I get my car back this week!

"stuttgartobsessed" (grantharmsen)
02/23/2014 at 12:54 • Filed to: None

And I will immediately do this:

DISCUSSION (23)

Timmy - MINI With a Big Blower > stuttgartobsessed
02/23/2014 at 12:58

What kind of car is that? I can't quite tell.

RacinBob > Timmy - MINI With a Big Blower
02/23/2014 at 13:23

I believe it is a 69 pre spica generation Alfa Berlina or coupe. My assumption that its pre spica is based on 2 lights under the gauges. I believe the spica has 3 lights one for oil pressure, one for headlights and one for fuel pressure. I could check my 74 but am too lazy......

Timmy - MINI With a Big Blower > RacinBob
02/23/2014 at 13:25

Ah. That helps! You seem to know quite a bit about Alfas. Haha.

twinturbobmw > stuttgartobsessed
02/23/2014 at 13:35

The sound! It's glorious!

stuttgartobsessed > RacinBob
02/23/2014 at 15:39

You are correct. I have a '76 SPICA Spider. The car above is, according to youtube, a '73. And yes, the SPICA cars have 3 lights.

stuttgartobsessed > twinturbobmw
02/23/2014 at 15:40

I've been without it for 2.5 months... I can't wait.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > stuttgartobsessed
02/23/2014 at 16:34

what do you drive?

stuttgartobsessed > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
02/23/2014 at 17:01

I drive a '76 Alfa Spider.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > stuttgartobsessed
02/23/2014 at 18:03

do you recommend it?

stuttgartobsessed > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
02/23/2014 at 18:44

Hell yes. But as a second car. Having an Alfa as your primary for of transportation can be quite stressful. But goddamn is it fun.

RacinBob > stuttgartobsessed
02/26/2014 at 09:15

I had a 75 Spica Berlina. I think they were vastly superior to the BMW 2002 of the day. However with US polution control tuning, it was pretty slow/sedate. The previous owner of my 74 Spica injected Spider installed in it 1750 Euro Cams Euro cams, a header and replaced the stock airbox with foam filters. Big difference and highly recommended if you want to transform your car.

Other comment on the Spica injection, there is a lever on the top of the injector pump that gives three positions of richness adjustment for winter - through - Summer. My car is only a summer car and somehow the the lever got moved to winter, it ran rich like a pig before warmed up. You would have to look at a manual, but I believe full counterclockwise is summer position. AlfaBB.com is an excellent source for all things alfa.

stuttgartobsessed > RacinBob
02/26/2014 at 10:56

I'm on Alfa BB. It's fantastic. I'll have to look into the adjustment on the fuel pump as I just got a brand new one installed (No its not just rebuilt, its brand new!) as well as a bunch of other stuff. I'll look into the cams/head and airbox, though I'm happy with the power for now even if it is a bit slow haha.

RacinBob > stuttgartobsessed
02/26/2014 at 11:22

Trust me, without the cams the engine pulls like a '80's pinto. With the cams, its a whole new beast. If you're ever near western Wisconsin in the summer, look me up and I'll let you drive mine. Also, the "open" throttles sound is addicting. International auto parts can help steer you right.

Changing the cam is something you can do on your own in my opinion. The Alfa head uses shims. As long as the base circle in the new cam is the same, All you need to do is pull the cover and check to make sure the current valve clearance is ok. If it is, rotate the engine until the chain joining link is up top. then mark the cam locations, and crank. then split the chain, pull the bearings and change the cams. If everything lines up, you are good to go. One caution, do not overtighten the cover bolts, if you do you will crack your valve cover.

PS you might enjoy our lemons car. A Opel GT breadvagen mit Pinto motor and Alfa rear axle...... We will be at Gingerman in April.

Kinja'd!!!

stuttgartobsessed > RacinBob
02/26/2014 at 12:33

Very cool! I've always wanted to run LeMons. And western Wisconsin may be a bit ambitious for me this summer since I'm on the west coast, but I'll take you up on that offer if I'm out there.

Have the up graded cams affected reliability in any way?

stuttgartobsessed > stuttgartobsessed
02/26/2014 at 12:34

Oh, and that Opel looks waaaaaaaay too nice to be racing in LeMons...

