thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659 
|
|
Sept 17, 2018 10:15:40 GMT
|
|
So how was the drive?
I take your point but I was being devil's advocate a little. You might not want to sell it but from what I can see above it does not suit your life or requirements for a car right now.
Life happens and needs and priorities change but you are a "classic/retro" car guy so don't fight the urge and jump ship completely. I tried and trust me it does not work.
I suggest one of two approaches if you do come down on the side of selling.
I am taking a notional assumption that if you sell this and your daily you will have 7,500-10,000 to spend
1. Buy the semi modern daily (like the V70) and spend 2-3k on a small retro project
2. Buy a single sorted retro that can meet your requirements for occasional track days, reliable & comfortable family transport and summer drives.
One car jumps out at me here and that's an E30 325i Touring in manual. They are creeping up in price but if you can handle a bit less performance an immaculate 318i touring should be available for well inside that budget.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
|
|
Nov 19, 2019 20:08:24 GMT
|
|
|
| |
Last Edit: Nov 19, 2019 20:09:24 GMT by thebaron
|
|
Clement
Europe
ambitious but rubbish
Posts: 2,095
|
|
Apr 19, 2020 20:41:33 GMT
|
Hi dear RR people. Although I've hardly been posting here, or making meaningful progress with the car, I've been lurking a lot and especially these past few weeks for some reason. A year ago, I was planning on selling the Giulia, and actually get a van; this made plenty of sense. First I needed an MOT, which it failed on... emissions. That was unexpected, though I couldn't quite get it to run right even after the very expensive carb rebuild. Let's take the carbs off and replace the rubber whatevers that connect the carbs to the engine. That became a mess in itself, because quite stupidly Alfa designed this so that you need to take off some coolant pocket on the side of the engine first. Then I got lazy, and then there was this lockdown. I've been reading about lots of cool cars being built, and that does help with getting motivated again (motivation that got lost at some point in 2014). You see the problem I have with this car, is that even if it is sound and straight there are lots to fix and improve. I poured lots of monies into it, and for one thing I'm pretty sure the engine still isn't right (it's supposed to be ALL NEW at great great cost in there). A bit of it was painted last year, but the bodyshop did cheap-but-cheap-looking job of it. As in the contour of the door doesn't follow the cutout for it in the rear wing, and it clashes. Messing up the new paint in the process. I'm quite the lazy, self-hating type in the first place, but stuff like this just makes me want to throw a lighter into the gas tank and forget about it. But what do I do with the car now? With that lockdown I wouldn't be surprised if plenty of people were getting rid of their 'fun' car suddenly, and not many ready to buy up ropey old Alfas. That'd drive prices down, and I just can't bear throwing money out the window just yet. I don't give a **** about buying a van anymore since I lost all forms of income at the start of the lockdown, and am nowhere near earning money again. If we want to travel we'll use pushbikes, it's basically the same but at least I don't have to buy anything for that. So it looks like I'm keeping it. Not in a joyous way, but I might as well try to make something nice and useable out of it. Put those carbs back on the car. Do the few MOT things needed and get that MOT passed. Clean and paint the underside, potential buyers just baulked at this last summer. Then rethink what I want to do with it. Maybe just send it back to my mate Alex so he enjoys it and it's not in my way. Those are the pics I'd taken last year to sell it, it looks 1000 times better than it really is up close.    It's still a very, very, very good looking car but I just need its driving to match its looks from afar. I still have the deeply nagging feeling of not having done justice to this car. I'm watching videos about cool cars, and every now and then the thought pops up that I actually have a vintage Alfa that's my own, taking care of that would be a better use of my time undoubtedly. |
| |
|
|
eurogranada
Europe
To tinker or not to tinker, that is the question...
Posts: 2,556
|
|
Apr 20, 2020 10:57:25 GMT
|
|
Sorry to hear of your misfortune and your lack of mojo… I always liked your posts on this and the biturbo…
I think I'm much like you, easily on a high when things go well, but equally as easily on a deep deep down if things go less then perfect.
If you still love this car, see it through, but take your time. Maybe find the right person to trust with the engine works/setup etc.
