1 2 3 ... 70
corsepervita
corsepervita New Reader
6/17/15 3:25 p.m.

Well, I haven't been on GRM in ... well... years. My friend turboswede and I were talking the other day about the megasquirt on my 924 and he said, "You know, you should get your butt back on GRM. They're awesome people and they love DIY stuff, and you should post the Jalpa on there." Ok maybe it was the other day, it was probably a few weeks, I decided to be lazy and put it off till now.

Been kind of a crazy last year and a half. Sold off almost all my cars except a few, divorce blah blah blah. Kept the '77 924, megasquirt is FINALLY finished and it's driving at last. I have a long story about that, perhaps best for another thread. Purchased a gorgeous '79 924, that car is now gone. Purchased an '80 931, and that's my daily. The rest are gone. The 911 is gone, the 914 is gone.

I decided I wanted to chase after 2 cars that I've wanted since I can remember. A Jalpa, or a 308. A Jalpa came across, a friend checked it out, said, "I think you could probably rescue this one."

I bought it, I shipped it and I've been working on restoring it since. Had it about a year and a half now.

It was an ultrasmith car though, and already not stock, so I'm not concerned with keeping too much "originality" in terms of the mechanical stuff. Rebuilding the engine at the moment, which is about halfway done. However, since it was an ultrasmith car I'd like to update it to modern "ultrasmith-esque" gadgets, since technology is now far more compact and far more advanced.

The car was wired in with a Smith Special alarm and some other interesting gadgets, like a hideaway license plate that was hooked up to a motor that retracts it, complete with a zapper light. At first I was like, "What the hell is this for?" until I got a chance to talk to them and Ultrasmith explained what everything did on the car.

Plans are to move to Borla/TWM Induction throttle bodies (direct replacement for the DCNF webers, and forget messing with 4 DCNF webers, I'm not that much of a masochist), AEM Infinity 8, new suspension, and update the wiring.

It's been an interesting feat to start with a car that is one piece, rip it apart, and start doing things on it, especially when most all that I've worked on is 4 banger water-cooled Porsche cars. Once I got into the engine though it really wasn't too bad, except mostly just room to work on things.

The air boxes are retarded. You have to be a contortionist to work on the webers, so I will be so happy once EFI is in it.

Interestingly enough, removing the engine reminds me of a 911 since it all drops out on a big subframe... except that in a 911 you don't have to disconnect the rear suspension, and lots of cooling lines, and A/C lines, and lots of wiring, and oddly positioned shift linkage, and brake lines, and oddly positioned fuel lines... and takes a lot longer than an hour. ok, the only thing in common is that it comes out on a subframe.

The engine has seen better days, but the machine shop did a fantastic job with dis-assembly and cleanup on the heads. This engine seems to have seen the hands of many shops, since I've counted 3 different colors of RTV on it in various places.

Last potato phone pics I took of the heads since they were taken apart and the insides cleaned up (needs to be treated and cleaned though all the way around)

As I've been poking along at this car which really needed someone to take care of it, I've spent a great deal of time restoring things the way I want to see it done. The subframe had never been tended to, and the car was an east coast car its entire life.

I decided the subframe needed TLC, got it media blasted (twice) and powder coated, with a nice shot of clear over it. Oddly enough, while I thought I would need a truck to haul it down there, the whole subframe fit perfectly in the hatch of my little 931. I was really happy with how it turned out.

Currently I'm tearing the bottom half apart, and everything is fine so far. The case is split into 2 pieces, so that's new to me. Taking my time, labeling everything as it comes out. Should be in the machine shop soon. The outside of the engine looks like hell but the inside is clean as a whistle.

I've been working on the wiring harness as well. Thus far, every time I buy a used car, I go through the harness to sort it out. This particular harness is... well... large, with a ton of wiring (I guess I should expect nothing less out of an 80s car with all the bells and whistles with aftermarket goodies). Since most of the sheathing is now hard and cracking, I used some more modern day, heat resistant materials (claimed to be good up to 1100F, though unless the car is on fire, that seems... not so necessary).

Before

After

I've got a ways to go though before the whole thing is done, but ya know.. progress is progress.

My current hurdle: Not sure how I'm going to do a trigger setup. Want to do an AEM Infinity 8 for it. I've never touched an AEM EMS. I've heard they are "awesome" but know little about them since my adventure has been with megasquirt.

I've been told "Go with an ATI trigger wheel" and called them up and they wanted like $1200 and I went NOPE. I figured it would be much easier to get the current balance pulley on the end lathed down and have a wheel machined onto it, balanced, for wayyyyyyyyy less than that.

