1500ti restoration. Ex racer

[junior]

Off for MOT today.

The front panel I noticed yesterday is all to cock !

How did I not notice. It was my mistake too, as I measured to get the most airflow to the rad and then the chap who made the panel put in the slots centrally.

Best of all is I fitted it, looked at it endlessly as I did it to get it right and then admired it. Never saw it till a week later.

The rally driving mechanic who is helping me get the last bits done took it for a drive on wed. He drives everything fast !

He said ` It really wants to go and keeps heading for the hedges!' So he reset the tracking. I redid the speedo cable again.

One of the old seats collapsed and found a chap to redo the base. Fab job done and 30 notes.

Left off working on a chair Cardinal Wolsley had once sat on to do it.

[Kegsti66]

So did it pass James ???

[junior]

It passed !

Bit of headlamp adjustment and a wire came off the stop light switch during the MOT of course

Drove it around with Eric who has really pushed me on this last stretch, cripes it goes and despite the mish mash of components the front end feels great.

Something wrong on the rear as too jerky and noisy. Certain it is the dampers, possibly just adjustment.

Eric drove it rally car style and I could not match it. It does go round corners well.

Pictures to follow.

[Kegsti66]

Excellent news, well done.
I remember watching it on ebay before you bought it, hoping to see it back together.
Great stuff.

[Alfasixnut]

Well Done!

[88liam]

Looking good,

What engine did you end up fitting?

Liam

[junior]

Looking good,

What engine did you end up fitting?

Liam

1700. So bought it as a 1500ti, then found it had been a 1200ti, (I was robbed)

, then the engine which had the turbo was found to be around 1400 and finally we fitted the 1700.

Keith made a good job of the engine as it goes very well already and its barely been run for more than 4hrs.

Many thanks to all who have encouraged me, sent me bits, sold me bits and shown interest. It has helped, it really has.

[Sprint88qv]

Brilliant news, well done that man. Looks great with those trofeo arches

[junior]

Thanks. Still a few jobs to keep me busy, such as the front panel and skirt.

Also keeps throwing the speed cable back out of the gear box. I have the right cable and circlip, am I just not locating it well enough ?

[88liam]

Evening,

Remember your mates questioning your purchase, obviously having the craic.
well done to you fella, another sud saved.

Liam

[Kegsti66]

Looking good.
Lovely to see it finally on the road . Top marks to you James.

[KevJTD]

Looks really good especially the arch flares, really suits the pastel colour giving it the 70's trofeo look

The speedo cable can be a pain, the groove gets clogged where the circlip goes and stops it locking in properly. Make sure it hasn't corroded in the groove, an angled pick like these are handy for the job

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4pc-Mini-Hoo ... SwKflZOL~q

[junior]

Good idea it could just be that simple. Thanks Kev.

Funny to finish so to speak, but find my list of jobs is still long. They are all minor though.

Aside from `get on rolling road' Which should be fun. Need a few miles on it first.

[Spacenut]

Excellent work. The car looks great, well done!

[junior]

I hope to be returning the compliment on yours soon. So no pressure !

At one stage I thought I had got badly carried away on the size of tyres at it would be way too much, but now its done I am happy with it.

It is where 205 Gti could have started from with that `up on your toes ready to go look'.

[junior]

Rolling road booked for wed with Dave at Cheltenham. He used to have Suds so seems like the right guy to take it too.

Done quite a few miles now and it is settling down well, but the rear suspension is just too hard.

I expected the front to be the problem. but the back is jumping about on every bump.

Still the engine is superb. Very raspy, very quick to rev and sounds glorious.

Will try for a video and a link when my son comes up in a week or two.

[rsfruitbat]

Dave at mech motorsport has always done a brilliant job on my 33.

Say hello from me.

Rsfruitbat

[Greencloverleaf pat]

The car looks very nice

[junior]

Thank you very much. Its still not finished, but well on its way.

Bit muddy now, but needed some miles on it before it goes to the rolling road and it has settled rather well.

Fires up very easily but will need a very good clean to get the salt off it.

Just timed it wrong to getting it off the road for winter.

Still it meant I got more done as both front seats repaired which would have been done much later otherwise.

[junior]

Will say hello as requested ! looking forward to the experience.

[rsfruitbat]

Dave can be a bit minimalist on the conversation front but he certainly knows his stuff and loves Alfas.
A well known rolling road had been tuning my car for about 5yrs and a lot of money before they told me they couldn't solve a hole in the torque because they hadn't got the right emulsion tubes.
First trip to Dave's and he sorted it. Been going there ever since, probably about 15yrs.
Hope all goes well

Rsfruitbat

[junior]

All went well. 135bhp at 6,800 rpm. Lots of small niggles took up a lot of time and so made it expensive,

but worthwhile and very pleased.

A quick run down the road was the proof of the pudding as it fairly whips along. Great fun.

[Kegsti66]

Good result there James, a nice conclusion to all the challenges you took on.
Great you have got her back in working order.

[rsfruitbat]

Hi.
Is that 135at the flywheel or wheels?

Glad you enjoyed the experience and got the result you wanted.

What are your plans now for the car?

Rsfruitbat

[Spacenut]

Nice smooth curves with no flat spots, looks great and must sound awesome. Good numbers if at the flywheel, excellent if at the wheels

[junior]

Many thanks for the positive comments gents. I passed on your regards Fruitbat and it made Dave smile.

I was amazed at how well he works on the detail, intensely and confidently despite the owner and a locally renown rally car mechanic watching, yet it does not faze him.

I surmise bhp was at the wheels as it was on the rollers, best thing is that the car feels just the same as the curve shows. A superb delivery of power. I also now understand why so may of you rate the 1.2 gear box. Its very well spaced gears.

A credit to Keith at K and L for building the engine and Dave for his setting up.

Yes it does sound fabulous, like a serious bit of kit.

Next over winter I shall sort out the rear suspension as it is too harsh and fighting the front, not sure why, so needs
careful investigating.

Then reposition the seats and sort out the hash I made of the front panel.

Still it did the job and got me through an MOT, so happy days.

[KevJTD]

The 1.2 gearbox is a great one for darting about, 3rd 4th & 5th are very close together ratio wise, brilliant for keeping things on song
Makes for a hectic buzz on the motorway though!

[BS25]

It'll be power at the flywheel calculated from the dyno load - 135 is very respectful though

[rsfruitbat]

Dave is very detailed. I learned a lot from the first time he did my car. Helped me get things right afterwards and what to check and look for.
The good bit of news is Dave's rollers are pretty pessimistic as is Dave. If you have got 135horse power. Everyone is a pedigree. You,'ll have no lame donkeys in their.
Really pleased you are happy with results.
Mine will be going again before too long.

Well have to try a d meet up not being too far from each other?

Rsfruitbat

[junior]

Thanks for clarifying that BS25. Yes, Dave gave me advice on a couple of things which I will follow up on.

The main one was that the modern carb insulators that I fitted as they were meant to be good, (rather than the Bakelite

ones) are not working well so the fuel was hot and frothing away. Worth 3 BHP he reckons !

So shall get a pair of proper ones.

I hope to be meeting a few more people as I intend to use the car and as I have not been to MITCAR etc I shall catch

up with a few people in 2018.

Took it down the road for a last blast before washing very well.......and the speedo cable popped out again.