If you're really fed up, just sell out. Sometimes not having the worry is enough to warrant the action. I've no clue if the Lockdown has already affected prices, but I guess you'll soon see if it has... Tough place to be in, I agree.
Wishing you all the best and some motivation from a far.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 20, 2020 14:22:32 GMT
|
|
I think most of us go through up and downs like this. After I blew the engine in my Alfetta race car due to an ignition fault I just walked away for two years then one day I was looking at and thought, yeah that was fun. Got back into it then my trailer was stolen.....ups and downs.
Every time I think of selling it I remember I’ve turned every nut and bolt on that car and I just can’t get rid of it.
On to the Alfa. If the carbs are rebuilt (properly) and there are no air leaks, is it possible the engine builder got the cam timing slightly off?
I’d check that. Then remember the saying “90%of carb problems are ignition related”
It’s a very cool car.
|
| |
Last Edit: Apr 20, 2020 14:23:23 GMT by nmretro
1987 Alfa Milano/75
1979 Alfetta Mille Miglia
1976 Alfetta GT race car
1970 Lancia Fulvia 1.3 Rallye S
1968 Fiat 850 spider
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 20, 2020 20:51:40 GMT
|
Nothing wrong with some push biking though! Its been fantastic here at home with the lockdown. The roads are sooooo quiet. When my car projects get the better of me and start to curse word me off I like to go out for a nice long bike ride. Its usually whilst out on my bike that I come up with solutions to the problem or just have enough of a break to get my mojo back and look forward to tinkering with my car again, happy with endorphins from some good exercise  |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 20, 2020 22:13:24 GMT
|
|
I had 105-series Alfas for 30 years and wish I was closer to help you get yours set-up right, but sorry, I'm in the US. But we should all agree on this: any 105 Alfa should be a fun and rewarding car to drive, so I'd agree with EuroGranada that you need a skilled and sympatico mechanic. Maybe there are local Alfistis when could help you find such a person?
I'm very sorry to hear that you lost your job. These are very traumatic times (said Captain Obvious), but if you do need to sell it, at the end of the day it is just a machine and can always be replaced. Plus, it's is good that you're talking about how you're feeling. Even though we are all just virtual friends here, the important thing is that we ARE friends and here to support one another. No one should be bottling-up their concerns or worries.
Take care of yourself and please keep us posted.
John
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Same here, man....
Always an Alfa fan, too....
JP
|
| |
I know its spelled Norman Luxury Yacht, but its pronounced Throat Wobbler Mangrove!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yeah sorry to hear this man. It's tricky when the mojo just isn't there. Sort of had this after I set light to the boot of my Jag (was draining fuel and water from the tank, drilled a drain hole with an electric drill, turns out there was more fuel in the tank than I thought!). Head gasket had blown previously as well. I'd got another engine and a wiring loom, but it just sat for a couple of years while I sorted things I was more motivated to do. Now it's time has come though motivated by the idea of how awesome of a car it would be with an M57 swap, and interestingly the smell of sitting inside it for a minute while grabbing some parts from the passenger seat. Maybe what's needed is a bit of a pick-me-up experience. A reminder of why you bought the thing in the first place. |
| |
|
|
Clement
Europe
ambitious but rubbish
Posts: 2,095
|
|
Apr 21, 2020 20:45:36 GMT
|
Thank you kind people, it means a lot it really does. Sorry to hear of your misfortune and your lack of mojo… I always liked your posts on this and the biturbo… I think I'm much like you, easily on a high when things go well, but equally as easily on a deep deep down if things go less then perfect. If you still love this car, see it through, but take your time. Maybe find the right person to trust with the engine works/setup etc. If you're really fed up, just sell out. Sometimes not having the worry is enough to warrant the action. I've no clue if the Lockdown has already affected prices, but I guess you'll soon see if it has... Tough place to be in, I agree. Wishing you all the best and some motivation from a far. Aaah the Biturbo... my heart still aches. That was even more depressing than what's happening to the Giulia because at least the Giulia's not bent with a cracked engine! It could be worse  The Giulia might end up a very likeable car when it's