Anyone here good with that kind of stuff? I'm looking for a simple solution. Part of me goes, "Well I COULD just do an EMS that does fuel only and run MSD." but I feel like if I'm going to spend the money on a nice EMS, I may as well do ignition updates and fuel, otherwise what's the point?

wheelsmithy
wheelsmithy GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
6/17/15 3:33 p.m.

Wow, thanks for sharing. I will be watching intently.

wearymicrobe
wearymicrobe SuperDork
6/17/15 3:41 p.m.

ATI Trigger wheels are like 250$ tops by themselves. You might be able to find one that fit or machine one off the shelft to fit.

turboswede
turboswede GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
6/17/15 3:49 p.m.

I've been following your progress for a while over on bookface, so I'm glad to see you here and I look forward to reading about the progress of the resto-mod Lambo.

I've not heard anything directly about AEM Infinity. Some cursory Googling outside of the marketing and sales fluff indicates some negatives with hardware failures. Of course I'm used to the MegaSquirt world and looking at the specs between the AEM product and MS3, there isn't much difference other than lower initial buy-in and fewer features included on the MS3 you can add-on features as you move forward with the project.

Trigger wheels aren't a magical thing and a decent machine shop should be able adapt an appropriate trigger wheel to a pulley of your desire. Looks like it can accept a number of different types of wheels.

corsepervita
corsepervita New Reader
6/17/15 3:50 p.m.
wearymicrobe wrote: ATI Trigger wheels are like 250$ tops by themselves. You might be able to find one that fit or machine one off the shelft to fit.

Yeah, that makes sense. I hadn't considered that option. I think the reason I was given a "WHOA" quote was because I'd have to send in my stuff so they can match dimensions and make one custom, etc. Retrofitting one that's already done makes more sense. At $250 + machining I think that'd be reasonable. Thanks for the suggestion!

BoxheadTim
BoxheadTim GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
6/17/15 4:18 p.m.

These guys are UK-based and have been recommended in some UK-based mags as a cheap-ish source of trigger wheels: http://trigger-wheels.com/store/

Maybe they have something that might fit?

corsepervita
corsepervita New Reader
6/17/15 4:43 p.m.
BoxheadTim wrote: These guys are UK-based and have been recommended in some UK-based mags as a cheap-ish source of trigger wheels: http://trigger-wheels.com/store/ Maybe they have something that might fit?

I sent them an email and they already responded (that was quick), I'll shoot them dimensions and pics of it when I get home. Thanks!

failboat
failboat UltraDork
6/17/15 5:51 p.m.

Too cool. I grew up drooling over the Countach and never heard of the Jalpa till I saw it in a book years later. Always thought they were cool, mostly because you never see them. They almost seem like a really 80's take on the basic muira body shape.

corsepervita
corsepervita New Reader
6/17/15 6:03 p.m.
failboat wrote: Too cool. I grew up drooling over the Countach and never heard of the Jalpa till I saw it in a book years later. Always thought they were cool, mostly because you never see them. They almost seem like a really 80's take on the basic muira body shape.

I never heard about them till I started looking into 70s and 80s Lamborghinis. At some point on a Lamborghini forum, I had been discussing wanting an Urraco. One of the members said, "Forget that, why bother with an Urraco when you can get the 'refined' version of it that doesn't use the crappy timing belt, has more power and is made better... the Jalpa." and was obsessed ever since.

They only made 410 of them. Although I feel like every year I see 2 or 3 go on ebay as a skeleton "engine swap" candidate or parts car. There's a gentleman over on lamborghini-talk who did a Turbo Jalpa build. Another is doing a full engine build as well wanting to make a "200mph Jalpa Build" (I'm curious to see how that goes, sounds expensive).

They do share a lot of parts with the Countach on the interior, misc parts and things that cross reference. I have a deep appreciation for the interior in the cars. The leather work is seriously gorgeous.

My machinist has already found plenty of things we can do with head work to make them flow better. Part of me was surprised, part of me wasn't. Good example is the valve seats have a giant lip with no material added behind them, so it's abrupt and cheesy. Obviously and easy fix, but he's going to need to massage the heads and put them on his flow bench (which I can't wait for). The valves were sodium filled (which is fine) but had a tendency to break from what I've been told. Which was apparent when things were taken apart, stubborn, and any pressure was put on them during the camshaft removal process. No biggie though because I'd rather update them to modern materials anyway.

Would rather it happen during disassembly, than during driving.

My engine also suffers from the classic head gasket issue that seems to be well known on these cars (so I've been told). The materials back then weren't so great, apparently fail in such a manner that the open heads become exposed to coolant, pit terribly and then have to be welded. Mine are going in for that repair as we speak, then flow work and parts can be done.

