The Official GREEN COUPE MOTOR REPAIR thread

MIKE
THATS NOT THE COMPANY THAT MADE MY 2332

VINCE
GOOD CALL
IF I SAY ANYTHING IM JUST A JPS LOVER

"Not that there is anything wrong with that!"

thanks dale :)

SO, GERD.......

WHO BUILT YOUR ENGINE??

JUST CURIOUS, AS IT LOOKS LIKE JOHN (ASTUTE BUSINESMAN THAT HE IS) IS USING SEVERAL SOURCES FOR EACH OF HIS SUB-ASSEMBLIES (IN CASE HE HAS DELIVERY PROBLEMS FROM ONE, HE CAN QUICKLY SWITCH TO AN ALTERNATE AND KEEP GOING). NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT - SHOWS HE KNOWS HIS WAY AROUND THE BUSINESS!!

gordon,
why u shouting
only i use caps and it is not because i am shouting.
gem was not the builder, but check out toms pics and eddies, the coups 2332 are different than mine. kelly does not have a pic of his engine so i dont know if his looks like mine. u can see mine and tell a big difference.
as vince alluded to i am not adding to the vulture mentality. if john switched engine builders or the engine builder changed the layout of the 2332 i do not know. i only have ever seen one guy, the same guy delivering engines when i am there.

You can't go by how the engines "look" as John uses a few different fan shrouds. What's underneath is probably the same on most of the cars. Kelly's engine doesn't resemble Tom's in any way.

~WB

just a dumb old cpa but are not the rods that go to them carburetors
that the gas pedal moves in my car in front vs the coups where they are in the back of that shroud.
im not a mechanic but they do look different

As far as I know, JPS jumped from Serrano to his current builder, which I guess is GEM.
The switch was around the time John was introducing his 2332.
Serrano only built a couple of those before the switch.
My guess, Gerd, is that your engine was built by the same company as Tom's.
Different shrouds call for different throttle linkages. That's why the engines can look different.
Quality control on engine building is much the same as car building. An inopportune interruption at a crucial build sequence can be the difference between a sound build and a thirty second failure.

Tom's engine and my engine do indeed look very much alike, to me. I am certain they are the same engine from the same builder: GEMVW, and they do have a website, w/ lots of info on lots of variaitons. Tom's engine does look a bit different w/ the A/C option (I do not have that) and the elaborate breather box and filter (I do not have that) and the big fuel pump and regulator (I do not have that). As I recall, GEM was sort of new to JPS around the time of my purchase, early 2007. He said he had recently switched engine builders. The 2332 option was relatively new. I believe the reason for not being forthcoming about who builds the engines stems from a desire not to have JPS cutomers pestering GEM direct. It is the right way to do business, I'd think. Also, as Gordon points out, JPS may mix and match components, but I do not think there is much of this. I have seen the engines delivered to John as a "crate", all finished and ready to bolt on to the tranny. I'm sure that as part of the JPS-GEM business agreement, JPS does PR and customer relations, and GEM tends to the knitting, as it were.

So what is the status? A week or more has gone by, and so do you have the engine yet? Bwaaaahaaaahaaaa. But I'd like to know where the effort is. Are all engine parts now in North Holywood, CA? Does John quote an ETA for reworked engine FOB Easton, PA?

Parts were received by JPS on the 18th. JPS promises 1 week turnaround to ship. If true that puts the engine back here in my hands no later than August 1. Not holding my breath, but hopefull JPS will do as he says. Engine builder is: http://gemvw.com/ (I think).

I hear grumblings that Labor Day weekend may see a work party up in Easton. Can anyone confirm that?

Labor Day is the first. We are supposed to be gathering on the 6th. I will probably go down on the 5th after work.

OK< 9/6 is firming up as a work day. I'll plan on it.

Tom, do you have the engine back?

I'm in for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
I've got my work "cut out" for me, so to speak.
Tom, I'll have a place to crash, right?

Well, I'm not sure I can stand a three day work detail, but will figure for Sat, at minimum. Hope to learn something.

David, Tom has the engine back, but I believe he is still waiting on JPS for some stuff, for example the promised for by JPS upgraded AC compressor brackets. I am sure it can be added later, but it is a long ride for most of us. We were hoping to get it all done in one weekend. Are you up for joining in, David? Mahopac really isn't far from me, about 45 minutes.

wrt A/C baracket: does Tom's shop have a welding rig? And is there anyone in the ECBT that would know how to use it?