sorted, but the 222 was outright loveable even in its dire state. My thinking right now is that I'll take my time to sort it rather than get someone to fine tune it for me. Frankly I'm tired of specialists that bill me €700 to rebuild a pair of carbs, but just set them up by ear or rebuild an entire engine without asking about the carbs, or using a tired secondhand oil pump for the same price as a new one. Oh and that time I went to get a geo done, but the camber was 1.5° different left to right afterwards. It might just be me but man, specialists suck from my perspective. At least when I screw up I know I'm a numpty and I don't bill myself. The good thing with this whole recession thing is that I'll have time on my hands, if not much money. I think most of us go through up and downs like this. After I blew the engine in my Alfetta race car due to an ignition fault I just walked away for two years then one day I was looking at and thought, yeah that was fun. Got back into it then my trailer was stolen.....ups and downs. Every time I think of selling it I remember I’ve turned every nut and bolt on that car and I just can’t get rid of it. On to the Alfa. If the carbs are rebuilt (properly) and there are no air leaks, is it possible the engine builder got the cam timing slightly off? I’d check that. Then remember the saying “90%of carb problems are ignition related” It’s a very cool car. Ooooh that hurts. Actually it's that deep knowledge of the car that I don't have and I think would help me liking it. I might check the cam timing yes, after all it shouldn't be that hard? I'll try to find a workshop manual somewhere. The ignition, well, I'd love an electronic dizzy or even a NoDiz setup but that's not on the cards at the moment Oh and btw, at the time I bought the Giulia I was looking at Fulvias too but I was scared by their very specific engineering. Most gracious-looking series automobile ever! Nothing wrong with some push biking though! Its been fantastic here at home with the lockdown. The roads are sooooo quiet. When my car projects get the better of me and start to curse word me off I like to go out for a nice long bike ride. Its usually whilst out on my bike that I come up with solutions to the problem or just have enough of a break to get my mojo back and look forward to tinkering with my car again, happy with endorphins from some good exercise Haha once with the Cortina I understood why the generator wasn't charging the battery while hiking! After a year of constantly faffing around with everything, getting it checked by an auto electrician, etc. Something popped in my head (gladly not an artery though), I ran to the parking lot, opened the regulator, bent a piece of copper and BAM the car was fixed. Overjoyed doesn't cut it Alas, our beloved (ahem) minister of the Innards (I'm not sure how to translate it, and that sounded funny) decided riding a bike isn't allowed in lockdown France apart from commuting or running errands. He actually just tweeted it or something, nothing official, but cops have nevertheless been fining people so I can't really go out and ride to clear my thoughts. I'm not even allowed to stray further than 1km from my flat or for more than an hour. It's absolutely hateful I tell you, they even closed all parks and river banks, the lot. Good thing there are build threads to follow! I had 105-series Alfas for 30 years and wish I was closer to help you get yours set-up right, but sorry, I'm in the US. But we should all agree on this: any 105 Alfa should be a fun and rewarding car to drive, so I'd agree with EuroGranada that you need a skilled and sympatico mechanic. Maybe there are local Alfistis when could help you find such a person? I'm very sorry to hear that you lost your job. These are very traumatic times (said Captain Obvious), but if you do need to sell it, at the end of the day it is just a machine and can always be replaced. Plus, it's is good that you're talking about how you're feeling. Even though we are all just virtual friends here, the important thing is that we ARE friends and here to support one another. No one should be bottling-up their concerns or worries. Take care of yourself and please keep us posted. John I might actually try to recruit someone to help, that's a good idea. I once helped a mate of a mate with his early 75, it was only three or four years ago, he might be up for it. It's quite stupid to be so anxious about a mere automobile but yeah, it makes me refrain from posting. You see people updating their threads, doing awesome stuff, working out solutions and I can't get my a*** off the couch to put a pair of carbs back on. Sure, a lot of us are struggling too but somehow it's less visible. The problem with selling it is that unfortunately the