Friddle: British Royal newly weds (William & Kate) departed from Buckingham Palace in what rare, vintage, blue roadster?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: Which three letters are not used in Vehicle Identification Numbers?

Jasper Engines & Transmissions, the nation’s leader in remanufactured products, has added the following late-model transmissions to its remanufactured line up.

The GM 6L80 and 6L90E 6-speed transmissions are available for the following 2007-2009 vehicles:

• Chevrolet Yukon Denali, Avalanche and Suburban
• GMC Sierra Denali

• Cadillac Escalade

• Chevrolet/GMC C/K 1500-3500 pickups

These transmissions are unique in that the transmission control module (TCM) is physically contained inside the transmission. “These control modules are vehicle identification number (VIN) specific and must be reprogrammed accordingly,” says James Corbin, JASPER Quality Systems and New Product Development Manager. “JASPER will ship these units already programmed per the vehicle VIN from the factory.”

Every JASPER remanufactured transmission is subjected to strict, high-quality processes…

• Disassembly, meticulous inspection and cleaning of components.

• All new and remanufactured parts are carefully inspected for correct tolerances to assure dependability.

• JASPER’s research and product development ensures inherent problems in OEM design are corrected.

• Dynamometer testing of domestic automatic transmissions simulates in-vehicle operation to assure trouble-free product results.
• An available Premium Service Plan that offers customers even greater value.

Each transmission is covered by JASPER’s 3-Year/100,000 mile nationwide transferable parts and labor warranty. Full warranty disclosure is available on our website or upon request.

For more information on the GM 6L80/90E and JASPER’s complete line of remanufactured transmissions, please call 1-800-827-7455.

Friddle: Which three letters are not used in Vehicle Identification Numbers?

Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle: During the 1980s, which automotive brand manufactured the XR4Ti and Scorpio?

Last Week’s Friddle Answer: Merkur

Last Week’s Friddle Contest Winner: Jim Stoughton - Shoals, IN

The Jasper Engine & Transmission Exchange Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) has acquired Canam Marketing Corporation. Canam Marketing will be operated by JASPER’s sister company, Jasper Innovative Solutions, as the company strives to increase its presence in the United States Postal Service parts market.

Canam Marketing provides vehicle maintenance parts and supplies for LLV, FFV, Windstar, Uplander and other USPS delivery vehicles. Canam Marketing provides product distribution from its Milwaukee, Wisconsin, office, with sales offices in Milwaukee and Las Vegas, Nevada.

“The acquisition of Canam Marketing will be a great addition to JIS,” says Luke Bawel, JASPER Innovative Solutions General Manager. “Canam’s strength in new product development and dedicated workforce, coupled with JIS’s customer service, ordering system, inventory levels, and Transit company will be a winning combination.”

“We see great quality and value in Canam products,” added Bawel. “With this acquisition we will be able to allow customers the convenience of ordering through one system, the availability of ramped up inventory, and on time delivery! We are very excited with this new growth!”

Canam Marketing will continue to operate and, over time, will be merged into JIS. The Canam name will remain for branding purposes and name recognition in the marketplace.

Jasper Innovative Solutions is a supplier of vehicle parts to USPS Vehicle Maintenance Facilities and other fleets throughout the United States. JIS sales offices are located in Bristol, Pennsylvania with distribution facilities in Leavenworth, Indiana.

For more information on the quality products of Jasper Innovative Solutions, call 1-800-752-1700 or www.jasperinnovativesolutions.com.

Friddle: During the 1980s, which automotive brand manufactured the XR4Ti and Scorpio?

 Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle:  In what year did General Motors introduce the Pontiac Firebird?

Last Week’s Friddle Answer: 1967

Last Week’s Friddle Contest Winner: Heather Mlekush - Springfield, MO

Harrison, Arkansas, is the home of Mastertech Auto Repair. Situated halfway between Little Rock and Springfield, Missouri, Mastertech provides complete service and repair for domestic and import cars and light-duty trucks.

The automotive career of Mastertech owner, John Sagers Sr., spans over 50 years, either repairing vehicles, teaching auto repair to college students or running his business. Prior to opening Mastertech, John, Sr. taught automotive technology at what is now known as the North Campus of North Arkansas College. “It was exciting to get a hold of a young man who had talent and determination, and give him the right training,” said John, Sr.

In May of 1999, at the urging of hisson, John Sagers Jr., John Sr. opened Mastertech in a leased 3,500 square foot building on Highway 65 South in Harrison. Five years later, Mastertech moved to its present location at 3925 Duncan Drive. At 8,400 square feet, this shop is over twice the size of the original building, with 12 service bays and nine lifts.