RacinBob > stuttgartobsessed
02/26/2014 at 14:14

The 1750 cams are the ones used in European market Alfa's. I don't know if they had more lift, but they have much more duration. They certainly haven't cased problems in my car,. I would talk to IAP and get their assessment though.

I looked at IAP and they don't seem to sell cams. Here is a write-up though on the 1750 cam. I guess its the one to get as it was used on early 2 liters. Link

The Breadvan is a sweet car. I was built by a non-racer who always wanted to build a race car. Its well though out and well constructed. Our biggest emphasis is don't hit anybody!

RacinBob > RacinBob
02/26/2014 at 14:20

Found the IAP Cams page Link

stuttgartobsessed > RacinBob
02/26/2014 at 15:20

Ok cool, 'cause my Spider is a 2000 so I was wary at first when you mentioned the 1750 cams.

RacinBob > stuttgartobsessed
02/26/2014 at 21:58

I've got the same spider as you, only 3 years older. In 1989, (shortly before I got married) I owned 3 Alfa's all at the same time. Just have the Spider now. Here's a picture. Wish I could have kept the Alfetta and Berlina but hey we all have to make sacrifices.

Ps I expect the cams would work well, they have been in my Spider almost 30 years.

Kinja'd!!!

stuttgartobsessed > RacinBob
02/27/2014 at 01:55

Beautiful! I'm quite jealous of the covered headlights and slim bumpers on your spider. I've got the ugly 5mph ones on mine, but I can't see them when I'm driving so I don't really care. And I'd love a Berlina, well really a GTV. Unless I can find a good Berlina Wagon in the States for a decent price. Though I really want a 911 before I get a second Alfa. Anyway, I'll think about the switching out the cams but I just got the car back from the shop and have thus parted with all of my money.

And wasn't the Alfetta the replacement for the Berlina? And by that I mean why did you have both? (Aside from never having enough Alfas)

RacinBob > stuttgartobsessed
02/27/2014 at 09:58

The 75 Alfetta was my first car out of college. I bought it in 1980 from a redheaded hot blooded Irish school teacher from LeClaire Iowa. It was a first run car that supposedly the dealer picked up from the factory. There is a youtube of a bunch of dealers doing a rally in Italy with these cars so who knows, that may be true. The Alfetta was a good car for me, I drove it daily from about 80 - 83. The one thing about it was that in -10 winter she starter would not engage without roll starting it so I had to park downhill in my lot where I was living. Also with a alloy head and block held together with steel rods, when everything was cold, and contracted oil would seep through the head gasket out the side of the block and also into the water. I through dawn soap into the radiator and other than really soft hoses, never had any harm. That car got me sucked into autocrossing and road racing. The Berlina was owned by a fellow here in LaCrosse Wi I met in the sportscar club. He was one of these fellows who had to be continuously working on or cleaning a car. He needed a new project and in about 83 he called me up and said you need to buy my Berlina, which I did for probably $1500. The spider was his baby, in about 85, he called me up and told me that I needed to buy his spider. (PS the spider also has the lowered springs which really help it, I would recommend them for you, The springs you have are for US bumper regs, the lowered springs are the height alfa intended.) I still have the spider and try to burn a tank of gas a summer in it. The berlina was sadly sold to one of my high school freinds who knew it was a really nice car but then because of kids and other obligations let it sit outside for 4 years. There is someone in Kansas CIty who is trying to restore it. last I heard. Finally the Alfetta was sold and shortly after wrecked.

stuttgartobsessed > RacinBob
02/27/2014 at 11:17

NOOOOOOOO! What a sad fate for the Alfetta and Berlina. I hope it gets restored soon.

It seems as though my goal should be upgrading the spider to Euro spec. But again, I just put new bilsteins on. I didn't pay for them (the previous owner did) but it would be a waste to replace them so soon. I'll probably do it when I freshen up the suspension.

RacinBob > stuttgartobsessed
02/27/2014 at 11:32

The Bilsteins are excellent shocks for the car, I would not change them. Just get some shorter springs. Here they are on IAP LINK . Personally, I would not mess with the rear sway bar. The US cars were screwed up to meet emission and bumper laws. Put the right cam, springs, and exhaust header on it and you are bring the car back to what God and Alfa intended. All three are probably less than $1000 in parts, and it will transform the car.