Classic Alfa Forums

My talented auto electrician has saved my bacon as he managed to mend the wiring I wrecked on the back of the speedo.

Very relived as hate breaking things at the best of times.
Also new bracket created to support Sud radiator and its fitted happily, hoses and all. Another bridge crossed.

Off for an exhaust at A44 Exhausts in Worcester who have a good name from the chaps I have talked too.

Wow, you can really see where the 'Sud got its reputation for good handling - those cylinders are virtually on the floor!

What's the deal with the cut-outs in the bonnet? Did some sort of extra-large spotlight live there in a past life?

Really coming along now, excellent work

Lauren

Plenty of room there to install a much bigger rad if cooling does become an issue.

rsfruitbat

I think the cut out from the front skirt and bonnet were all to get lots of air to the oil cooler, turbo and air filter. plus judging by how the VW radiator that came with fitted they must had had a much bigger radiator. The bits of grill I have to go across the front has a large section missing.

Cannot work out how though, or if it was being built up that way and then work stopped as they raced another one. Bit confusing.

In fact the hardest part of the car to decide what to do with as the race engine was very complex and shortage of parts made the 1700 engine an obvious decision.

Then as the car was so low the suspension set up was quite easy as it could not have come off the drive with out being higher.

Will make up a simple grill to go across for now and get it going !

Are you going to replace the front panels?

I think not at the moment as I wish to keep it as much as it was raced in the late 70's and early 80's. Not restored into a more modern image.

I will revisit later and may then fit a thin panel across just under the rad.

Also it depends on how it looks with the front skirt on as looking from the top there will be a gap between the skirt and the mesh I will fit.

It is running ! After 35 yrs ! So pleased.

Try again to get the brakes to bleed tomorrow with professional help.

Will take some photo's and post them soon.

Brilliant news. Well done

Rsfruitbat

Cracking effort mate, well done

Well done chap great news .it's alive ....alive

Fantastic effort, well done!

Looking forward to seeing more photos

Excellent result.
What a great boost. End of the tunnel is getting so close now.

Many thanks chaps. Much appreciated and yes a great boost which will hopefully get me through the last few niggles.

No photo's as took camera and then got so involved that I forgot.

Brakes still not fully bled ( Mini drums) and having had the wheels just sat on two or three studs when putting the final ones in I found a stripped thread.

So can anyone verify what this rear hub is in the photo before I talk to John at justsuds or if your on here John ?

Also if it looks modified or not . Thanks as ever.

Junior,

i have loads of clocks and spares if you'd like a set or something as a just in case for the future?

you'd be welcome to a set if you like?

Looks like a modified standard disc, - the disc itself looks to have been machined off, leaving the centre wheel mounting, the centre cap looks like the correct one, early plastic type. Easiest repair would be to machine a second hand disc to match, or helicoil ?
John.

Hi Shrew and John.

Many thanks for the offers and advice, I will talk to the very capable chap who is getting most of my last hurdles sorted.

Nothing like a highly experienced professional to cut through the hesitation.

He did not suggest Helicoil and not sure why. Perhaps his rallying experiences. Seems the most sensible to me.

Otherwise I can easily get a hub machined nearby. Will see on tue as got to go and work on the front again as I do not want to make it too smart, but it looks odd and rather amateur at the moment.

could you not just put a stud in the damaged one? then use a nuton that one. not the prettiest solution maybe but would do the job.

Drill and tap them all out to m14 studs?

knock in, or thread cut in, and weld across the back, or alternatively, there looks plenty of meat to drill a fresh set alongside the tired originals

Got an early appointment with an engineering firm up the road from where the car is so will drop the hub off with them early and they will have it ready for the afternoon. Yea.

Then while the hub is off I shall have it slightly reduced in a lathe as the rear brake springs rub on the hubs. Much to my surprise. Glad we spotted that one early.
Finally got the hand brake cable in the right place as did not want to drill anymore holes in the car and the holes I was using kept meaning it caught on the petrol tank. Once again a new look at the problem by a professional. I can then take it off at my leisure tidy it up and paint it, but now I have a working hand brake. Not great, but hopefully enough.
The front grill has been made and from this angle looks awful. I will have to rethink this bit. I thought it would just look a bit brutal in comparison to the tidy `friendly ' front a Sud has. Instead it looks very amateur and although it must have raced with a similar set up as I have many of the bits, I would like it to look better.

I may have to get the skirt repaired and put in a new front panel. First though I fancy an M.O.T. So shall press on.

I have to say , the underneath of your car looks in fantastic shape, very solid. However, it would look safer a bit more on the jacking point
Good luck for the MOT.

That's professional's for you !

Well spotted.

This is the exhaust set up I have, it was intended to be a more balanced system, but I fouled up and it ended up being done in a rush. A44 at Worcester and very tolerant people. Also very busy.
It was either that or wait a few months which would have created more expense.

Found a idle screw is solid in the carb, so taken it off again and it will not budge despite heat and freeing oil.

Suspect the guy who serviced the carbs found it like that and left it alone. Why anyone would screw a tiny screw in so hard is beyond me ! Just hope it will come out and the carb is not damaged.

Spent the day adjusting things that are not quit right and will cause problems in the future, so a good day.

The screw at the bottom of the dark hole is the problem, but the engineering firm I have been bothering the last few days has offered to make a steel sleeve to fit in there and then drill it out.

They don't expect to damage the seat and then I am just hoping who ever screwed in in so crazy tight has not done so already.

Got to wait a week, but just glad they can do it.

Hub done now and fitted it this morning with all four threads helicoiled for £32.

As they were all a bit damaged and the price was so good I got the lot done.

Odd that the other side is fine.

Not as odd as that exhaust manifold!

I suspect that might peg you back a bit, but i can appreciate the constraints you're working with too.

Just holla if you want any help from me in that area mate, always ready to talk pipes!

petrolhead wrote:Not as odd as that exhaust manifold!

I suspect that might peg you back a bit, but i can appreciate the constraints you're working with too.

Just holla if you want any help from me in that area mate, always ready to talk pipes!

I had considered getting in touch, but distance has at various times been decisive as it costs so much to overcome it.

What with the engine to London, spares from John and various other tasks I feel I have covered a lot of the country.

Still I have met some kind and interesting people while doing it.
Front looks better for going to satin black. Not that it looks it. Nor will it stay on long by how it is going on.

Degreased the alloy grill, etch primed and it flakes off quite easily.

Have decided to create a small panel across the front and paint it to match the rest of the car.

But I am not going to cut out and refit a whole new front section as that would create a lot of expense and work.

I guess I could put tabs on the ends of a steel section and then bolt it to the up right bars in the middle of the front.

Before I go down that route has anyone done anything similar or can think of a better at to do it.

As always any suggestions much appreciated.

What about using a finer mesh like in plasterboard for where the panel was? That stuff is mouldable and you could paint it body colour?

Rsfruitbat

agree it'd look better with some colour behind the front mesh, not sure what's the best approach though!

Pretty sure Justsuds will have a front panel to sell to you.

Dave

As Dave says, a cut out lower front panel, slightly over size could be fitted , then just rivet or screw the overlap to the front of the car.