current prices mean I wouldn't replace it. The price I paid for this one only gets you a terrible 'barn find' these days! I don't want to invest too much money in a silly car anymore, been there done that. Same here, man.... Always an Alfa fan, too.... JP Alfas rule!! Keep at it mate Yeah sorry to hear this man. It's tricky when the mojo just isn't there. Sort of had this after I set light to the boot of my Jag (was draining fuel and water from the tank, drilled a drain hole with an electric drill, turns out there was more fuel in the tank than I thought!). Head gasket had blown previously as well. I'd got another engine and a wiring loom, but it just sat for a couple of years while I sorted things I was more motivated to do. Now it's time has come though motivated by the idea of how awesome of a car it would be with an M57 swap, and interestingly the smell of sitting inside it for a minute while grabbing some parts from the passenger seat. Maybe what's needed is a bit of a pick-me-up experience. A reminder of why you bought the thing in the first place. I read that from your thread and I was retrospectively gutted for you, that's a tough one! Actually if the tank was completely empty it might have been worse, it's the fumes that cause the explosion not the liquid itself. An empty tank is actually full of fumes, I dread to think what would have happened. I don't really like diesel engines but I haven't really experienced the good ones, you won't be short of torque that's for sure! I think I just need to get stuck in, after a while it feels more natural. It's just the slight matter of getting that process going! Oh and please write about the 228, I've been waiting in agony One thing that did prevent me from loving the car that much is that I can't get comfortable driving it. The distance between the steering wheel and the gearlever is spot on, but it feels like the pedals are 20cm too close to me! My knees are splayed, the right one touching the centre console, I can't do heel-and-toe because I can't rotate my leg. Three things could help with that: a deeper dish wheel and a bucket seat, and modifying the pedalbox to push the pedals closer to the bulkhead. The dish of the steering wheel would let my knee under it to heel-and-toe, the bucket seat would make me sit lower and further back. I'm not exactly sure how to modify the pedals, I need to take measurements and figure out things. I'm not ordering anything at the moment so again, since I only have time I can think about that. Thanks again for the cheering up dear RR folks! I should be able to get to the car around May 13th... I'll keep you updated! |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 21, 2020 22:10:49 GMT
|
|
I have always enjoyed your cars, the Cortina was my favorite!
Looking forward to seeing the progress with the Alfa!
Warren
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 21, 2020 22:43:18 GMT
|
One thing that did prevent me from loving the car that much is that I can't get comfortable driving it. The distance between the steering wheel and the gearlever is spot on, but it feels like the pedals are 20cm too close to me! My knees are splayed, the right one touching the centre console, I can't do heel-and-toe because I can't rotate my leg. Three things could help with that: a deeper dish wheel and a bucket seat, and modifying the pedalbox to push the pedals closer to the bulkhead. The dish of the steering wheel would let my knee under it to heel-and-toe, the bucket seat would make me sit lower and further back. I'm not exactly sure how to modify the pedals, I need to take measurements and figure out things. I'm not ordering anything at the moment so again, since I only have time I can think about that. I feel your pain. Every old Alfa I've had suffered with the same problem...I can only assume that Italians of the era had bizarrely short legs! |
| |
|
|
goldnrust
West Midlands
Minimalist
Posts: 1,889
|
|
|
|
As someone with short legs, I always enjoyed the Italian style diving position. If memory serves, the Fulvia was even more extreme long arms, short legs position than the 105s are! If you want to turn it into one of those little quirks that make Italian cars lovable then I can tell you that it’s because the Italians felt that bent arms didn’t look elegant. So they set the seating position up with the intention for you to drive with your arms out straight. Doesn’t matter if it’s more uncomfortable or unnatural, but you’re looking cool as you drive by in your pretty old classic Alfa. 