I'll try to find a head gasket picture later, it was horrendous. I've been told by a few owners, "If you buy a Jalpa, and no one has done the head gaskets by now, plan on a full head gasket job and head repairs."

Dusterbd13
Dusterbd13 UltraDork
6/17/15 6:10 p.m.

So I have to ask, whats the dwal with smithworks? Tuner/customizer like yenko/barrabus/svo?

bgkast
bgkast GRM+ Memberand UberDork
6/17/15 6:20 p.m.

Do you also hail from stumptown?

corsepervita
corsepervita New Reader
6/17/15 6:21 p.m.
Dusterbd13 wrote: So I have to ask, whats the dwal with smithworks? Tuner/customizer like yenko/barrabus/svo?

Ultrasmith did custom work for sports cars way back in the day. I knew little about them since it was before my time, until I started reading into it after I found out my car was a previous ultrasmith car. Barry Smith spotted my build thread on LP and went, "I KNOW THAT CAR!" and we started talking back and forth about it. He had some pictures of it from way back in the day of it under the knife at his shop.

In a nutshell, they did top of the line electrical/custom work and "james bond-esque" modifications. Smoke screens, hideaway license plates, zapper lights, a mercedes with an uzi hiding in the steering wheel, they even once did a night vision equipped countach... that sort of thing. The list of customization they did for various cars is pretty extensive, and I'm sure the list of stuff I mentioned is only a small amount of the odd stuff they've done. As they told me it was a niche market.

They also did stereos sometimes.

corsepervita
corsepervita New Reader
6/17/15 6:22 p.m.
bgkast wrote: Do you also hail from stumptown?

Uh, where? I'm not familiar with that place.

(edit) - A quick google tells me this is the nickname of PDX. I'm not from PDX, I'm in Central Oregon. But I visit PDX now and then.

turboswede
turboswede GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
6/17/15 6:47 p.m.
corsepervita wrote:
bgkast wrote: Do you also hail from stumptown?
Uh, where? I'm not familiar with that place. (edit) - A quick google tells me this is the nickname of PDX. I'm not from PDX, I'm in Central Oregon. But I visit PDX now and then.

BG, he's also a friend of mine of bookface.

I have photographic proof of at least one visit to PDX (of his 924 Turbo at least, no one really wants to see what a couple of 924 geeks look like):

Group shot:

4 tires and 4 wheels, 2 passengers and a box of oil. I'd like to see a 911 pull that off as easily:

corsepervita
corsepervita New Reader
6/17/15 6:49 p.m.

Lol wheel tetris was fun. I am still amazed that we fit all of that into my car. For what it's worth I was never able to fit much in my 911. I find the 924 more practical. Bearable to deal with power wise with a turbo :P

turboswede
turboswede GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
6/17/15 6:53 p.m.

Yeah, the wife called me the other day and asked if I wanted an overhead gantry engine crane for the garage as she was at an estate sale and there was one for $75 complete with the I-beam.

I stated I would like it very much.

She stated I'd have to drive 20-minutes out to Damascas to get it.

I took the 944 Turbo and a small toolset. I removed it from the ceiling and plopped it into the back of said 944 Turbo and drove home. I also got a set of ramps, some drill bits and a hanging basket for the wife.

turboswede
turboswede GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
6/17/15 7:14 p.m.

BTW, to introduce some of the more "infamous" PNW folks, as well as a few others from around the world, here are a few build threads to peruse at your leisure:

John Spiva from Coos Bay has a Consulier GTP (among other cars) and a business building and selling polyurethane bushings and mounts called Polybushings:

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/restorationbuild-1990-consulier-gtp-targa/80260/page1/

BGKast whom you've just met is building a Midlana powered by a Neon SRT-4 drivetrain and because he's a glutton for punishment, he also bought a non-running SAAB Turbo for $50 that he's trying to make it to the $2016 Challenge in Florida with:

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/midlana-first-book-build/74633/page1/

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/50-best-bad-idea-ive-had/99596/page1/

MR. Burrito (who has an unhealthy love affair with food packed in tube shaped, edible wrappers) has a few projects going like a Fiat 128 for his wife and an 850 Spider along with a Scirocco:

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/71-fiat-850-spider-a-sub-liter-beater/66920/page1/

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/1974-fiat-128-sedan-for-the-bride-of-burrito/102542/page1/

If that's not enough to wet your appetite for insanity by osmosis, there's Mazdeuce's Grosh build: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/mazdeuce-fixes-the-garage/69569/page1/

And Tuna's Truck build: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/build-thread-for-the-72-gmc-finally-thanks-john/59103/page1/

There's also a Dino 308 GT4 build around here that was Subaru swapped briefly before being sold to another person who swapped in an LS1 (and kept the build thread going). Still mid engined and was looking to be twin-turbo charged. I can't quite find the link at the moment though. Not sure if its still ongoing or what.

