mod.

Jim OKC


(Message Edited 12/16/2002 7:42:13 PM)

Good tires are important too. Check out Yokohama's AVS ES100. They are a high performance tire and actually come in a size that will fit our speedsters (195 x 60) and 205 x 60) in 15 inch. I'm going to buy a set for my IM, this spring.
Hope you have deep pockets, Doug. Buying stuff for your speedster is addictive.

Make that David, not Doug.

Any other ideas? I've got to finalize my decision this week.

Think I might leave out the hard top. Not sure that I'd use it that often anyways.

Someone suggested sway bars and a shorter throw on the shifter. Great ideas I hadn't thought about.

For sure I'll go with the 3:88 transmission. What type of mods should I add (didn't know there might be any)... or should it be a standard 3:88?

Thanks for the advice and thoughts I've gotten so far,
David

I just bought a slightly used VS. It came with the 3:88 tranny.

I live in New England and may have different driving requirements than other areas of the world. When I lived in Manhattan Beach Cali, my 62 Beetle would have definately benefitted with the taller gearing.

I still own and drive early sixties Beetles with stock gear ratios. Most of my driving is on secondary roads not highway. I have not put many miles on my speedster yet, but preliminary driving leads me to feel the gearing is a bit high for the around town/road carving driving my car will get.

You may need to decide the type of driving to be done.

David,

Why not call John Steele (JPS Motorsports) and see what he would suggest? He loves talking Speedsters and frequently people bring him their older cars to "freshen-up" (his term). I am certain you could bounce ideas off him and he would also make suggestions, or ditto Kirk at Vintage. I suspect often people tell them what they want, they may relate to an invitation for their input.

If it were me since the car has some age and use on it I would start first with the front end, then do suspension upgrades if needed and next square away the brakes. Once all those components are mil-spec then have fun detailing the car with personal choices.

Erik,

Great advice. I'm thinking of talking with John about suspension. I did talk with him the other day. I thought I'd take advantage of the groups thoughts as well.

Any other ideas (anyone), let me know.

David

David,

The only other advice is before talking with John decide what your driving style will be and also what you envision the main use of the car to be? You will find some here put a lot of time and effort into making their cars as authentic as possible, others invest in performance upgrades & some do both.

The answers to the first two quesitions will determine suspension setup, brake needs, engine size, etc. John posted here that he has incorporated a dozen + specific JPS upgrades into his cars over the years; ask him which of those would give you a bang for your buck.

My thoughts:
Wheels and tires. Go tall and low profile. Maybe go Fuch.

Engine, Go all the way. T4 or turbo T1, one hot tamale!
Carpet, only if your car needs refurbished.

Roll Bar, sounds like you are willing to do the difficult. Get the bar and sholder harnesses.

Hardtop, only if you live where it's cold. I have one and it hangs in the garage. By the way, mine's been driven 4 out of 7 days since September without installing it.

Roll up windows, Only if money is no object and you have a way to get it done!

Handling, forgive me guys, but I think the small diameter stabilizers and soft shocks. If you have some on there and they are well worn, they are about right.

The rest of it, start with the big stuff. Wheels, tires, roll bar & engine.

(Message Edited 12/18/2002 5:13:27 PM)

Dave,
Everybody's got an opinion- here's mine-

-headlight wire grills- if you like the look, go for it
-Xenon lights- buy a H4 halogen kit, it's gonna be way less money
-luggage rack- again, if you like it...
-cigarette lighter- absolutely, maybe even two
-disc brakes- its the only way to fly- all four wheels
-Reuters badges- one badge, passenger's side.. all the way...
-3:88 transmission- yep. if a 1776 could push a 3:44, I'd have one
-Roll up windows (electric)- Unless you have the skill and time of Barry H, I wouldn't think of it again
-hard top- cold winters? if so- talk to Russ R. from Fibersteel
-bigger gas tank- I wish I woulda'
-additional oil cooler- probably not on a 1776, unless you live where you don't need a hardtop
-oatmeal square-weave carpeting- pretty cool...not as durable
-garage door opener button- huh?
-4 way flashers- its the least of your safety concerns

Aye, ya gotta love the skill, ingenuity and time of Our Man Barry...

That guy knows what is what when it comes to making things work! :)

Charlie

David,

John's a wealth of information. I met with him about a month ago and have been chatting with him via email trying to put together a package that will fit my needs and my budget. I've waffled all the way from a 1600cc to a Type 4 and back, wondering if I really, really need those leather seats or should I put the bucks into the drive train. And that Carerra body is very cool, but. . .c-ching, c-ching and there goes the Type 4! and maybe the 2110cc!!

Aesthetics, Performance -- ah, to hell with it all! I could go for both, but I'd have to factor in alimony payments.

Angelo,

I always say "form over function". I've got the form, now I'm working on function.

David

Have seen an hardtop ( not positive who actually made it for the car.....that needed 2" added to one side to make it fit
'vert is a 'vert!

Alan