Jim Groepler Custom working

Jim Groepler Custom working The Guy : Boat, RV, Vintage car & truck and Tractor repair. Specialized in electrical trouble shoot

I knew it had been a while since I posted on this page.. didn't realize it had been quite this long. A lot has changed i...
04/01/2025

I knew it had been a while since I posted on this page.. didn't realize it had been quite this long.
A lot has changed in the last 9 months, both good and bad.
Some of the highlights include starting and graduating SPCC CDL school. I now have a full class A CDL license and can drive a manual transmission semi truck.
My fiancee and I broke up.
The bus is now my primary residence here on the property,
and of course work has continued throughout all of this.
Projects have come and gone. One even came back unfortunately, ( not due directly to my work, missed exactly how bad the last guy messed up, the 78 MC8 bus project)
I'll post more in depth about everything in the next few days/weeks.
No I'm not closing up. In fact I'm actually planning on building an actual enclosed shop here.
I may start doing some part time driving, or maybe do towing. With the license it opens up a lot of possibilities.
Life is full of twists and turns, only God really knows what's going to happen.

This is the new project... A 1981 Airstream Motorhome on a Chevrolet P30 chassis. After inspecting it, has really made m...
06/14/2024

This is the new project...
A 1981 Airstream Motorhome on a Chevrolet P30 chassis.
After inspecting it, has really made me question human kind.
This came to me from Florida. The customer was having some issues and was going to drive it up after 3 separate shops looked it over and said it would be fine.... 100 Miles down the road, and two starters later, (the solenoids were melting off) it finally broke down and was done. It had to be towed the rest of the way...
Once it got here I found it had no spark, after putting a new coil and ignition module in the HEI distributor it fired right up.
That's when I found the first issue, the alternator was outputting 134.8 volts.... Needless to say figured out why the distributor was burned out. Also found the exhaust manifold gaskets were gone blowing exhaust onto the starter which was causing the melting issues. The electric choke was not working keeping the choke on at all times. The intake manifold vacuum was all over the map because of a bad intake valve. But the real kicker of it is the rear suspension. At some point someone tried to install what I believe is a trailing arm air suspension system. Unfortunately they really shouldn't have been allowed around tools because they decide that since the leaf springs were in the way they would just cut them off just behind the Axel. Yes folks you read that right they cut the leaf springs just about in half. Then they preceded to cut the hangers off the frame.... Then didn't finish running the air lines or hooking everything up so nothing works.
Needless to say this was not a good idea as the axel lost a lot of stability and seems to be moving around underneath from my measurements it has slipped back at least 1 full inch.
While the customer was obviously not happy at this list he has chosen to fix these issues, so the heads are off at The Power House Auto Machine and Dyno getting a valve job. I'm still looking for the proper hangers for the rear suspension. The other issues are now relatively Minor and will be addressed as we go.

06/14/2024

No folks I haven't fallen off the earth... Been busy, been tired, and frustrated.
Still working on most of the projects I had. Even adding a new 1981 Airstream motorhome. I'll go into further detail in my next posts which I promise will be coming in the next days.

Today I spent part of the day pulling parts off the old bus. All these brake parts don't interchange with our new one. S...
04/20/2024

Today I spent part of the day pulling parts off the old bus. All these brake parts don't interchange with our new one. So we sold them. I had to pull everything and get it all mounted to the pallet for transport to the buyer in Canada.
I then finished pulling down the 302 engine for the 86 F150.
Could someone explain why anyone would look at mounts like this and put them on a new engine ?
As for the rust, the crank shaft isn't as bad as I thought, only one journal really has rust on it luckily.
It's just the block that's really rusted, but not pitted. So hopefully just honing it out and reassemble... Fingers crossed!

Today I did two things I usually don't do. Made a house call, and work on a John Deere. The farmer asked me to come get ...
04/19/2024

Today I did two things I usually don't do.
Made a house call, and work on a John Deere.
The farmer asked me to come get the cab AC and controls working on this 1985, 2950.
After it had failed last summer. Well after checking through everything I found that the control harness was melted. So I had to pull through all new wire. But got him up and running in nice cold air...
I later found out that I was the only one willing to work on it. Not even the local John Deere dealership would work on it as it's to old....

