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Spider Hunting - Alfa Romeos and the fools who want one

55 messages,  Last post on Jun 04, 2012 at 8:02 PM

You are in the Classic Cars Forum.

What is this discussion about? Alfa Romeo Spider, Classic Cars, Convertible

Messages Page 3 of 6

#16 of 55 Re: OK - here's another potential spider bite [lokki] by MrShift@Edmunds HOST

Oct 07, 2009 (8:43 am)

Replying to: lokki (Oct 07, 2009 8:00 am)
I guess it matters what he means by "minor dents". If the nose is pushed in (most of them are) that's not so cheap to fix.
 
It's good that the top end was done, as this can be a weak spot in the Alfa. They have soft valve seats as I recall and the valve stems will stretch out. Also they can leak oil *externally* from the head gasket, in the back area of the head.
 
Parts are readily available for these cars, including upholstery kits, little bits and pieces, you name it, so that's good.
 
What's not good is finding someone who can work on them competently. This is *not* the person who works on Mercedes, Audi, Saab, MG, Skoda, Peugeot "and Alfa Romeo".
 
You need to find someone who knows and loves Italian cars---preferably an Italian, who was no doubt trained as an apprentice. THEN of course you have to find one who isn't too *clever" an Italian, and watch 'im closely---LOL!
 
I miss, and think about, only a very few of the many many cars I've owned.
 
I miss my:
 
'71 MGB roadster (BRG, tan interior, lite mods)
Renault R8 Gordini
'86 "breathed upon" Alfa Spider
66 Olds Toronado (awesome!)
Jaguar XK140 Roadster (banana yellow, black wires)
My brother's Fitch Corvair
Porsche 928 (but I don't miss the repair bills).
63 Buick Riviera (what a ride but what a pain)
 
I'd kill for:
 
A clean 60s Alfa Spider or Sprint that I could yet afford (daily driver---no trailer queen!!)

#17 of 55 Thanks.... by lokki

Oct 07, 2009 (10:10 am)

The nose looks OK in the pictures, and being an S2a with the 5 mph bumpers, I think it will be.... my second Spider (back in the late 70's was a 74 with a much prettier nose, but well, can't find one ....)
 
He says it was painted last year, so I am curious about what minor dents means...
I like to think that you'd fix anything that wasn't really 'minor' when you painted it. Yeah, the engine work, the new top and the new alternator are kind of pluses in this case, I think.... Still, you can never tell till you see it in person.
 
I am not expecting great performance from this puppy; but I do like winding a dohc through the gears.... I really enjoyed my Spider years- although I have to confess when I bought my first Integra 10 years later, it had every feature that the Alfa had possessed - quick dohc; 5 speed; 4 wheel discs; decent handling; and then threw in Japanese reliability.... sigh...
 
 and I hope that eventually I can dump the cats, change the header, and maybe even bump the compresion with some new pistons.
 
As for " Finding a Tony", I've found an interesting guy outside of Dallas who is Fiat/Alfa fixated and has a shop specializing in them... Even has a Fiat transporter truck, for rescue missions... I've talked to him and -0ver the phone- and he seems about right. Romantic enough to have fallen in love with Italian low-end sports cars, and worn by experience enough to be pretty pragmatic.
 
I talked to him about the costs of resurrecting the 'sleeping beauty' that I'll look at Saturday. What he said matched up with my fuzzy memories of the 70's.

#18 of 55 Re: Thanks.... [lokki] by MrShift@Edmunds HOST

Oct 07, 2009 (10:49 am)

Replying to: lokki (Oct 07, 2009 10:10 am)
If you're willing to invest you can make those 70s Spiders move right out...but we're talking a head that breathes and cams that go with it, and ignition work here.

#19 of 55 Re: Thanks.... [Mr_Shiftright] by lokki

Oct 08, 2009 (11:55 am)

Replying to: MrShift@Edmunds (Oct 07, 2009 10:49 am)
Well, went to look at the 78 Spider last night. Body is straight and - (I love Texas!) rust free.... It's been a garage queen it's long and pampered life - even pulled the spare and (although the drain plug was -missing- the well wasn't even corroded let alone rusted.
 