😎 I’m sorry to hear you’ve been having a rough time with the car. Like everyone who’s been in this hobby long enough I’ve had my ups and downs with old cars, and so I totally understand where you’re at with it. I think one of the things I would say, and I know it seems fairly obvious, is that owning an old car you have to build a relationship with it. Like any relationship, the longer this goes on, the more likely you are to have some baggage with it, some bad times. If that gets on top of you then it’s hard to own any car for more than a few months. (Speaking as someone who’s got through 32 vehicles in 12 years of driving!!) Something else I’ve been working on, to help keep my own motivation up working on my projects, is to try and remember that it’s no good just focusing on the destination, you’ve got to try and enjoy the journey too. Working on the car can be a chore that’s needed to get it running, which is almost always a frustrating chore that’s easily depressing when inevitably you hit snags. Or it can be how you choose to spend your free time, a pleasant escapism (especially in troubling times like these) to pop onto the shed and turn some spanners. Break each task down into small pieces, celebrate each complete step and don’t worry about how many more steps there are to do, deadlines or rushing to get it finished. It makes for a much more enjoyable time with man and machine. Finally, just to play devils advocate with myself, of course it’s always possible that as much as you wanted to love the Alfa forever, it’s just not the right car. Maybe you didn’t bond with it right or maybe you did love it, but you’ve grown and changed and it’s not right any more? There’s no shame in changing your mind and deciding it’s not the right car for you, no matter how many of us think it’s cool and ask you to keep it so we can enjoy a sort of virtual ownership experience through your posts. Or maybe it is the right car for you and you’re just in a rut with it. All that matters is to be true to yourself, and to find a way to enjoy however it is you choose to spend your hobby time |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 22, 2020 14:34:59 GMT
|
|
Cam timing is easy to check. Pull the cover, turn the engine to TDC and there are factory marks on the cams by the front cam bearings.
Pertronix is an inexpensive way to go with the distributor, of course it won’t fix it if the distributor is worn out but...
Thanks for the compliment on the Fulvia. I was actually looking at Alfa GTVs at time but they are quite common over here so I decided to look for something a little different.
The car is 50 years old now and absolutely no squeaks or rattles, the build quality is amazing.
|
| |
1987 Alfa Milano/75
1979 Alfetta Mille Miglia
1976 Alfetta GT race car
1970 Lancia Fulvia 1.3 Rallye S
1968 Fiat 850 spider
|
|
Clement
Europe
ambitious but rubbish
Posts: 2,095
|
|
Apr 23, 2020 13:25:19 GMT
|
I have always enjoyed your cars, the Cortina was my favorite! Looking forward to seeing the progress with the Alfa! Warren Thanks man, the Cortina was quite something! Sturdiest thing ever. But what totti made of it is just wayyy beyond anything I could've done, I'm glad he has it now Every old Alfa I've had suffered with the same problem...I can only assume that Italians of the era had bizarrely short legs! Good thing we have goldnrust to help us with the real reason... style. In the Italians' case at least, because I look like a toad squished in a matchbox. As someone with short legs, I always enjoyed the Italian style diving position. If memory serves, the Fulvia was even more extreme long arms, short legs position than the 105s are! If you want to turn it into one of those little quirks that make Italian cars lovable then I can tell you that it’s because the Italians felt that bent arms didn’t look elegant. So they set the seating position up with the intention for you to drive with your arms out straight. Doesn’t matter if it’s more uncomfortable or unnatural, but you’re looking cool as you drive by in your pretty old classic Alfa. 😎 As said, I don't look cool, at least not the lower half of my body. I'm driving with my elbow sticking out the window because I can't fit otherwise! The good side of this is that I can wind down all four windows without leaving the driver seat, the car's that small. I’m sorry to hear you’ve been having a rough time with the car. Like everyone who’s been in this hobby long enough I’ve had my ups and downs with old cars, and so I totally understand where you’re at with it. I think one of the things I would say, and I know it seems fairly obvious, is that owning an old car you have to build a relationship with it. Like any relationship, the longer this goes on, the more likely you are to have some baggage with it, some bad times. If that gets on top of you then it’s hard to own any car for more than a few months. (Speaking as someone who’s got through 32 vehicles in 12 years of driving!!) I really resent the fact that putting a