What car do you Drive?

[victor_alpha_charlie]

Hmmm... Tempted. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=247664772

[Naki]

Crikey ..low mileage and a manual!..it does look tempting and its here in Tauranga...

[Alfashark]

Wow, nice score there VAC

Do you know if it's a series 1 or 2? The easiest way to tell is if you move the steering column up and down, the instrument binnacle will move up and down too if it's a series 1

Might have some parts for you to keep in the "just in case" bin as well... I have a few sets of alloys lying about somewhere, stud pattern is 4x98, shared with Lada, Fiat and Lancia.
Should weigh about 900kg +/- a bit depending on how much rust there is Looking at about 105hp with the 1.5... Might have some hairy cams for a 1.7 somewhere too.

[victor_alpha_charlie]

QUOTE (Alfashark @ Nov 5 2009, 05:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wow, nice score there VAC

Do you know if it's a series 1 or 2? The easiest way to tell is if you move the steering column up and down, the instrument binnacle will move up and down too if it's a series 1

Might have some parts for you to keep in the "just in case" bin as well... I have a few sets of alloys lying about somewhere, stud pattern is 4x98, shared with Lada, Fiat and Lancia.
Should weigh about 900kg +/- a bit depending on how much rust there is Looking at about 105hp with the 1.5... Might have some hairy cams for a 1.7 somewhere too.

Yep she's a Series 1. I'm pretty keen on the idea of that BMW I posted so I'm thinking of selling the Alfa. I'd get the 3 spots of surface rust removed/tints taken off/ flamethrower taken out and put a head unit in that works properly and I'll be looking for around $3k. A low kms (about 145,000) Series 1 (Rare) 33 with almost no rust and pretty reliable electrics (even more rare) and a fresh wof/rego should be worth about that from what I've researched. Anyone on here be interested?

Also does anyone know of any common issues I should look out for on the BMW?

[Naki]

Now I like this!

Actually if I ddn't have so many bills now I might be bidding...(yes I know I said I wouldnt get another European car but.........)

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=252045938

[Alfashark]

QUOTE (victor_alpha_charlie @ Nov 5 2009, 05:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep she's a Series 1. I'm pretty keen on the idea of that BMW I posted so I'm thinking of selling the Alfa. I'd get the 3 spots of surface rust removed/tints taken off/ flamethrower taken out and put a head unit in that works properly and I'll be looking for around $3k. A low kms (about 145,000) Series 1 (Rare) 33 with almost no rust and pretty reliable electrics (even more rare) and a fresh wof/rego should be worth about that from what I've researched. Anyone on here be interested?

Also does anyone know of any common issues I should look out for on the BMW?

I reckon you might be pushing it for $3k, my first 33, a series 2 1.7QV had absolutely no rust - close to 100,000km and a freshly built and balanced engine... struggled to get $2.5k

The last one, a series 3 1.7 QV-S with the quad throttle body injection setup, lowered on genuine AutoDelta springs and Koni's all round. Had a fast road cam in it (came with complete set of originals in sealed bags) also NO rust... picked it up for $1800 and struggled to fetch $1500 when it was time to go.

As for BMW's, our flatmate is the parts manager for Coombes-Johnston BMW and he advises steering well clear of any BMW built before about 1995 - Most parts are available, at a price and usually ex-Singapore or Germany.
As far as Km goes, most cars have issues of some kind once the mileage starts clocking up but also in terms of a calendar life...

Don't get me started on Airbags either... Anyone realise they have a 10yr life? and I personally know of a couple of cars failing warrants because of this... even worse, one of the cars was effectively written off due to this because the replacements for the particular model are NLA (No Longer Available - something us Euro owners hear more often than we should)

[victor_alpha_charlie]

Yeah I might as well just keep the Alfa. What kinds or wheels do you have? I'm not a massive fan of the ones I currently have so if you're keen to sell I'm keen to buy

Took some pics of my 33 aroudn Breaker Bay in Wellington on Saturday. Enjoy!

[Alfashark]

Looks nice and tidy mate

I'm pretty sure I have a set of Speedline Pepperpots - Standard on late series 2's... similar to what you have there, but with a ring of small holes in an indented lip as opposed to the notches on yours.

