mrea
Part of things
Posts: 124 
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Sept 13, 2020 17:58:15 GMT
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Hi RR!
20-09-11/13
So finally that nut came off.. Just took a healthy sum of 5 hours of beating and a little heat. Awesome. Now what was I doing?
If we recall we were looking at a possible headgasket failure. So did the following (some of it again n a slightly different manner);
Compression check = all good Static/leak-down pressure check = all good
Pressurized the engine without thermostat = all good
Now what, that doesn't seem like a headgasket issue oh well. Also I couldn't find a suiting 18mm socket and didn't want to pull the cams so, since all looked and indicated good. So the possibility for coolant leak could be that;
a) My dad who took care of the care in storage for a while, drained some of the coolant due to us "going-to-change-it" b) The sorry-looking radiator above might have a tiny hole. c) The coolant reservoir might have a crack (a little common but not too common)
Let's roll with that my brain said. So did I. Otherwise I can always pull the heads in spring so no worries just want to know what's wrong currently.
After the nut released with a tiny amount of butane, a new impact socket, the 450nm bolt remover (and some broken retainers I made) we come to this, pull the pulley. It came off really nice.
Looking like this.
Marked TDC on the crank and locked the cams, then removed the cam locks and started removing the camgears/pulleys. They were more than stuck, probably pulled with 150nm to loosen the first one and around 250nm to loosen the rear one, holy duck. (They should be around 100nm after age and wear due to mounting with 70-85nm)
Also refitted the locks and checked TDC again.
Pulleys had some surface dust/rust so wirewheeled and rustconverted them and put on a bit of red. The press fittings inside and on cams were OK.
A small pile with painted covers and stuff, also did paint the drive-pulley.
Put the heads back together (actually took probable 1-2 hours to fit everything seen from now on with a bit of paint) not too horrible of a job. Changed the cambelt and all tensioners and pulleys took probably 15 minutes, such an easy job! People tend do say they are a PITA-bread to change but in reality no, just expensive waterpumps if needed to change.
(Also at this moment I was stupid enough to touch the thermostat housing, aka. moving it, so it'll probably leak but it's easy to fix afterwards)
Did oil the cams before mounting and sucked up all the old oil from the cavities no water oil up here so might just be a lot of condensation in the block.
Coils and new plugs in (badly needed plugs due to appearance probably never changed.)
A small thing if people want to do this at home, when mounting the inlet and plenum. I put all back as a unit throttle->plenum->rubber->chrome-pipes it's really difficult to put the gaskets in place, it's doable but a bit difficult, especially with the fuel-rail in place and all that wiring probably took 15-30 minutes in total.
For me it was worth it due to the time it would take to mount everything separable, but if you have time do it separately.
Remembered that I forgot to paint the fanshroud when I was about to mount it.. A little setback to next weekend in the garage.
Most of the electrics are back on route and the other misc. Feels good to see a derusted fuelrail, wish I had time to rezinc it at this moment. 
Painted the rear(right) cover in place except where I couldn't reach and those parts where painted before (since I would scratch it otherwise) Just need to polish them up when the paint dries, hence all the runny stuff, not too worried since most of the rust on those covers were sanded and treated.
Also changed the headergaskets and some other misc.
More is coming when I get the chance to work, but for now all is this and well.
Best regards, MrEA
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mrea
Part of things
Posts: 124
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Sept 21, 2020 6:47:35 GMT
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2020-09-19/20
Hi RR!
Not much done car wise this weekend, had a sightseeing tour at the countryside which took almost all of Saturday and a bit of mechanical lecturing.
But managed to mount the cooling fans and rad in the car, also decided what headlights to run.
Next weekend might be start-up and a lot of coolant leaks to sort out.
As she was left sitting
Best regards, MrEA
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mrea
Part of things
Posts: 124
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Sept 28, 2020 6:47:37 GMT
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2020-09-26/27
Hi RR!
I did a long writeup but then it dissappeared.
So short version, car works and runs really well. Minor issues, 7 year old gas doesn't burn as good as new one, loose gearknob which during mid gearchange landed in the backseat area somewhere. Loose rear muffler, new hanger on it's way.
New headlights look good and give acceptable lighting, everything works except maybe AC but that is as usual with my cars. Fender bubbling painted and repaired so looks OK now.
Todo: MOT, insurance and such Painting front end of sills Rustproofing New exhaust hanger in the rear Mount upper strut bar Wash outside Wash and clean inside Make a new airfilter mount Get a new engine undertray Raise the suspension or buy 18"s I don't have a lot of sumpfins left
And maybe some more!
Take a look at the assortment of pictures below. I had them in order before FFx decided it was a good idea to call quits.