car to your name in France tends to cost quite a bit of money, it makes chopping and changing cars a really expensive proposition. Maybe it helped me with sticking with cars instead of flogging them to someone else, that or I don't like taking a loss. As to having a relationship with the car, this might not happen for a good few years as it would entail my keeping it nearby and that's not very realistic. It's not a bad feeling to know a good mate is keeping your car is good shape however! Something else I’ve been working on, to help keep my own motivation up working on my projects, is to try and remember that it’s no good just focusing on the destination, you’ve got to try and enjoy the journey too. Working on the car can be a chore that’s needed to get it running, which is almost always a frustrating chore that’s easily depressing when inevitably you hit snags. Or it can be how you choose to spend your free time, a pleasant escapism (especially in troubling times like these) to pop onto the shed and turn some spanners. Break each task down into small pieces, celebrate each complete step and don’t worry about how many more steps there are to do, deadlines or rushing to get it finished. It makes for a much more enjoyable time with man and machine. Fair point that. I'm always thinking "and after that there's this" and I never just enjoy the process. I find mechanical work very frustrating, the result is never as good as I'd want it to be, but at some points in the past I just stuck with it and it was soothing. I have no idea how the exact same thing can be perceived in two very different way! Finally, just to play devils advocate with myself, of course it’s always possible that as much as you wanted to love the Alfa forever, it’s just not the right car. Maybe you didn’t bond with it right or maybe you did love it, but you’ve grown and changed and it’s not right any more? There’s no shame in changing your mind and deciding it’s not the right car for you, no matter how many of us think it’s cool and ask you to keep it so we can enjoy a sort of virtual ownership experience through your posts. Or maybe it is the right car for you and you’re just in a rut with it. All that matters is to be true to yourself, and to find a way to enjoy however it is you choose to spend your hobby time I think the stresses of ownership clouded my appreciation of the car. As in, it's only getting rustier, the engine's supposed to be perfect but then it's actually not, you want to go for a drive but it's noisy, parts are simple but expensive for some reason, etc. I do like 70's cars, I love Italian cars, I like four-doors (be they Quattroporte or Skyline), I like cars made for the masses but with a sense of style, I love a 'noble' engine with heritage, I love a good blend of sportiness and comfort ; the Giulia is at the heart of all that. It's really not that I bent my wishes to what I had, the Giulia is the first car I just fell in love with when I started researching older stuff, it just struck me as quite perfect in every metric. I hadn't thought of the driving position or other specific aspects but maybe those can be tweaked enough not to marr the experience of the rest? Cam timing is easy to check. Pull the cover, turn the engine to TDC and there are factory marks on the cams by the front cam bearings. Pertronix is an inexpensive way to go with the distributor, of course it won’t fix it if the distributor is worn out but... Thanks for the compliment on the Fulvia. I was actually looking at Alfa GTVs at time but they are quite common over here so I decided to look for something a little different. The car is 50 years old now and absolutely no squeaks or rattles, the build quality is amazing. I don't think my distributor is in a bad shape, but what bugs me with the current system is that since Weber don't pull much vacuum, you don't get load-based ignition advance. That's a pity, the engine is quite fuel efficient (I usually get around 8.5L/100km, or 30-UK mpg) and responsive but it could be sooo much better perhaps! I don't really care if the fuelling is, let's say, mechanical, the Webers make up for it with sound. But the ignition is different, a compromise there just ruins the output of the engine doesn't it? Thanks for the tip about the timing, I'll keep that in mind next time I visit the car. I agree with the GTV being common, I'd love a scalino but those are way out of reach these days. I love the concept of the Fulvia, something tiny and light-footed but made with a real attention to detail and quality; the fact it looks like it does just delicately hammers the point home! |
| |
Last Edit: Apr 23, 2020 13:29:38 GMT by Clement
|
|
totti
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,153
|
|
Apr 26, 2020 10:13:30 GMT