A series 2 boot spoiler will tidy the tail up a bit without making it look tacky - Also series 2 QV tail lights would look the part, they use orange bulbs for the indicators with a white/clear lens.

Somewhere I have some springs that will drop it to a visually pleasing level without making it stupidly low or impractical - mine was used as daily transport for up to 5 adults as well as hauling transaxles and engines all over the place.

[victor_alpha_charlie]

QUOTE (Alfashark @ Nov 9 2009, 08:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A series 2 boot spoiler will tidy the tail up a bit without making it look tacky - Also series 2 QV tail lights would look the part, they use orange bulbs for the indicators with a white/clear lens.

Yeah those are two 'mods' I've been thinking of. Does the series 2 look the same as the Series 1 except for the spoiler/lights?

QUOTE (Alfashark @ Nov 9 2009, 08:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm pretty sure I have a set of Speedline Pepperpots - Standard on late series 2's... similar to what you have there, but with a ring of small holes in an indented lip as opposed to the notches on yours.

They sound good! Any pics?

QUOTE (Alfashark @ Nov 9 2009, 08:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Somewhere I have some springs that will drop it to a visually pleasing level without making it stupidly low or impractical - mine was used as daily transport for up to 5 adults as well as hauling transaxles and engines all over the place.

Yeah the current springs are very soft too- she takes off with every plant of the boot

I think it needs the suspension bushes replaced (that's what two licensed mechanics I know have said) as it's started creaking over bumps in the rear end. Would new springs fix this, or would it at least be easier to replace the bushes while I'm changing the springs? I'm keen to get her completely trouble free and then begin to do her up a bit (tastefully of course ).

[ZK-MAT]

That red Beemer's mileage is in miles, not km's ... so it's done over 200,000k's. Just a heads up

[Alfashark]

A series 2, although pretty much identical in the shell looks like a bigger more serious car... slightly different grille and a few other details.


As far as springs go, dont get anything too stiff... a stock 33 will quite happily step the tail out during hard cornering which is unusual for a FWD car and stiffer springs can make that happen a little too easily.
As long as the squeaking sounds coming from the rear sound a bit like happy chirping birds, then that is nothing too serious... bush kits are available and arent going to cost the earth.

A point to note is the gearbox, usually second gear gets a little bit crunchy - this is normal Usually the result of people using every last rpm in first and then hooking 2nd in a very quick shift.
In my 1.7 with the rev limiter removed and in a freshly tuned state that usually mean around about 80km/h before thinking about 2nd... Having had a few track sessions, Alfa Romeo's claim about never putting numbers on their speedos that they couldn't achieve is correct

Try not to drive it too nicely, they hate being shortshifted and idled in traffic... It's a quick recipe for fouled plugs and generally rough running.

[brownbox]

enough of this euro stuff! Time for some good old jap!!
The old pic of my car was a bit cr@p and just didnt do it justice. Since then ive done a whole lot of work on it, mechanically and cosmetically.
Pretty much half the car was repainted, (some by me and some by a painter) aswell as 5 dents and dings being taken out, and I shampooed and vacuumed all my interior. I then cut and buffed the whole car.
The cam belt, water pump, tensioner cam and crank seals were done and the rocker cover seal. Ive also flushed the gearbox oil and engine oil and changed the plugs and leads.

Its nearly in mint condition now, just gotta find some door cards and a centre console lid from a wreck (the ones in it are a little tired looking)



Not bad for 195,000kms. Thinking of lowering it just a little (maybe 30 or 40mm), just to get it a little lower to the ground. At the moment, it sits just a little too high.

Not using oil, and gets 650kms to 1 tank (43l).

[victor_alpha_charlie]

QUOTE (Alfashark @ Nov 9 2009, 10:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As far as springs go, dont get anything too stiff... a stock 33 will quite happily step the tail out during hard cornering which is unusual for a FWD car and stiffer springs can make that happen a little too easily.
As long as the squeaking sounds coming from the rear sound a bit like happy chirping birds, then that is nothing too serious... bush kits are available and arent going to cost the earth.