John Sr. is very proud of his business, the appearance of his building and the service that is offered. But most important, he’s proud of his technicians. Three are ASE Certified Master Techs, one is ASE Certified in brakes, and his two service advisors are ASE Certified automobile service consultants. It was the certification that was the inspiration for the name of the business.

“We wanted a name that would promote a professional image, a master technician,” says John Sr. “Branding is very important in this business and we wanted a distinct name in order to promote our brand.”

Since 2006, Mastertech Auto has been an installer of JASPER remanufactured engines, transmissions and transfer cases. “Mastertech uses JASPER products because of their 3-year, 100,000 mile, warranty and no-hassle claims,” says John Sr. “Several of our customers have heard of JASPER’s reputation for a quality product.”

John Sr.’s approach to Mastertech has brought his business many honors within the community. He’s received an award as a Distinguished Leader in Small Business, and Mastertech has been voted “Best of The Best” the past two years by a local newspaper reader poll. “Our motto is ‘Repaired correctly, in a timely manner, at a fair price,’” added John Sr. “What the customer wants most is to get the car back promptly and when promised.”

Mastertech Auto Repair has recently branched out to include collision repair and towing. They also offer a free pickup service for their customers’ convenience. It’s part of John Sr.’s future plans to always try to bring more customers to Mastertech.

“People basically have three choices: buy a new car, fix an old one, or walk,” says John Sr. “In the present economy, people aren’t buying new cars, so maintenance is important. Quality car repair is recession resistant.”

Friddle: In what year did General Motors introduce the Pontiac Firebird?

 Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle:  The Taurus was both the predecessor and successor to which Ford sedan?

Last Week’s Friddle Answer: Five Hundred

Last Week’s Friddle Contest Winner: No Winner

Jasper Engines & Transmissions has implemented an operation to remanufacture Ford modular cylinder heads with overhead cams.

An overhead cam bore alignment station has been put in place in the Gas Engine Division of the Jasper, Indiana, facility. At the heart of this station is a Milltronics 7200 CNC machine that centers the head for proper cam bore alignment. The CNC machine takes less time to do the procedure, with improved accuracy, when compared to a manually-operated drawbar boring setup.

Currently, the station’s main focus is the Ford 4.6, 5.4 and 6.8L modular engines with aluminum overhead cam cylinder heads. The station gives JASPER the ability to remanufacture these heads that in the past would not be salvageable.

“The camshaft journals ride in the aluminum bore of the head, and not on an actual bearing,” says Lukas Hetterscheidt, JASPER Gas Engine Quality Control Captain. “Any dirt or debris that gets in between the cam and the head tends to tear up the cam bores and the camshaft itself.”

JASPER’s Indiana Tool & Die Division has the capability to weld up the steel of the camshaft journals to .030 oversize. Meanwhile, heads are taken to the cam bore alignment station where they are align bored to accept the remanufactured camshaft. “It doesn’t have to be the same cam that originally came with the head, but the bore and the journals have to match in size,” says Hetterscheidt. “So if you have a .030 cam, the head must be align bored .030. In some instances, the head is align bored .080 over, and a bearing is inserted so a stock camshaft can be used.”

“Anything that was in poor condition would, in the past, be discarded, and we would run out of core heads or core cams,” added Hetterscheidt. “Now we can save both the cam and the heads. We are always keeping our eyes open for ways to reclaim components, maintaining the highest quality standards and producing the greatest value for our customer.”

In the future, JASPER plans to utilize the cam bore alignment station on 3.7 and 4.7L Chrysler cylinder heads. Hetterscheidt added that similar stations could be implemented in other JASPER facilities where overhead cam engines are remanufactured.

For more information on the remanufactured gas engines of Jasper Engines & Transmissions, please call 1-800-827-7455.

Jeremiah Friesner Automotive Services in Heath, Ohio, received a ‘Strive to Thrive’ makeover in September 2010 from JASPER Associates of the Columbus Branch. Jay Myser (branch operations), Patrick Smith (truck driver), Chuck Ratliff (truck driver), Atticus Myser (outside salesman) and Dane Patterson (sales manager) were there to give Jeremiah, and two of his employees, a helping hand. Jeremiah and Dane started work the night before going over the areas of the shop that would benefit the most. A list was compiled of the areas that needed the most TLC.

Friddle: The Taurus was both the predecessor and successor to which Ford sedan?

 Check our blog next Friday for the answer and another Friddle.

Last Week’s Friddle:  Which Italian automobile manufacturer features a trident in their logo?

Last Week’s Friddle Answer: Maserati

Last Week’s Friddle Contest Winner: Sam Richard - Anderson, SC