New project. 1987 Lamborghini Jalpa. There's no easy way out.

corsepervita wrote:

4cylndrfury wrote: Jeez, that’s an incredible journey. I think that it's something that an automotive publisher would be interested in hearing more about. They would probably want to publish a story about it. I think there's clearly a lot more to the tale, and there's a whole lot of folks who sound interested in hearing about it. Those are the sort of people that an automotive publisher would probably want to attract. The story of a car guy, who found an example of his childhood car-lust, and, despite industry naysayers and parts availability issues, overcame incredible adversity, and can beam with pride at his now running powerplant. What a story! Then, there are the inevitable followup stories about getting the thing in the chassis and making it drive-able. And also the story around the little changes and updates to the braking, suspension, and interior that usually follow as the owner gets things the way they want them. Sounds like it could be a whole series of stories...a pretty cool way to sell more copies, if a publisher were so inclined ...

Eh, maybe. That could be fun I guess. But I do this stuff for me, not to get into magazines or build show cars. Regardless, I really appreciate the support everyone has given me. I'm sorry we didn't get to do an engine dyno! Perhaps we can redo the "guessing contest" for the pistons and gift card for chassis dyno once I get there. My next hurdle today is to get the engine home safe and sound, and then hunt down a clutch.

Oh man, I want to be clear, Im greedily elbowing GRM to get this published because I want to see it all in print. If I am not able to undertake a project like this, the next best thing is to live vicariously thru you lol

Let's not all forget this gem from a few months ago:

Congratulations on your engine!

First off,

There had to be a lot of nerve wracking wondering if persevering was the right course.

Mad props for following through.

Any chance you might ballpark the absurd number from the specialist? I understand not wanting to name them, just curious how pie in the sky they were.

Apexcarver wrote: First off, There had to be a lot of nerve wracking wondering if persevering was the right course. Mad props for following through. Any chance you might ballpark the absurd number from the specialist? I understand not wanting to name them, just curious how pie in the sky they were.

The so called specialist started a "basic" rebuild at $20,000. That was if it needed just basic things. Gaskets, bearings, etc. A refresher, if you will.

Call spec. I know they can make some truly odd E36 M3, and i think a jalpa clutch qualifies as truly odd E36 M3.

And holy hell, what a job!!! I wouldn't have thought the original engine salvageable, but then again i dont go past valve covers if i can help it.

I need to remember that metal is metal. Dont matter what shape or brand, its just metal.

Wow! thats NUTS

I'm with Dust... I probably would have run from that rebuild and looked at hybriding something else in there. (but thats me, and much more boring than what you pulled off)

That said, if you are willing to put in the time and money, almost anything can be remade/rebuilt. Often more easily than one would think.

Apexcarver wrote: I'm with Dust... I probably would have run from that rebuild and looked at hybriding something else in there. (but thats me, and much more boring than what you pulled off) That said, if you are willing to put in the time and money, almost anything can be remade/rebuilt. Often more easily than one would think.

The sleeves weren't so bad. We bored half of them out. The other half were etched so bad they were no good. LA Sleeve did a superb job making new sleeves, all of which were SPOT ON. Impressive.

While I had a ton of issues with JE pistons and them constantly messing things up, they eventually got me the right stuff, and the quality is far better than factory.

The largest of everything that required probably the most tedious labor I would say would probably be the heads. Between having them welded, the seats put in, and then my machinist having to go through and do all the final finishing in port matching.... they had a lot of time into them due to all the corrosion that ate them up.

Dusterbd13 wrote: Call spec. I know they can make some truly odd E36 M3, and i think a jalpa clutch qualifies as truly odd E36 M3. And holy hell, what a job!!! I wouldn't have thought the original engine salvageable, but then again i dont go past valve covers if i can help it. I need to remember that metal is metal. Dont matter what shape or brand, its just metal.

Supposedly... the clutch replacement is from an 80s BMW M5. Sachs 1861-561-002. I'll have to hunt down my original disc and give spec a call. It'd probably be less expensive than factory, and probably far better.

Their stage 2+ is what i run on all my hot street cars. Also dig up the pressure plate. They can do both.

Dusterbd13 wrote: I need to remember that metal is metal. Dont matter what shape or brand, its just metal.

It matters a lot the context that you are working on.

For the nominal car that we see here- including my Alfas, there are plenty of choices to just replace the head, or whatever was really bad.

This engine, however, is so unique that the time is well spent. In terms of how far to take it- it's the same as any hyper exotic car that has no replacements, or decent parts cars to take an engine from.

Heck, I would even take it so far to even do a weld rebuild of the water pump, had the shaft been so pitted.

I think where cars like this get in trouble is the end value is incorporated. Thankfully, vs. a typical restoration, this vehicle could bias the expenses very much toward the engine since the rest of the car is in good (or great) shape.