In speaking to Cory on Sunday, he thinks the engine will be in and running by Friday night. My plan is to arrive Saturday, as early as I can. The ebulant and ever-optimistic Mr. Drake believes that most of Saturday will be spent cruising the PA back-roads. Sounds good to me, and I count myself as a bit of an optimist too. But I am nevertheless vewry doubtfull about all of that happening, thinking in stead that there will be plenty yet to do come Saturday. More to the point: are there enough pieces and parts on hand at Dewalt's RVs to be 100% certain that the wrok detail will be held, and with good reason to believe most items needed to get the Coupe rolling under its own steam are on hand waiting to be oput in place? Is that the sit-chee-ation?

It looks like weather will require most of you folks to put your tops up -- but should make for an ideal test of the coupe's watertight integrity. We'll know for certain if the work was worth it.
Me? I've got goggles and a snorkel.
WOOOO-HOOOOO!

If anyone going to Tom's this weekend has heat-riser block offs or can stop and get me a set, I will pay you back plus buy you a beer!

Gordon, remember on Lane's car when that was the one part you didn't think of? Me, too! I am only doing a little carb swap though, not putting together an entire car.

If not, I will make a set with a saw and some steel, but I'd rather I didn't have to.

See you all this weekend.

Good luck this weekend guys, keep us posted

Eddy

HUGE success with the coupe. Stay tuned under Events. Lots of pictures. Sorting them now.
Tom, Danny, Wild Bill, Kelly and I were plenty busy. That car needed a few hours to sort it out, but there are loads of improvements -- and it's RUNNING!

Thanks a million to all who have contributed to helping me with the coupe! A great weekend with lots of progress made!!!

Yeah, it was a bit of work. It was worth it to see the car running with no more blue smoke and no more noisy valvetrain or piston pins! Like Cory said, LOTS of improvements, some little, some not so little. I was glad to help.

Pictures are in the Events thread, under 'The Green Coupe rides again!'

Pardon me if this question has already been asked and answered. Is Tom going to drive it now or does he still plan to sell it?

Time will tell, Will. I suspect it'll go for what he wants, but he might have incentive to keep it now.
Nobody knows but Tom -- and maybe his missus.

Warren and all:
As for selling the car . . . I DO hope to drive it a little, but the reality of my situation requires it still must be sold as soon as possible. I have several folks interested once she is fully sorted. Getting some expert help on the remaining issues in a week or so.

Despite all my challenges with this car, it still will be very sad to let it go. But when its gone I will start planning my next purchase. My new job is going very well. It won't be too long before I can get another speedy (I hope). I'm drawing up my wish list now for my next Special Edition Car. Hey Carey . . . is the "D" with roll-up windows still in the works?

Tom,
The "D" part of it is almost 100% complete. We are still playing with drivetrains. No real hurry on this end, but moving along nicely. Thanks.
The 356C C2 cabriolet project is also in full swing and I have 2 cars at the shop, in various stages , and 6 lined up for Spring '09.

I'd love to see some pictures of the C Cabrios.

Hey Tom, I just remembered something. I must be getting older and forgetful but a light just came on. I forgot to tighten the locknuts(jam nuts) on the driver's side carb linkage downlink. You know the one between the hexbar and the carb? It was late and I forgot to snug BOTH jam nuts. I really couldn't properly sync the carbs because the nylon bushing was so worn anyway. But at least they are on at idle...

Sorry about not putting all the tin in also, we were all pretty tired at that point.

Lane,

I'll send you some as soon as I get my head above water over here. A lot of trim fitment and minor stuff right now, but the first will be ready for paint by the end of the month (I hope)

You know, Carey, SOMEBODY needs to ... uh ... beta-test that new line of yours.
I'll volunteer for that when the time comes. You know, just to help you out.

!#$%&*! Rat-barstid beat me to it!

No, wait!! I know! Hey, Carey, it should be an exiting customer, because we know how all your stuff works. And you'll probably want a really high-dollar owner's manual to go with it, right? Yeah, that's the ticket!

Just maybe....youz guys missed this one, me is tink'n that
Tom DeWalt who now resides in Indiana actually is Special Edition's undercover test driver... he he he :)

I don't know... Lane mentioned manual and suddenly EVERYONE starts moving to the back of the line. :)

Lane - STEP AWAY FROM THE MANUAL!!!!!


(but be sure not to step on Jose!)

DOH!!!

That took me a minute, Jim.