|
Hi,mate! Sorry to hear about your mojo and the job....  But there will be better times,for sure... Thought about some nice memory's for you... Look!Do you know this "passenger"? ;  Traveled since 4 years with the Volvo.. And this.....  Thought about to place it on the Peugeot...    I can feel the disappointment about "mechanics" that do things on the carbs and the engine...today its not easy to find people with the right knowledge about old things like that.... Sad that you live so far away....i could help you with the problems on the Alfa for sure!  Greet |
| |
65 'Ford Taunus 17m
66' Ford Taunus 17m Turnier
73' Ford Taunus
63' Ford Taunus Transit 1250
72'Ford Escort 2000cc
71'Ford Escort 1700 4 door
89'Ford Escort Express
87'Ford Fiesta Diesel
64'Ford Cortina 1500 deluxe
57'Volvo PV 444 Califonia
54'Peugeot 203 Commerciale
2004 Harley Davidson Fat Boy
78'Zündapp ZR 20
88'MZ ETZ 250
|
|
Clement
Europe
ambitious but rubbish
Posts: 2,095
|
|
Apr 28, 2020 20:54:08 GMT
|
I have no doubt about that, people still don't believe me when I tell them my old Cortina is this now ^^^^ I'm amazed you still have that elk magnet, we bought it for fun upon our first fillup when we drove to Sweden haha! Oh the memories, even bloody broken down cars can't ruin those |
| |
|
|
dikkehemaworst
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,637
Club RR Member Number: 16
|
|
|
|
Isn't there a how to on the internet somewere? Youve mended a maserati, so how hard can an alfa be? Just be methodical an check everything twice. Do we know RR people with alfa experience for help? Someone like thomfr ? Maybe he has some Dutch guide to translate for you.... |
| |
|
|
thomfr
Part of things
Trying to assemble the Duett again..
Posts: 695
|
|
Apr 29, 2020 10:15:39 GMT
|
Cam timing is easy to check. Pull the cover, turn the engine to TDC and there are factory marks on the cams by the front cam bearings. Pertronix is an inexpensive way to go with the distributor, of course it won’t fix it if the distributor is worn out but... That was exactly what I wanted to say but you where faster. TDC check on an Alfa Nord is indeed: Front crankpully on mark (cannot make a foto of that too low/dark) Both camhafts on mark (on the backside of the nearest to the front of the car bearing for the camshafts is a mark in the middle which should line up EXACTLY with the same marks on the inlet and outlet camshafts). Take the cap of the ignition and the rotor should point to the marker on the housing. Remove the first cylinder (again nearest to the front of the car) sparkplug and check with a screwdriver (be carefull for the sparkplug treath) if the first cylinder is in it's highes position. Working concentrated and precise this takes max an hour. If needed I can make some pics from my Guilia to make it easier. Concering the seating position I had (although only 1,78mtr. tall) the same problem. The reason is that the steeringwheel was too far away when I adjusted the seat right for my legs. I solved this with removing the original steering wheel and using a 12cm. long steering wheel mounting boss (I hope this is the right word) with an aftermarket (in my case Nardi, but it could also be a cheaper one) dished steering wheel. This together moves the wheel around 14 cm. more inside the car and makes a total different steering position as I can now normal steer with the seat far enough back for my legs. Only thing I had to get used to was that the indicator stalk on the steering colomn is now a bit further away from the steering wheel ;-) The picture is a bit strange because the dashboard is out of the car as I repair the electrics currently. I do not know if you know Phillipe Jaquot from the Paris area (you can find him on FB) who is an expert an classic Alfa's and also I very nice guy. He may be able to help to find honest help in your area and give you some tips. Greet him from mee. Thom |
| |
Last Edit: Apr 29, 2020 11:24:43 GMT by thomfr
73' Alfa Giulia Super
64' Volvo Duett
65' Volvo Duett
67' Volvo Amazon 123GT
09' Ford Focus 1.8
20' VW ID4
71' Benelli Motorella
65' Cyrus Speciaal
The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys
|
|
thomfr
Part of things
Trying to assemble the Duett again..
Posts: 695
|
|
Apr 29, 2020 11:27:16 GMT
|
The pictures. Camshafts:  Ignition:  Steering wheel extension (Personal in this case as it fits Nardi but any make that correspondents with the steering wheel).  Thom |
| |
73' Alfa Giulia Super
64' Volvo Duett
65' Volvo Duett
67' Volvo Amazon 123GT
09' Ford Focus 1.8
20' VW ID4
71' Benelli Motorella
65' Cyrus Speciaal
The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys
|
|
|
|
The Giulia might end up a very likeable car when it's sorted, but the 222 was outright loveable even in its dire state.