The seat are shot of course, and none of the gauges are working.. The speedo sort of works, but the tach is dead. Not unusual as I understand things. The other gauges I suspect got disconnected during the engine pull that was done for the timing chain.
 
Minor dents were really what we call "hail dings" - minor stuff under the Maico respray but at least in the original (same paint code) red. Top is vinyl but new exhaust is a nice dual tip ansa.
 
The bad - 64K miles.... on the original clutch I'm certain. The release point has my knee up around my throat. New clutch needed
 
64K miles on the original ball joints and bushings. My 74 Spider tracked nice and tight. This one has 1/4 mile of slop in the steering
 
Not only the 2nd gear synchros are shot.... it was hard to get into first and reverse without grinding sometimes.... Maybe the clutch?
 
The Ugly maybe. Fresh oil on the drivers side of the cam cover... but it we found that the OLIO cap was loose..... Hope that's the reason for the spray. Engine was clean but not "Cleaned up" so the loose cap seems likely as the reason.
 
 The rest of the stuff. is minor or cosmetics (needs new tires) sticky door handle etc.
 
Oh here's a question - on the driver's side of the engine is something under the alternator that he says (and he doesn't know much but he hasn't had the car long) is an air conditioning compressor but there's no A/C in the car? My friend's guess is a smog pump of some sort... I don't know, but my 74 sure didn't have it. The owner also claims power steering "that doesn't work well at low speed". I don't remember power steering on 70's spiders..
 
He's asking $5400, I'm thinking $4600 or $4800? I have another Spider to look at this weekend, but it's a 'sleeper' that hasn't been out of the widow's garage in 5 years...... If it's just as clean but a lot cheaper, maybe..... but 2 sellers and one buyer is always nice....

#20 of 55 Re: Thanks.... [lokki] by MrShift@Edmunds HOST

Oct 08, 2009 (12:07 pm)

Replying to: lokki (Oct 08, 2009 11:55 am)
take a total pass on that car. It's not worth half of what he's asking, by your description.

#21 of 55 Re: Id like to buy a spider convert [Mr_Shiftright] by rickyb5

Oct 08, 2009 (2:54 pm)

Replying to: MrShift@Edmunds (Oct 04, 2009 9:08 am)
Thanks for the advice. I am looking at probably an 80's model, I guess the Bosch F I is easier to deal with than the SPICA?? I do not have much automotive experience. I kinda like the rubber tail on the alfa. I will keep on hunting..
 
Thanks

#22 of 55 Re: Id like to buy a spider convert [rickyb5] by MrShift@Edmunds HOST

Oct 08, 2009 (5:59 pm)

Replying to: rickyb5 (Oct 08, 2009 2:54 pm)
It's not so much the SPICA--it's that it needs so much work, and that the paint is a cheapo job.
 
check these out: much better cars:
 
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/1412639025.html
 
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/1411649845.html
 
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/1408864617.html
 
As you can see, you can still get a lot of Alfa Romeo in your garage in the $4000---$6000 range without having to work on it the minute you get home.

#23 of 55 Another Potential by lokki

Oct 22, 2009 (6:32 am)

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/1413509358.html
 
This one looks pretty, I think... IF I can get the guy to call me back.
 
Interestingly enough, it's the color of my original 74 spider.
 
The only two spiders in the world that weren't red, black, or silver.
 

#24 of 55 Re: Another Potential [lokki] by MrShift@Edmunds HOST

Oct 22, 2009 (9:34 am)

Replying to: lokki (Oct 22, 2009 6:32 am)
Yes that car does look interesting.

#25 of 55 Unrealized Potential [Mr_Shiftright] by lokki

Oct 22, 2009 (2:17 pm)

Replying to: MrShift@Edmunds (Oct 22, 2009 9:34 am)
Missed that one.... Still hunting
 
1

Messages Page 3 of 6

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