A point to note is the gearbox, usually second gear gets a little bit crunchy - this is normal Usually the result of people using every last rpm in first and then hooking 2nd in a very quick shift.
In my 1.7 with the rev limiter removed and in a freshly tuned state that usually mean around about 80km/h before thinking about 2nd... Having had a few track sessions, Alfa Romeo's claim about never putting numbers on their speedos that they couldn't achieve is correct

Try not to drive it too nicely, they hate being shortshifted and idled in traffic... It's a quick recipe for fouled plugs and generally rough running.

Yeah they do sound a bit like birds . Is it bad to drive around with worn bushes or can I stop worrying and replace them this summer? My 2nd gear is ok for now, but I guess that could change. Yeah with the non-stock exhaust on it I have to drive fairly quietly when I see any Blue and Yellow Commodores and she doesn't like that at all. Changing before 4k rpm? That's a no-no. I'm thinking for now I'll keep the Alfa (Despite seeing a really nice R31 Skyline with an RB20DE for sale), put the series 2 spoiler and tail-lights on, lower her a bit, change the wheels and get some Hella driving lights to put in the bumper and probably end up spending whatever I earn keeping her in mint condition.

Nice looking Series 2! I've seen a grey one around where I live and thought it was just a hotted-up Series 1

[benwynn]

I drive this at the moment.

[jastheace]

QUOTE (benwynn @ Nov 20 2009, 12:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I drive this at the moment.

hahahahahaha mind you i cannot talk really, me work driver is a mack truck!! but then at least it looks like a truck, not the off spring of an alto, mazda ute and sewing machine!!!

is it fwd and is it more than 1300cc

[benwynn]

Its a 2.9L Turbo Diesel, RWD.

Only driving it until I get a car. Only manual we have (Dads work truck)

[Alfashark]

Certainly wont hurt, the noise is there purely because they are wearing... When I swapped mine over, the old ones were dirty but not perished or split
See if you can find a small off-the-shelf box type muffler for the rear and tuck it up behind the rear bumper (get rid of whatever someone else has put in there). As I found out on a dyno, mucking about with the exhaust on these things is a waste of time unless you are at the extreme end of the scale (1.7 taken out to a 2L with stroked crank and custom pistons, Weber 55's and some hideously aggressive cams) - they rolled off the factory floor with 4-2-1 extractors and a very free flowing set of mufflers, so putting larger diameter pipe in there will end up reducing what little torque the 1.5's make.

At the end of the day, you already own a small Italian car that comes factory with AP brakes, Recaro seats and Momo steering wheel and gear lever

[jastheace]

QUOTE (benwynn @ Nov 20 2009, 07:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Its a 2.9L Turbo Diesel, RWD.

Only driving it until I get a car. Only manual we have (Dads work truck)

a 2.9 td in that, man she must like going sideways in the wet, if it anything like the td utes that is!!! great fun, but i didn't say that

i have to admit, alfa makes some damn sexy looking cars, sex on wheels some of the modern ones!!!

not a bad looking curren there BB, i still think they look like a celica with a corona front end attached, nice cars though

[benwynn]

It sure does mate. Google "bongo drift" on YouTube.

[victor_alpha_charlie]

QUOTE (Alfashark @ Nov 15 2009, 09:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Certainly wont hurt, the noise is there purely because they are wearing... When I swapped mine over, the old ones were dirty but not perished or split
See if you can find a small off-the-shelf box type muffler for the rear and tuck it up behind the rear bumper (get rid of whatever someone else has put in there). As I found out on a dyno, mucking about with the exhaust on these things is a waste of time unless you are at the extreme end of the scale (1.7 taken out to a 2L with stroked crank and custom pistons, Weber 55's and some hideously aggressive cams) - they rolled off the factory floor with 4-2-1 extractors and a very free flowing set of mufflers, so putting larger diameter pipe in there will end up reducing what little torque the 1.5's make.

At the end of the day, you already own a small Italian car that comes factory with AP brakes, Recaro seats and Momo steering wheel and gear lever

What are these like? I've noticed he'll swap for a 33, and its bigger, reasonably rare and being a V6 will sound good. Does look a bit rough, but no rust can't be all bad.