Welcome back and hopefully you'll hang around for a while. I think you'll fit in well.

corsepervita
corsepervita New Reader
6/17/15 7:40 p.m.
turboswede wrote: BTW, to introduce some of the more "infamous" PNW folks, as well as a few others from around the world, here are a few build threads to peruse at your leisure: John Spiva from Coos Bay has a Consulier GTP (among other cars) and a business building and selling polyurethane bushings and mounts called Polybushings: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/restorationbuild-1990-consulier-gtp-targa/80260/page1/ BGKast whom you've just met is building a Midlana powered by a Neon SRT-4 drivetrain and because he's a glutton for punishment, he also bought a non-running SAAB Turbo for $50 that he's trying to make it to the $2016 Challenge in Florida with: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/midlana-first-book-build/74633/page1/ https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/50-best-bad-idea-ive-had/99596/page1/ MR. Burrito (who has an unhealthy love affair with food packed in tube shaped, edible wrappers) has a few projects going like a Fiat 128 for his wife and an 850 Spider along with a Scirocco: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/71-fiat-850-spider-a-sub-liter-beater/66920/page1/ https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/1974-fiat-128-sedan-for-the-bride-of-burrito/102542/page1/ If that's not enough to wet your appetite for insanity by osmosis, there's Mazdeuce's Grosh build: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/mazdeuce-fixes-the-garage/69569/page1/ And Tuna's Truck build: https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/build-thread-for-the-72-gmc-finally-thanks-john/59103/page1/ There's also a Dino 308 GT4 build around here that was Subaru swapped briefly before being sold to another person who swapped in an LS1 (and kept the build thread going). Still mid engined and was looking to be twin-turbo charged. I can't quite find the link at the moment though. Not sure if its still ongoing or what. Welcome back and hopefully you'll hang around for a while. I think you'll fit in well.

It would seem I've missed an awful lot since I've been gone. Guess I'll have to stick around. Some awesome stuff on here.

mbruneaux
mbruneaux New Reader
6/17/15 9:14 p.m.

I saw a red Jalpa in 1991 at the GM dealership where I worked, the owner traded it in on a Corvette and the salesman thought they had stolen it. Then we tried to get it to pass emissions we found the PO had removed a ton of carb and emissions hardware from the engine. We had to call in a specialist to get it running well enough to sell and they lost their shirt.

It was a beautiful car and I always thought they were under represented. My 11 year old son (an admitted Lambophile) found a white one on eBay a few weeks ago.

Javelin
Javelin GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
6/17/15 11:48 p.m.
turboswede wrote: BTW, to introduce some of the more "infamous" PNW folks, as well as a few others from around the world, here are a few build threads to peruse at your leisure:

What am I, chopped liver?

The Jalpa is berking awesome!

turboswede
turboswede GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
6/18/15 12:08 a.m.

In reply to Javelin:

Yeah, I realized I had skipped ya when I was driving home. Not intentional, just didn't see your build thread come up with a quick browse.

Maybe you could knock it off with the procreation and update your Javelin build thread?

You're going to give BGKast a run for his money with the number of child seats needed

tuna55
tuna55 MegaDork
6/18/15 7:25 a.m.

I totally don't deserve to be mentioned, but thanks.

Take tons of pictures. A lot of us have never even seen the outside of a Lambo engine. I am genuinely curious to see the brilliance and stupidity. I suspect you'll find plenty of both!

Mad_Ratel
Mad_Ratel HalfDork
6/18/15 8:30 a.m.

Is your 924 Adventurine Green?

I know that is an ultra rare color in 968's.

bluej
bluej SuperDork
6/18/15 8:37 a.m.

what's a zapper light? like a bug zapper? seems very odd, but I guess when you're modifying a lambo, anything goes..

thanks for sharing! please keep us updated!

Javelin
Javelin GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
6/18/15 8:39 a.m.
turboswede wrote: In reply to Javelin: Yeah, I realized I had skipped ya when I was driving home. Not intentional, just didn't see your build thread come up with a quick browse. Maybe you could knock it off with the procreation and update your Javelin build thread? You're going to give BGKast a run for his money with the number of child seats needed

Nope, 2 and done for us. And the build thread will have the most epic mic drop ever on Tuesday.

1 2 3 ... 70

You'll need to log in to post.

Our Preferred Partners
1JdDiqe2awzetwpN0OFtpP65ofp08nQRP2JpzsrYSUkBGpqSloqK3mCXwI1FEMlV