        
Have a good one! Best regards, MrEA
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mrea
Part of things
Posts: 124
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2020-10-03/04
Hi RR!
Did a lot of work this weekend even if doesn't seems so. I made a couple of new exhaust hangers and some misc., even though I only took pictures for measurement and not the result. Oh well, next time.
Got behind a W111 on my way to the garage, such a nice view!
Missing hangers;
 
Went for a drive to see if the issue were resolved, yes it was. Such a lovely short drive, then back to continue work. 
Started to clean the interior, a few hours later it was OK, no inside pictures since I am not done yet, need to repair a tiny bit of interior pieces (lower dash/fuse-cover and gearknob). 
Then I started with the brakes, the fun part!
Original 1 pot 284mm brakes, works really good though, so I'll save them as spares; 
The replacement, 4pot 330mm brakes.
Mounted, and no points if you can see what's wrong.
Mounted the wheels and made my way out on a test-drive, oh wait what. No brakes. Back to the garage.
Looks great though!
So sorted the issue out, put the calipers with the bleed-nipples the wrong way so just had to remove everything and mount them on the correct side.
Fills out nicely though.
Have a good one, Best regards, MrEA
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Enjoying this. Always had a strange relationship with Alfas. Drove lots in the eighties (in the car trade then) and half loved them, half hated them. They went like stink but, for some reason, always left the feeling that if they felt like it, they wouldn't get you home! My two favourites at the time were the early Kamm tail Spiders (Series 2 in 1600 and 2000 flavour) and the Alfasud. Both very different, but both great fun! Never driven a "modern" one though. Odd that I drove lot's of French cars of the era, but if a funny noise developed, you called it "quaint" and turned the radio up. With the Alfa, you had the sounds turned off and listened to every mechanical noise it made.  |
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Last Edit: Oct 5, 2020 12:06:20 GMT by georgeb
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Ahh, memories. I had a 156 V6 back in 2012-2013. Was my first V6 engined car and I absolutely fell in love with the sound and power. Had a lot of fun drives in that car and enjoyed every time I took it out.
Unfortunately the structural bodywork didn't like the salt they put on the roads up here, so with a pair of rotten chassis legs and no place to fix them I had to let it go. The day after I sold it, the new owner called and asked whether it was normal that the temperature gauge went to the red zone. Apparently she decided to blow one of her head gaskets the day after I sold her.
All that being said, if a tidy 156 V6 came up, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.
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mrea
Part of things
Posts: 124
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Enjoying this. Always had a strange relationship with Alfas. Drove lots in the eighties (in the car trade then) and half loved them, half hated them. They went like stink but, for some reason, always left the feeling that if they felt like it, they wouldn't get you home! My two favourites at the time were the early Kamm tail Spiders (Series 2 in 1600 and 2000 flavour) and the Alfasud. Both very different, but both great fun! Never driven a "modern" one though. Odd that I drove lot's of French cars of the era, but if a funny noise developed, you called it "quaint" and turned the radio up. With the Alfa, you had the sounds turned off and listened to every mechanical noise it made. Ah yes I recognize all of that! This is a very modern car (esp. since I am accustomed to 70's cars.) it feels on par with the newer Giulietta except the 156 rides smoother, has a better power the downside is probably the fuel consumption, but then again it's really economic compared the the 280 SEC in that regard so.
French cars (the ones that I've had, only 605's in almost all petrol engine variations) are exceptional cruisers due to comfort and happiness at relative speed no matter the surface. But they are a nut to work on electrics with.
Best regards, MrEA
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mrea
Part of things
Posts: 124
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Ahh, memories. I had a 156 V6 back in 2012-2013. Was my first V6 engined car and I absolutely fell in love with the sound and power. Had a lot of fun drives in that car and enjoyed every time I took it out. Unfortunately the structural bodywork didn't like the salt they put on the roads up here, so with a pair of rotten chassis legs and no place to fix them I had to let it go. The day after I sold it, the new owner called and asked whether it was normal that the temperature gauge went to the red zone. Apparently she decided to blow one of her head gaskets the day after I sold her. All that being said, if a tidy 156 V6 came up, I'd buy one in a heartbeat. Ah that's why I love these, the good torque curve and sound is intoxicating. Even though they are not speed monsters as such, they love redline shifts and move quite well in all gears and revs.
Yeah it is indeed allergic to rust, I had one where the floor was rotted out but everything else was rustfree, this one is an import which has never been winterdriven and have basically no rust except on the exhaust hanger and some stonechips at the fron of the sills.
I will be going through the chassis and rustproof it just in case after MOT.
