Jowett Jupiter 1953

[Jack]

If it does, as it says in the listing, run and drive well, I don't see much loss in just chucking it at an MOT station and see what happens.

You never know, it may just get through - there's not that much to go wrong on 1950s engineering.

We can probably get in the car and go take a look, drive it on private land (it appears to be on private land at present) and if it goes ok, stops ok, and goes round corners ok, I reckon chuck it in for an MOT.

Worst case scenario if it fails an MOT you will get a decent idea of what is unsafe and also a list of potential problems with the car. Then you can work through the list of things that need to be fixed.

Ultimately if you get it sorted then it is another Jowett on the road. Which is a good thing. Plus I think you got a pretty reasonable deal there, regardless of others views

Jack.

[Keith Clements]

Ben,
First, a welcome from everybody on the JowettTalk and the various Jowett clubs. We will help you all we can to get your dream mobile and beautiful. There are a few things you need to think about and look at here and in the JowettGallery which I hope you register on soon.

Perhaps start a topic on here so we can converse.
You can either approach this as a project manager and decide what, how much and when to do things, or just be opportunist and do things when you get the opportunity. I certainly recommend the drive and enjoy strategy, although it may take longer to get what you want and you will not get a concours winner as the first things you restore will deteriorate. I have had that strategy for 43 years on my current Jup (enforced by lack of money in the early years)!
I hope you will ensure with Footman James under the club scheme with which you have breakdown assistance. You will probably need that if your first drive is 600 miles up country!
If the car ran before it was laid up, then hopefully we can start a list of things to definitely do, and follow that with a list of things to check in the inspection.

My starter.
Tyres quality and pressure, change brake fluid, test brakes, check brake pistons/seals, springs and shoes, adjust brakes, handbrake grease and operation.
Engine, gearbox and diff oil, oil filter, petrol drain and refil, petrol filter in pump and under chassis, petrol pump operation, carburettor bowl clean and float valve operation. Water flush and refill check leaks. check water in oil.
Check turns 720 degrees on starter handle. Make sure nothing is seized (e.g. valves that will push through pistons).
Compression test, valve operation, if no problems tappet adjust, otherwise heads off.
Electric short circuit test, new battery, check operation all electric circuits, check correct amps on ammeter for each circuit.
Check gearbox on starter motor with one (or two) rear wheel off ground. Clutch may be stuck and needs releasing.
Oil pressure on starter motor? Oil leaks? Fix if not.
Start engine, charging? Oil pressure? Any noises?
Run engine check all cylinders and tickover. Check operation of gearbox.
Run for 10 minutes, 75deg C?
Check steering with front wheels up. Check no fouling or clunks from lock to lock. Check track rod and steering balls.
Take for road run if poss. Even braking and noises?
Good to go!

[Keith Clements]

I disagree with Jack, you could do a lot of damage without checking as I said.

[p.p.]

very impotand:

clean radiator get all the shit out .... clean the gasolin tank also get all the shit out new oil every were grease all the grease point check all nuts clean the carburators

good luck, have fun .....
peter

[Jack]

I disagree with Jack, you could do a lot of damage without checking as I said.

When I say chuck it through an MOT, I don't mean literally drive to the dealer, pick up the car, drive it to nearest MOT station, drive it home. Naturally it makes a lot of sense to do the usual checks (as above) but that should all be achievable in a weekend, or if really pushed a day.

Of course the dealer won't want that work on their land, they will just want it shifted, but probably easier to do a long day of work on the car somewhere local, see if it is running ok, and chuck at MOT station. They will test the brakes and steering etc, and should flag up any safety critical stuff. If it passes, get it insured and pick up tax disc, drive it home. As if it were that simple...

Jack.

[Chris Spencer]

Jack - You are such a chancer - and you will learn the hard way in the end - all of the elders around you have tried all the short cuts you suggest in one way or another and paid dearly for it - which is why we are advising otherwise - take sometime - be through and you will be rewarded - you stand no chance of getting through Keith's list in a day or so - there is a good couple of weekends work to get the car close to a MOT standard - belive me I been there, complete with skinned knuckles.

[Ben]

Chris: is your man in Guildford Shaun Bateman?
Shaun has offered to do an assessment/recommissioning/quote for full restoration.
Suddenly three came along at once.

