Gina Back From Alfa Romeo Hospital

Picked up Gina last night.  Brian from Carriage and Body Works in KC changed out the air filter to replace the aftermarket K&N's to go back to the OEM filter, changed a seal or 2, replaced the throttle stop on the SPICA fuel pump, adjusted the timing and fuel pump settings, fine tuned the fuel pump, replaced the fuel cutoff micro switch, and changed the oil.  Now she starts right up and purrs at idle right at 900 like she was new.  Also - the engine sound is a bit smoother with the original air filter and no more backfires at deceleration thanks to the fuel cutoff micro switch.  Just a nice throaty growl at acceleration.  Like they say, with an Alfa Romeo you buy an engine primarily with a car attached to it.

Spent about 1 1/2 hours talking about Alfas with Brian as he's been an Alfa mechanic and racer since the mid-70's.  Great photos and stories.

Next up are a few more minor parts needed and ordered  for the used air filter and the reinstall of the OEM coolant expansion tank.

Gina's New Look

  Here's the old setup - K&N aftermarket filters

Look nice but don't work as well as the OEM that Alfa engineers designed

Gina goes to the Alfa Romeo hospital

I found a long time Alfa Romeo mechanic at Carriage and Motor Works in Kansas City, KS.  Brian has been working on Alfas since the mid 1970s and was the Shop Manager for the local Alfa Romeo dealer until they left the market.  Looked in the shop and there were several Alfas inside including a 67 Duetto!  I want that.

Took Gina in for a physical (general inspection) and for a bit of work that I do not want to attempt including a SPICA pump tune and adjusting the hand brake.  Brian is going to also install an OEM air filter unit to replace the aftermarket K&N filters. 

Here's a picture of Gina in the hospital waiting area.  Note the Alfa 164 off of the passenger side.  Updates to follow!

Rico Lighter Installed

Replacement OEM Lighter installed.  It took awhile but I finally found an original Rico lighter for Gina to replace the aftermarket lighter the PO had installed.  These lighters are no longer made and I could not find one anywhere until one of the local KC AROC (Strada Fantasma) members was generous enough to give me one of his spares.  Slowly but surely finishing the last 1% of the restoration.

Ciao!

One Year Anniversay

This month marks my one year anniversary with my 81 Alfa Spider Veloce.  Gina and I took a long cruise today in beautiful Autumn weather.  Enjoyed the sweet notes of her engine.  Here's a few photos of Gina.

 They say when you buy an Alfa you buy an engine with a car wrapped around it.  Here's the engine.

 

 Here's Gina

 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

 

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My Tires Were How Old?

Thanks to an excellent post http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/spider-1966-up/196648-my-tires-ancient.html on the Alfa Romeo bulletin board I looked into my tires' age.  They were Pirelli P400s that looked perfect.  Hardly any tread wear and no blemishes anywhere.  Since the 90's US tires had to have a date code added to each tire made.  These had no date code.

Took the car into my local tire shop and sure enough, the tires were pre-1990.  At least 22 years old.  New tires all around and a front end alignment were in order.  Went for a quick drive after that and those new Goodyear tires sure make a difference in Gina's handling!

Drive in the Country Visiting Somerset Ridge Winery

We took a nice drive this morning.  Visited the Louisburg Cider Mill  for some of their cider and excellent apple donuts and Somerset Ridge Winery - Paola KS  They make some good dry reds and whites from their own vineyards including Kansas' only Riesling.  They also make an excellent drink called Citron which was very much like a Limoncello from Italy.  Put 75 miles on Gina including some excellent freeway driving.  Was passed by a Ferrari on the freeway on the way home.

Here's Gina at the Cider Mill.

The front of the tasting room at Somerset Ridge

 Gina parked at the winery.

Sampling wines

I'll have another please!

Interesting barn sign on the way home.  Stopped at L&M Smokehouse in Spring Hill KS for good ole BBQ.

Boot Cover Turnbuckles

Finally found and installed the Boot Cover tie down strap turnbuckles.  Found these replacement parts at Highwood Alfa in the UK.  Here they are installed.  Now I can go on the freeway without worrying about my boot cover flying off!

New Decals From Highwood Alfa

Just received new decals from Highwoods Alfa http://www.highwoodalfa.com/index.html located in the UK.  Excellent quality decals.

Here's the new color decal - installed in the trunk in its original position.  Color - Rosso Alfa 501

Here's the new "Warning - Use Original Parts" decal and the Lubrication decal installed on the interior of the hood.

Also installed the new chrome inserts to the door handles.  No one in the US carries these.

Now to find the other decals!

Triumph TR6 Meeting

Cruising down State Line Road this evening and ended up side-by-side with a 73 Triumph TR6.  It was a great looking car.  Looked just like this one right down to the color and condition.

The owner of the Triumph and I talked to each other at a stop light admiring both cars.  He said:  "Your Alfa is the car my Triumph wants to become.  Takes corners better and has that Italian style."  I couldn't agree more, but I'd sure like to have a TR6 in my garage along with my Spider.  They are beautiful as well. 

Oil Vapor Separator and Clean Wheels

Bought a new Oil Vapor Separator.  There is no source for OEM replacements so I bought one made by a member of the Alfa Romeo Bulletin Board.  Here it is - great quality - stainless steel powder coated black.

Here's the old one in my engine bay. 

After taking the old one out and cleaning it, looks like I don't need to replace it.  Reinstalled and replaced hoses and clamps.  Now I have a spare of a very hard to find part.

Last thing I did this afternoon was polish the wheels.  With all those nooks and crannies in these OEM Alfa branded Campagnolo wheels that's quite the chore.  Well worth the effort.  Not bad for 30 year old wheels!  Brand new Pirelli tires.  Custom Alfa Romeo valve caps. 

March Rally

March rally of the KC Chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owner's Club - Strada Fantasma.  We all met at Ernie Miller Nature area and rallied 60 miles through beautiful Spring countryside to Davenport Winery in Eudora Kansas.  Special thanks to Hattie for making the arrangements!

Here's the meet at 10 AM.

 Never seen those Alfa models before!

Receiving instructions and safety briefing from Hattie.

The drive through 60 miles of countryside blooming with Spring color.

Spiders in a row at the destination - Davenport Winery

Winery and picnic

Honey - I think I saw another Alfa I wanna buy!  There's room in the garage for it!

New Air Plenum Couplers

Decided to replace the old rubber couplers with new silicone ones.  Old ones were starting to crack and split.

Here's before

New silicone adapters installed

In the car

60 Degrees in KC - Driving Weather!

Time to enjoy the fruits of my labor.  Took Gina out for a cruise and then took the long way home.  No jacket in mid-Feb!  Started on first crank and ran like a top!

Canvas Top Maintenance

The PO kept the canvas top in good shape.  However, it was not adjusted correctly when first installed.  Thanks to a post in the Alfa Romeo bulletin board (see links) and a copy of the convertible top install manual, I was able to adjust it and now can put it up and down much easier.

1981 Veloce Advertisement

Lori found a great ad from a 1981 magazine.

"Spider Veloce by Alfa Romeo - Pink and Blue by Merona Sport.   Ahhhh - the late 70's early 80's.  Makes me want to get my Member's Only jacket out of storage!