That story reminds me of one time I was looking at a 156 SW with a 2.0TS, the engine blow a headgasket due to stuffed thermostat and radiator. Fortunately the buyer was kind enough to refund the car. Shame since it was a really low mileage and in incredible condition with tan leather inside and Cosmos Blue exterior.
You should! But do the maintenance yourself otherwise it's expensive. Tools needed for everything on this car is a jack, jackstand, socket wrench kit 10-22mm, 15 and 25mm spanner, 48mm impact socket with impact drive, 5,6 and 7mm hex and lastly a T20-35. It's really a simple car and parts are cheap!
Best regards, MrEA
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mrea
Part of things
Posts: 124
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2020-10-06
Hi RR,
Just a small sample of broken interior parts and currently making up repair bits and Epoxi them together. Classic fuse box cover issue;
Epoxi together, will reinforce a bit later;
The gearknob is a tricky one; 
But we will see later this week how it goes!
Best regards, MrEA
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mrea
Part of things
Posts: 124
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2020-10-16
Hi RR!
Just for hyping myself for the garage this weekend I went through some pictures of when I bought the car (back in 2013-08-26). Those wheels were good-looking, but was wobbly and rubbing a bit so they got sold. Also wrong PCD with 5x100 and wobble-nuts.
Horrible carbon effect vinyl on the pillars and front grille. Also a very young me.
   
Best regards, MrEA
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mrea
Part of things
Posts: 124
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2020-10-17/18
Hi RR!
Did a small amount of small things this weekend.
Checked a few things of the MoT list to make sure they are properly done.
Changed the horrible strap for the battery tray that doesn't suit to a clamp which I made of 3mm thick steel, bent into shape. Looks so much better, you can see the old strap in the picture below. Checked for coolant leaks as the reservoir is lower when cold (normal yes, but I think it drops too much so to say) but did some reference from last time and it "looks OK so far" will check in a few weeks time to see how much more it drops, might also be air in the system since I changed the rad and drained parts of the system. Not yet too worried, it doesn't smoke other than at startup/condensation in the exhaust.
Edit: Also the water level goes up to the minimum after a start-up.
Also not remembering if it's normal (aka. old fuel) or not but it takes 2-3 seconds to start after a week of parking and stumble at idle, pops and bangs (maybe) in the exhaust but if I touch the loudpedal for even the slightest (to rev up 100rpm for 0,1 secs or so) it goes back to normal. I am not worried as of yet since it's normal after that. I've never also started it in the cold so it could be because of the snow.
Also fitted the gearknob and it's sturdy as hardwood. Fitted the fuse cover and hope that the MoT doesn't want to check OBD since it's a pain to fit (the cover that is, it's more horrible to fit than the oilfilter..)
Removed the rear brakes and cleaned all of them (with wheelcleaner to remove brakedust) and regreased the sliding pins since I thought they were not doing their job properly. They were a bit dirty but not too much but it made a difference nonetheless. 
Mostly drove it around and took a picture of both the Alfa's. Looking dirty though.
Left to-do;
Go through spares to see what to keep and so on. Fit the strutbar and modify it to fit
MOT See if I can get the startup idle to work.
Profit?
Best regards, MrEA
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Last Edit: Oct 19, 2020 6:48:41 GMT by mrea
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mrea
Part of things
Posts: 124
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201025
Hi RR!
Changed for wintertyres on the daily drivers, which reminded me that I might not be able to do the MOT before winter. Due to lack of wintertyres. Looking for rims in the dimension 17x7 ET +35-45 5x98, and they seem hard to find in good pricing and quality (and design).
Checked the oil and water, drove it a bit and will be missing it over winter, if I don't get wheels that is.
Water level is just below Min before startup and rises a bit when started as "normal" oil is still 3mm below Max which is good. So far. 
Still a bit wobbly 3 seconds on startup, which might be fuel pressure or old fuel, but again not really worried as it smooths out after 3 seconds.
Took a picture of the battery clamp and clean batterytray, so much nicer solution even if still I need to remove the inlet to change the battery, but now it's on maintenance charge over the winter. 
The current wheels are Kosei Sniper 17x7JJ at +35 offset with 10mm spacers, hence why I would like to get another set in the same dimension or 7,5" since it works so well.
As she is parked for the winter, skipped the cover since it traps moisture.
I will most likely do some other stuff during winter still but for now this is it for a couple of weeks.
Best regards, MrEA
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mrea
Part of things
Posts: 124
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201026
Hi RR!
Short update, got home and fetched some mail, apparently had a package lying in the box.
Which contained an engine mount from a good friend of mine, a little bit surprising but needed, thank you! 
Best regards, MrEA
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Jan 26, 2021 12:12:49 GMT
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Still really pleased to see someone give a 156 the love it deserves. Really great cars these |
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