Absolutely positively selling my '82 GTV6

"Chairman Kaga" (mike-mckinnon)
05/13/2016 at 13:20 • Filed to: None

I just can’t keep up with her anymore. These cars require constant work, parts are becoming more scare every week it seems, and I simply don’t have the time to commit these days.

I’ve had it since Feb. 2009 and have done MASSIVE amounts of work, mostly small stuff like rewiring components, fixing grounds, repairing electrics, etc. Not to mention the front suspension, steering, wheel bearings, bushings, etc.

Anyway, I have a guy coming by this weekend to look it over, and even though it’s not running well (and if ANYONE has any ideas how I can replace the stock Bosch ignition control module, seeing as how there are literally none available and no one seems to know how to adapt the one from the ‘84-’86 version of the car to the ‘81-’83) he’s pretty interested.

But if any of you guys want to take a shot...

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! or some reason my Craigslist ad was flagged and I can’t repost it, so here you go.

UPDATE/EDIT: The car is presently not running well. My mechanic and I think it’s likely a dying ignition control module. Unfortunately, there are NONE available on the continent so I’m trying to source a spare just to test the theory. The car was thoroughly checked out recently and was given a clean bill of health, aside from this one issue. The car will start and run perfectly until it reaches operating temp, whereupon it’ll start to miss, buck, and eventually stall. It seems like an overheating ignition component is the problem. The coil is brand new so we’re looking at the spark box.

I have a surprisingly clean 1982 Alfa Romeo GTV6. I love this car. I hate this car. It has only 70,000 miles.
Here’s what I’ve done:
Rebuilt the ignition system with help from Greg Gordon in Oklahoma. Had Elite Import tune the MAF.
The passenger side head was recently repaired due to a bizarre accident with an ancient bit driver. Brooks Elliott did the work. New valves, seals, and adjusted lash. New head gasket, of course.
New water pump.
New timing belt.
Mechanical timing belt tensioner.
New(ish) tires - less than 6,000 miles on them.
New battery.
Rebuilt the entire front suspension, sans A-arm bushings.
Rebuilt trans linkage with brass bushing.
Replaced every inch of flexible brake hoses, installed speed bleeders.
Silicone vacuum lines.
Fresh fuel hoses.
Rebuilt fuel pump & new filter.
Added lighting relays and rewired the entire system.
Replaced column switch assembly - everything works now, including turn signal cancel.
Stripped paint, repaired rust, repainted in original Alfa silver. Some chipping as a result of a badge being stolen and also the hood sliding during adjustment. Oops.
Installed ‘83 Recaro mesh head seats (highly desirable).
Personal Fittipaldi steering wheel.
Rewired and repaired all gauges except the clock.
Refreshed the interior... kinda.
Too many minor repairs and upgrades to list, like wiring & connectors, ignition switch, old-school Blaupunkt cassette deck, gaskets, etc.
Tried to get the AC working. Installed a brand new Sanden rotary compressor on an Alfa Milano mount. Installed brand new hoses and fittings. Bought a slightly used but leak-down checked parallel flow condenser. Never got it working though. Other priorities.

If this were a show car, it would be a 4 or 5. But in terms of every other Alfa GTV6 I’ve ever seen on the road? It’s a solid 8, just by virtue of its lack of rust, straight body, fresh paint, mostly clean interior, and that it runs like a new car. I also have several boxes of spares and leftovers, which are yours. You also get the complete CarDisc set of shop manuals on DVD, which is GOLD.

I had a baby in the middle of all this, then had another. I’ve found I just don’t have the time to spare to really get this car where I want it to be. Still needs more rear suspension work, shocks wouldn’t hurt, seats could be recovered, new dash or dash-cap, tail light circuit boards need to be replaced (currently jumpered to the moon and back, but they work), second gear synchro is worn (I have a complete spare transaxle though), some other odds and ends.

But when it takes me a month to find time to adjust brakes and replace the fuel filter... it just depresses me. Honestly, even though this car does not smoke, leak, shudder, hesitate, or display any symptom that it has engine trouble (and God almighty is that Busso V6 the best sounding thing ever, or what), and will smack the rev limiter like a Honda S2000, I’m worried if it DOES, I won’t have the time to fix it.

So here’s my proposal. I want a car that I can drive without constant anxiety attacks. If you have a CLEAN, unmolested Japanese car that would be a fun toy and auto-x machine, is NOT a project that needs a lot of work, and you’d either be open to a straight trade or trade plus cash on your side (I have no spare cash to sweeten this deal), then let’s talk.

