Classic Alfa Forums

Coming on nicely Loo

Yep, looking good. Hope you have some insulation in the garage.

Nah . I'm from up north. I just put a A fleece over my overalls I've set fire to it twice whilst welding .

I had a hot airgun running in the garage to take the chill of while fitting my engine over Christmas

How's it coming on loo? Any more pics?

No nothing since the Christmas session
Been to too sodding cold. I am however I’m hoping To get back in to the swing of things soon. But that said I’ve got a TS engine in build at the moment for a customer and got a seized Porsche 912 coming up for possible engine rebuild next week and paying jobs take priority.
I have stripped the 1500 105hp engine I’m using and have been putting thought into the final in spec of the engine.

Sounds like your have got a busy few weeks coming up. I've got the mot coming up on my 147 so have been working on that. I've bleed the brakes and clutch on the sud this weekend and had it moving on it own power for the first time in 18 months

Work in the Body Maybe a bit slow so I’ve made a start on the engine .

Wow, love the colour

Thanks Spacenut . I’ve been painting all my engines this shade of blue for over 30 yrs.

Certainly makes a change from red, or in my case black with silver heads and camboxes. What engine specification are you going for?

Does look a nice colour.
What paint do you use?
I use hammerite for the blocks as recommended to me by Guy Croft, if it withstands his race engines then it works for me! Goes onto bare metal without any primer or whatever too, seems to last well and be fairly chip resistant also.

Hi Kev. This is a paint by Carplan and is proper engine block paint. I’ve used it for years and never had any problems . After the block was deep cleaned at the machine shop I then treated the block with Kurust till it goes black before painting .
I’ve also found a paint by Granville called “cylinder black” this is also an engine block specific paint that gives a very good std look and gave a great finish and looked like new. I was going to do mine OE black. but then I went to the pub and after several pints of thinking juice i thought sod it. It needs to be my blue .

Managed to have a Decent sesh on the Sud today. Decided to tackle the horrible mess that was the NS front footwell. Ended up Cutting it all out . And making new panels. I managed to remake the original Seam and Hole. so now from underneath. it’ll look much more like it should do . It will be fully seam welded Before it’s finished

Good work loo

Thanks Alfastrut. How you getting on with yours ?

I've nearly finished the structural welding. I've got a week off soon so hopefully should finish then. I'm going to try for an mot.. It will look crap but at least I can enjoy it a bit while I pretty it up.

Managed another session on the Sud last week. made good progress on the pedal box area of the bulkhead. It might not look like I’ve done much since starting on the Sud but the work I’m doing is all small bits and pieces on the hidden areas. I’m nearly done on the front part of the car with just a few small areas around the front jacking points then I can turn it round and start in the back of the car.
Also took advantage of the recent good weather to get all the cars out for 3 days and have a good tidy up in the garage. Even managed to paint the floor.

Coming on nicely Lou.

I think you said that you wanted to paint the completed car black? In my humble opinion, the combination of a black engine bay with that 'Lou's Trade Mark blue' engine block will look absolutely superb!

Thanks colin. TBH the jury is still out in the colour for the car. Part if me want to retain Aqua verde for originality Another part of me wants to do it Black and my invisible friend wants me to go AR530 or 501.

The original colour will be a lot more forgiving than black when it comes to the respray

Yeah I know black shows every imperfection. So Maybe use it as the motivation to make it flawless !

Black suds do look pretty tidy

I have to admit I’ve always liked them in silver or Aqua Verde. I have a personal reason for going Black and also a specific scheme if I went Red.
As the car is never being sold whilst I have the mental capacity (questionable even now I know). to enjoy it I’m not too fussed about originality in this area. However I wont be doing anything that can’t be undone. So the car can be put back to bone stock if needs be complete with matching numbers original 1350 motor.

I do like the aqua verda. To me it's about the pleasure i get from my car that matters. Not if it's perfect or totally original . But if that's the way other people like their cars im happy with that to. I'm going silver because its alway been silver and just looking at it brings back good memories.

The s3 looks good in Red, but the Aqua Verde is a rare colour and suits the car so I'd stay with that (and I like green in general )

Here's a couple of Aqua Verde Alfasuds to inspire you Lou. Both of these cars were at Spring Alfa Day at Duxford recently.

Not forgetting Ted's racer.

Sorry to say Verrrryyyyy slowwwwww progress on my Sud BooHoo . Apart from some work on the engines bottom end I’ve done nowt for months and I’m getting Fed up .

Looking good Lou.
Don't forget, when it comes to adding the finishing touches, I still have the original Panasonic stereo waiting for you here.