Classic Alfa Forums

If it helps I have a 1700 8v engine you are more than welcome to have.

It needs totally rebuilt but I am sure you can get loads of useful stuff off it. Yours if you want it, I am in Glasgow though. Drop me a line/text on 0 78 06 593 7 84

Don’t want anything for it - a nice red wine at most - but if of use its yours.

Thank you very much for your generous offer. I'll give you a shout if I need to take you up on it.

Many thanks rsfruitbat

I can now confirm that it's not the ecu or the wiring loom.
Next / only suggestion is to now try a leakdown test.
Watch this space.

Rsfruitbat

Well guess what?
Leakdown test completed and it doesn't show any significant problem.
It's not perfect but it hasn't identified a problem.
Off to the electrical gremlins expert next.

Rsfruitbat

Guess what?

Hallelujah. It's a miracle. Praise the lord.
Fault found and fixed
People who did the leakdown test recommended someone to investigate my problem. Gentleman's name is Guy Highs down on the edge of Cheltenham.
His background is in technical support for Omex ecu,s but he now has his own business and rolling road. Anyway he had it for two hrs found the fault and fixed it. Turns out that in the background theres a setting for how the timing works. It should be set to something like 36 max and tells the ecu when to check or activate things. Somehow mine had got corrupted and was set on 223. This meant the timing was slightly out and the ecu was checking every 18 cycles instead of one. Set it to 24 and she is purring like a kitten.

Finally a result

Rsfruitbat

That is great news Adie. Really pleased for you. With your unique set up it is really specialist stuff.
Hope you can start to enjoy the car again.

So glad for you mate, and it's a firm fix rather than a hope.
But as ever it shows that electronics are a PITA!
Easy if you know how I guess, the right bloke with the right knowledge and it's fixed.
But that's the main thing, it's fixed!
And at least you know the rest of the engine has been gone over with a fine toothed comb

Fantastic. That feels so good when you get there.

The Lancia one we found last year was so pleasing i still run it around my head some days.

Well done for persisting. Its hard looking for the right man.

Thanks Guys
It has been rather soul destroying at times.
Let's hope this is the start of a change in luck.

Rsfruitbat

Hi guys
Well approx a year to the day on Sunday since our last retirement we actually finished our first rally in about 2 years. We had some issues on the day but fortunately nothing car related. Very pleased with the Frankenstein engine. A lot more torque and a lot easier to drive. Downside being in a class with up to two litre cars.
Hopefully my luck is changing. Just need to get the Sud sorted an d sold and I can start on the new 1400.

All the best

Rsfruitbat

Well done Ade good to get a finish i know how frustrating it can be to get a run of retirements.
Cheers Michael

Hi Michael
It can be very soul destroying as I'm sure you know.
How are you?
How's the Sprint?
Any sign of her coming out to play soon?

Rsfruitbat

Have been working away for most of this year, am still working away now till the end of January so not had any free time to get on with it! But its next on the list am hoping to start February and should get it stripped and rebuild in three months I hope, be nice to get it out and have a bit of fun.
Cheers Michael

That'll be good.
All the best

Rsfruitbat

She lives again!!!
After the last rally rally the car was parked up and that was it. Car was in my sons garage, battery went flat and with having a load of work done on the house she just got forgotten about.
Then a couple of weekends ago we decided to get her running and see what state she was in.
Unexpectedly that all went well, we even drove it up and down the drive!
Deciding to ride the wave we put an entry in for our car clubs Sprint at Curborough which was yesterday. She ran like a dream and is still a hoot to drive. Hopefully this will give me the enthusiasm to finish the Sud so I can get the 33 back home and do some rallies

Regards rsfruitbat