DISCUSSION (17)

dogisbadob > Chairman Kaga
05/13/2016 at 13:31

It’s not a car, but rather a car-shaped pile of parts. Post to auto parts instead :p

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Chairman Kaga
05/13/2016 at 13:44

I’d be incredibly interested. I can’t offer a trade because my unmolested nissan is my DD and I still need it. What would you need for a cash price? I’d likely use it along with my other gtv6 and spare parts to make one well running car.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Chairman Kaga
05/13/2016 at 13:46

Megasquirt, bro. Fuck old OEM ECUs. They’re problematic, slow, difficult to replace, etc.

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/alfe…

RallyWrench > dogisbadob
05/13/2016 at 13:48

More importantly, it’s an Alfa Romeo-shaped pile of parts.

Chairman Kaga > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car
05/13/2016 at 13:49

I have a starting offer from the interested party of $6,000 for it, which of course still represents about a $3500 loss, but whatever. I paid $3,500 for it in 2009. He’s coming this weekend to check it out and possibly help be diagnose and/or repair the running problem. He’s an original Alfa mechanic, meaning he co-founded the Central Texas dealer network int he late 60s, and is buying for a customer. Depending on his assessment he’ll likely offer less, which is fine. I see most cars in the same sort of shape as mine going for anywhere between $5,000-$7,500. So I have expectations in that range.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Chairman Kaga
05/13/2016 at 13:51

Good luck to you in selling, it’s a great car and leaps and bounds above where mine sits. Unfortunately that’s just too much money to spend on another alfa. I was looking for something in the 1500-2000 range. Too bad these cars are so expensive these days.

Chairman Kaga > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
05/13/2016 at 13:52

If I had a spare $1200 and unlimited time, sure. That was absolutely on my list. But that’s the whole problem. I MIGHT have a couple of free hours per week if I’m lucky, which is barely enough time to get set up and remember where I left off.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > RallyWrench
05/13/2016 at 13:56

Mine’s worse.

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/the-alfa-from-…

RallyWrench > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car
05/13/2016 at 13:58

Yeah, how is that going? Genuinely curious, because I absolutely love GTV6s.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > RallyWrench
05/13/2016 at 14:03

No real progress since the 2nd update. I found some valves so now I’m going to rebuild the 2.5 and then start the body work. It was rear ended, it’s really rusty, the paint sucks, and the interior is a mess. It’s an absolutely huge project, but if once I finally get it done it’s going to be great.

RallyWrench > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car
05/13/2016 at 14:09

At least you’ve got a plan and motivation, that’s often hard to maintain.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > RallyWrench
05/13/2016 at 14:10

The motivation is hard. It took me a few months to get the engine out and I haven’t done anything since. I have a HUGE passion for alfas (my dad and grandpa did vintage racing with alfas) but it’s still hard to get it done sometimes.

RallyWrench > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car
05/13/2016 at 14:16

I understand that. My ‘68 2002 has been stagnant for over 10 years now, because life is what happens when you’re making other plans.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > RallyWrench
05/13/2016 at 14:46

For sure. I have a feeling my life is going to get crazy over the next few years so I want to finish it first. Good luck selling yours.

RallyWrench > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car
05/13/2016 at 14:48

Oh I’m not selling it, that’s probably a forever car for me. It’s just waiting patiently until the kids are older and I can make some free time.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > RallyWrench
05/13/2016 at 15:26

That’s nice. Sadly a lot of people don’t have the space to keep a car. I’ve always loved the 2002. Make sure to keep my updated with it. :)

Kanaric > Chairman Kaga
05/14/2016 at 13:05

I owned one myself and it was the car that made me decide to only buy vehicles with plentiful support and aftermarket.

Then I bought an 89 Skyline. However I still got the “rare” car with plentiful support and aftermarket compared to the GTV6. Places that build 240SXs are reliable to work on them, you can order parts at Nissan dealerships, plenty of people in English countries to get parts/help from (Skylines Australia forum for example).

When I look at cars now I think of the following:

Is the engine popular to build? (if yes then plenty of parts and support for it)

Is the ECU hacked and programmable (ie. like EVOs and STIs) or easy plug and play upgrades (nistune, megasquirt pnp)

Is trim still available or are repos made?

Is there aftermarket for the chassis?

Then I look for other factors:

Is the car overbuilt? (ie older Japanese and German cars)

Is it reliable or have serious deterioration issues?

Is there anything too strange about the car that will cause problems with no easy fixes?

Is it easy to work on?

Then I have like a “in my mind” point system of whether the car passes or not. GTV6 doesn’t check any of those boxes.

You can get a cool/rare car that has aftermarket, support, and reliability. Even some cars that were not really “rare” can be rare now. Like a E28, I was THINKING of getting one of those at some point. Plenty of support for those and you see them almost never.