Well I did more than just get the engine out of the 86 f150 today, I'm about as disgusted with what has been done that I...
04/18/2024

Well I did more than just get the engine out of the 86 f150 today, I'm about as disgusted with what has been done that I'm only going to talk about the truck. To start with the missing nut on the torque converter to flex plate 3 out of 4 close enough. 4 out of 6 bell housing bolts, " send it " nothing holding the dipstick tub in so the transmission gets full of water... No problem.
Cut up the spacer plate between the bell housing and engine....
Then reuse the original engine mounts and not bother bolting them done... That's excluding leaving the engine open and letting it fill with water, I might not be a professional with certificates and big shop. However I also don't do this to a brand new engine.
This engine was a brand new crate engine 5 years ago. However due to multiple "professional" shops doing nothing or taking it apart. This new engine has to go to the machine shop because of rust. Machined steel doesn't mix with water !
Hopefully we will get away with just honing out the cylinders and polishing the crank shaft. The cam, lifters, rockers, push rods, double roller timing set. are all good still new.
If we can just rehone it, hopefully we can reuse the new pistons and just change the rings. As they are already 40 oversized.

No I haven't been playing hooky this whole time... Been really busy and tired. This is just some of what I've been up to...
04/17/2024

No I haven't been playing hooky this whole time... Been really busy and tired.
This is just some of what I've been up too.
The Trans-am rear quarter panel has been replaced. And I've started on the body work.
This 67 C10 came through for an exhaust leak, and general look over. Changed the manifold gasket and exhaust donut, quieted right down, gave it a quick tune up and sent it home.
Did an oil change and tune up on an old project from a couple of years ago, the green 73 F100, that was fun ! Gotta love maintenance !
Also been doing some work on the 59 Ford Galaxy Fairlane reversing the engine mounts so that the exhaust manifolds now bolt up.
There was also some yard work. And several other things...
I will try to get back to posting every day again.

Hope y'all had a wonderful Easter, and a fun April fool's day.I have been working, and gathering parts. Getting most of ...
04/03/2024

Hope y'all had a wonderful Easter, and a fun April fool's day.
I have been working, and gathering parts.
Getting most of the bearings for the front axle of the 58 GMC.
Trying to get the power steering hose for the 73 Rover. The last thing I need to finish it up.
Also got the tanks moved over to the new bus. Now to just hook everything up.

I kinda played hooky today... And worse still I'm NOT sorry !
03/30/2024

I kinda played hooky today... And worse still I'm NOT sorry !

Spent the morning fighting with the 58 GMC front axle removing all the different bearings, recording their numbers and w...
03/29/2024

Spent the morning fighting with the 58 GMC front axle removing all the different bearings, recording their numbers and where they came from. Now I have my list of bearings, races, and seals. to track down now, the good news is from a quick search they are all strangely available. I'm scared lol
Next I changed the window regulators in this Acura. The customer didn't like having to open the door to do anything and holding the window up with duct tape.
Then I moved on to our bus installing the second window finally, and started removing the tanks from the old bus.

It rained all day today. So I took the opportunity to work in our bus. Setting the new dishwasher in place, fitting the ...
03/28/2024

It rained all day today. So I took the opportunity to work in our bus. Setting the new dishwasher in place, fitting the new stove hood, installing all the doors in the master bedroom. Installing the floor of the tub, and installing the diverter valve.

After doing the sheet metal work. Making the covers and welding over the hole. I was able to run it for over half an hou...
03/27/2024

After doing the sheet metal work. Making the covers and welding over the hole. I was able to run it for over half an hour without a problem.
I was also able to paint the the rest of the big parts for the NAPCO axle. Meaning it should be able to start going back together as soon as I get the new bearings and seal.
The 86 f150 project I was able to spin the engine all the way around. Baring finding anything inside when we pull it to inspect/clean it should be alright.
As for our bus we found this almost new dishwasher today at habits for humanity, the best part is it was only $30 ! Should work perfect.

Address

58 Planters Road
Lilesville, NC
28091

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+17048519317

Website

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