[Chris Spencer]

Ben - No - but if you want me to sound this guy out - I can give him a visit on your behalf - although I live in London - our office is on the outskirts of Guildford - otherwise I can ask a couple of my contacts if they are aware of him and his work ??

[Ben]

Thanks to everyone for your comments. If I had the brains to notice that there was a second page I might have joined-in sooner.
Let's hope that there are some redeeming features about this car to make-up for all the bad stuff. Now I'm really worried that the gearbox is full of swarf and sawdust, although I can live with the grief that Jimmy Shand didn't actually own it.
Shaun Bateman has restored a Javelin, and in the fog I thought that he was the 'man in Surrey' so I've asked him to collect the old banger from Maidstone and do an appraisal. Chris: thanks very much for that list. If you would like to join us at any stage in that check-list I'd be happy to pay your costs.
923R will be the 'wrong parts' Jupiter for a while: Drummond says that it has odd bumpers, radiator and a Javelin rear axle. Good of the previous owner to use a Jowett substitute there!

[Ben]

Sorry Keith: thanks for that list!

[Amy]

Thanks to everyone for your comments. If I had the brains to notice that there was a second page I might have joined-in sooner.
Let's hope that there are some redeeming features about this car to make-up for all the bad stuff. Now I'm really worried that the gearbox is full of swarf and sawdust, although I can live with the grief that Jimmy Shand didn't actually own it.

Shaun Bateman has restored a Javelin, and in the fog I thought that he was the 'man in Surrey' so I've asked him to collect the old banger from Maidstone and do an appraisal. Chris: thanks very much for that list. If you would like to join us at any stage in that check-list I'd be happy to pay your costs.
923R will be the 'wrong parts' Jupiter for a while: Drummond says that it has odd bumpers, radiator and a Javelin rear axle. Good of the previous owner to use a Jowett substitute there!

Ben,

Good to hear it'll be on the move soon. If you let us know where it will be I'm sure we can manage to send a small entourage down to have a poke around the car and send you lots of pictures back

Don't be too scared by dad's list, he gives me a similar list of things to look out for every time I take my Jupiter out of the garage It comes from owning a Jupiter for the past 40-some years though, so is a good check list. I'd add regulator to the list as well as we've seen at least a couple of Jupes with charging problems which seem to be regulator-related.

Oh, and if you need any Lucas parts re-conditioning, etc, Jack and I found a man at Silverstone at the weekend who can supply re-con'd dymanos, regulators and all kinds of other stuff at reasonable prices. Let us know if you would like his details.

Amy.

[Ben]

thanks Amy. Nice to hear from you. We'll know soon enough about the regulator, so your man from Silverstone could be glad he met you and Jack. Is that Jack the 'chancer' from earlier in this thread?
Ben

[Amy]

thanks Amy. Nice to hear from you. We'll know soon enough about the regulator, so your man from Silverstone could be glad he met you and Jack. Is that Jack the 'chancer' from earlier in this thread?
Ben

Yes, that'll be Jack the chancer. He also goes by various other monikers, and has the great fortune to live with me

And to see what you can expect at the annual rally, this is the formal dinner:



(I hope you're still thinking the Jupe was a good idea! )

[Chris Spencer]

Jack - Most certainly is 'Mr Chancer' - Do it now - nothing to loose - I might just get away with it - Ouch I've shot myself the foot ! But on the good side will help anyone and his heart is in the right place - he has a sense of humour most of the time & a strange fixation with the colour pink.

Ben - Let me know where & when and I will do my best to make myself available - you are part of the Jowett family now and the costs / expenses thing does not apply in my case.

[Jack]

Jack - Most certainly is 'Mr Chancer' - Do it now - nothing to loose - I might just get away with it - Ouch I've shot myself the foot ! But on the good side will help anyone and his heart is in the right place - he has a sense of humour most of the time & a strange fixation with the colour pink.

Ben - Let me know where & when and I will do my best to make myself available - you are part of the Jowett family now and the costs / expenses thing does not apply in my case.

I'll have you know I still have all my fingers and toes intact, as well as head and both nipples still attached. Just.

Plus it's not my car, so I can be a bit more cavalier about risks - plus it has worked for all the other cars I've bought in recent years. We are yet to see what happens with the Bedford, and it did result in blown head gaskets on the Capri, but what's the worst that could happen if you've still got oil pressure and temperature is still on the gauge

Jack.