Very nicely done!

Holy crap, man! That is an epic transformation!! How awesome to have the validation of a running engine after where you started, and the 'specialist' peeing in your Wheaties like he did. Kudos to you!!

More Jalpas end up parted out or crushed because everyone is worried about spending more than the car is worth. The ones that remain grow more valuable over time. This one's value is on the upswing.

Thanks guys. I've emailed Spec. We'll see if they have anything that'll fit my application. Not sure on the pressure plate, will have to see what it is, I've been told it's proprietary, which would suck if it is, but, we'll see.

Ive had better luck calling them for the oddball stuff. Their email ain't the best way for things like this. Email said i couldnt get the clutch that is currently in my mopar. (Absolute mutant)

Dusterbd13 wrote: Their stage 2+ is what i run on all my hot street cars. Also dig up the pressure plate. They can do both.

I've got a Spec 2+ on the 3.4 transplanted into my old Boxster. It is very grabby, hard to do a smooth launch, but it hasn't even hinted at any slippage (the stock ones only lasted about 8k miles each).

Regarding the engine stumbling on the dyno: Possible the fuel settings were close but there was a fairly good-sized vacuum leak?

In reply to efahl:

I haven't had the grabby problem. But then again, heavy and high torque muscle cars with stiff gearing is what i run them in. And c5 corvettes. Maybe my application just doesn't show that issue. The miata will probably get one as well when its due, but only if i decide turbo. If no turbo, just a normal one.

Jerry From LA wrote: Regarding the engine stumbling on the dyno: Possible the fuel settings were close but there was a fairly good-sized vacuum leak?

No idea where I'd have a vacuum leak. All we have is the ITBs (i suppose it's possible one of the gaskets inbetween could be bad). It was running very lean, however, and the throttle seemed to be kind of intermittently not returning all the way down to idle. If we pulled on the linkage, the engine would come down to about 1200. But if you bumped it and then returned the throttle it'd hang out at 2500.

My TPS read a bit odd as well on that since barely moving it showed like 50% so i'm not sure entirely why it was doing that. I don't know if that meant the linkage was slipping a bit or what. I recalibrated it 3 times and it was fine the 3rd time.

On top of this, the O2 sensor was not calibrated right (my bad). The LC2 requires you to calibrate it in free air. The first time we kicked the power on was to attempt to start, so it calibrated with some exhaust in it, and then kept trying to lean the mixture out when i had it on analyze mode.

So basically super lean.

Props for getting that thing this far. The rest will be easy*. I was at a Cars & Coffee a few weeks ago and saw just a glimpse of a white '80s exotic way down the row. With your project on my mind, I immediately said "hey, a Jalpa!" Once I got closer I realized it was a Pantera, but you can be pretty damn proud when you pull into a C&C in your Jalpa!

*easy - as easy as anything could be for an '80s Italian exotic that they made, what, 400 of?

Jerry From LA wrote: More Jalpas end up parted out or crushed because everyone is worried about spending more than the car is worth. The ones that remain grow more valuable over time. This one's value is on the upswing.

The real hard part is finding the shop that really understands that metal is metal. I think that's one of the best things corsepevita has done. It's not uncommon that "specialists" know they can charge a fortune.

Which sucks for cars like this, which will never be seen like a Lambo with 12 cyls. So when it gets even so far as a crack- I bet they get scrapped.

I have friends who have TIG welded Alfa heads like this one. So it's not impossible. Just really hard.

BTW, I agree that an article in CM would be really cool. See if we can get over some of the "specialists" who gouge the market.

In reply to corsepervita:

What is the TPS from? I've heard some of the ones from bike ITBs can be flakey. IIRC, people switch to car based ones and have better luck.

Found what i was thinking of: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/itbs-on-4age-16v-20v-vs-sportbike-calling-skinnyg/58681/page1/

Hehe. As I was reading this post just now, I was thinking of the flakey TPS on my GSXR ITB's.....

Good show posting the link faster than I can finish reading the post! You rock!

RossD wrote: In reply to corsepervita: What is the TPS from? I've heard some of the ones from bike ITBs can be flakey. IIRC, people switch to car based ones and have better luck. Found what i was thinking of: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/itbs-on-4age-16v-20v-vs-sportbike-calling-skinnyg/58681/page1/

The TPS is the actual TPS that came with the borla induction ITBs. The TPS is reading properly and doing its job. My other ITB car on the other hand is using GSXR1000 throttle bodies and is using the TPS from that (which also works).

Engine arrived at home safely tonight. More scotch, more cigars, because all the crazy stress is finally over.

Here's a few shots of me and the machinist loading it up with my dad.

Me and the machinist. He is a true machinist god in my eyes.

Safe and sound.