Jupiter rebuild by a Bradfordian in Texas

[Cjowett]

Where to start?
No I am not directly related.
Yes I grew up in Shipley, 3 miles away from the Jowett factory.
After moving to Texas in 2000 I never thought it would become home but it has. BUT let me make it clear - I am a Yorkshireman, Brit with a second nationality and a marvelous heritage.

THE PROJECT STARTS HERE!
After years of contemplating a Jowett I ended up taking over the project my son wanted to do. Nope, not a Jowett, a 1949 Chevrolet 3100 1/2 ton pickup. To the point where it is closing in on being finished after 7 years It was time to start looking for the next project.

Along came the Jupiter E2SAL831R was ready for a new home having sat in a workshop for at least 7 years with its parts. A few plastic boxes and body loosely laid over the frame. After striking a deal, with my wife, we both drove the 2400 mile round trip to Sarasota, Florida. We loaded it up and shook, rattled and rolled all the way home. A word of warning: If ou do not wish to shake unknown parts off your project car then don't drive through Louisiana!

Arrived home and started working through the boxes and making an inventory....oh boy! There was a lot missing which it will list later as a search. Within days I was stripping down the engine components and even renovated the first component within a week. I walked in to the kitchen with the Dynamo and set it down on the island to show my wife. "When did you get that" she asked "when we picked up the car" I responded. "But it's new? I didn't see that". And so the first component passed the renovation test.

[Cjowett]

And so 3 weeks on progress has been made. Finally after the Whitworth spammers and sockets arrived the engine is broken down to components. And I really mean BROKEN. Three split skirt concave head pistons and one flat one with no split. A chewed up oil pump, chewed up crank bearings, goopy/rusty waterways. But....now I can start the heart of the rebuild.
Reading Jowetttalk, Jowettgallery and trawling eBay have been the norm for the past few weeks. Most useful post so far was the design for the engine cradle which I managed to fabricate within a few hours and lift the engine to a better hight. (Thanks to Philip Dingle the designer)
Next step is to find out parts availability before handing the crank, sleeves and heads over (with Jowett specific rebuild instructions over for the first step.

[Cjowett]

Now to search for the missing parts!

Seat
Hood frame
Radiator
Fuel tank
Fuel pump
Rear fender stone guards
Wind up door windows
Window winding mechanism
Windshield chrome trim
hood center trim strip
L & R small grills
Front bumper fill panel
Hub caps

Will readily talk with anyone who can find any of the above.

I must add that I have only just completed JCC and JOAC membership so have not yet had a chance to work with parts officers.

[David Kemp]

See Scott Renner he is the USA Jowett Guru.

[Chris Spencer]

Has David states Scott is on your side of the pond and if anyone can help it will be Scott - we back in your homeland can offer loads of technical support, knowledge & encouragement - any chance of some pictures ? - if you need help in posting them just ask and Keith will be along to advise / help you get them posted - unless it's a secret your Christian name helps - then we know who we are talking to, other than that good luck with the project and from one Yorkshire man to another 'Bah ek thal nedt flat cap wen driving tat dant road' (Barnsley born but resided in the south of the UK for the last 30 years)

Chris

[Keith Clements]

Hi Colin,
I do not think you will be IT challenged, but I may be wrong. Scott and I passed through Texas in his Javelin a while back. Hopefully you have managed to find time to read about the Ted Miller commemoration run on JowettTalk and sen the pictures in the JCC Americas section of the JG.

Scott should be able to help with parts and Jim Miller in LA may be able to assist on some of the body stuff. Scott will put you in touch. Contact details on JCCAmericas website. or via JowettTalk Private Message or secure email.
If you make it to London anytime, let me know as I am only 20 minutes from Heathrow (on a good day)!

[Srenner]

Hello all,

Almost done with my ski trip, seems to be a serious lack of snow in B.C, Canada. Have been trying to get Mike Stout's bashed but repairable bonnet center section out of his barn and on the first leg of the journey to OZ. More to come when my trip ends.

Cheers,
Scott

[Keith Clements]

Colin has posted pics in JG TOPIC here.

[Cjowett]

oh well, this project is on hold.

I received a call this morning from the garage who carried out work on the car 10 years ago. It was left with very little contact from the owner and then moved to a body shop next door where it sat a further 7 years and no contact from the owner. I purchased the car from the new owner of the body shop who had obtained Title and as I was told the owner had passed away I thought that was that.

No, the (still alive) owner contacted the garage wanting his car back! He returned to the garage and collected all the parts left behind. Yep, all those I listed as missing. It was his fathers car from new and he wanted to keep it in the family.

Obviously there is some sorting out to do but I am feeling a little crushed. A 3 day 2400 mile trip to pick it up, Countless hours on stripping down and even renovating many parts, preparing each area of the project and now this.

Now legally I hold the Texas title which was converted from the Florida title, but morally would I want a car to remain in the family who originally bought it?
We will see where this goes............

[Chris Spencer]

Colin - I can't say that I would sympathising with the original owner, I appreciate that it has been his family from new but its been laid up in garages without contact from him for a substantial period - I am aware that in the UK that after a vehicle / item has been left for repair over a undue period without collection and no contact has been made by the owner that the rights to ownership / disposal of the vehicle / item fall to the repairer. Unsure of consumer laws in the States but they will be something to this effect - Now the vehicle has been moved it's typical of the situation that the original owner wishes to lay claim to the vehicle. The garages / repairers where the vehicle has been stored have the right to charge storage over this lengthy period and I just wonder that if he is faced with the storage bill of $1,000 per year x 10 years that he will be that eager to claim ownership of the car.

[David Kemp]

My two bobs worth.Speak to the aggrieved & nicely point out that you will return the car to it's former splendour , if you sell it their family has 1st option.
After all it was abandoned for ten years, hardly a sign of love.

[Andy Stevens]

I wonder what the outcome of this sorry saga was.......

[Cjowett]

Well, All work stopped on the car after hearing the original (Florida) owner had shown up. He made contact with me by mail and I called him and spoke at length to try and determine what had happened. Turns out he went to pick his car up one week BEFORE I went to pick it up after purchasing it weeks before. The Florida title obtained before it was sold to me is still a mystery and may not be 100% legally obtained.
Alas, I agreed with the Owner that the car should return to him with all out of pocket expenses repaid. I supplied all my photos and estimated work list for him to make a decision on how to progress. I am now waiting for the date when he will collect E2SLA831 and hopefully it will be on it's way to a rebuilt state.
I did make 1 last ditch attempt to keep hold of it putting it like a Father giving his daughters hand in marriage but that didn't work.
So there we are, the Jowett, Jowett Jupiter is about to be no more.

Now if anyone knows of a daughter...er Jupiter which I could Love, Cherish, Rebuild...........I'd be happy to talk.