Alfa Romeo GTV (916) - Azzurro Nuvola
Discussion
bolidemichael said:
That is superb!
Thanks! Yes it really changes the interior - wife is very happy (despite her exactly colour matching nature).Kingdom35 said:
Love this Alfa thread. Always wanted a GTV since I’ve heard the Busso engine of the Blue GTV V8 on YouTube whine along (raspy). I’m sure you know said video.
This is by far the best colour though and the levels you’ve looked after this is admirable. If you ever sell, first dibs please (no way you will sell)
This is defintiely sticking around for a little while... the original goal was to keep it as the daily until the Saab 900 is restored, back on the road and tax/ULEZ exempt. This is by far the best colour though and the levels you’ve looked after this is admirable. If you ever sell, first dibs please (no way you will sell)
Don't discount the twinspark noise - the stock exhaust system actually sounds great, very addictive. I would encourage you to try both engines - they are different animals, and my wife (who is the owner and a far better driver than me) really prefers the twinspark having tackled both.
jamesbilluk said:
The interior looks great! Really goes well together.
I really want to change the gear knob in my 3.0 but apparently it needs to be cut off with a hacksaw! I would love to try the wooden steering wheel from the 166 as well.
Try ebay.it for much cheaper items - even after postage - 'alfa 166 volante' will get you what you want to see. THe greaknobs are tight but at least on mine it didnt need any tools to remove. Good luck!I really want to change the gear knob in my 3.0 but apparently it needs to be cut off with a hacksaw! I would love to try the wooden steering wheel from the 166 as well.
Geoffcapes said:
That's it, having read this thread from front to back (instead of working) I'm going to have to get a GTV.
Having owned 5 Alfa's previously I miss the pottering about doing little jobs like you are doing.
Best places to look? Car and Classic? EBay?
Well I've only ever bought one, and my hands were tied on colour, so I would defer to some of the PH collective that have owners double digits of alfas and sometimes even GTVs on this thread!Having owned 5 Alfa's previously I miss the pottering about doing little jobs like you are doing.
Best places to look? Car and Classic? EBay?
Given they are around the 20 year mark, I think cast a wide net and just get your knowledge on what to look for and what things cost to fix up to scratch. The gap between twinspark and v6 seems to be widening significantly, which I understand but don't really subscribe to. A well sorted twinspark or JTS with no major rust issues or impending doom shouldnt be ignored.
On the topic of impending doom - the rear exhaust backbox hanger finally departed, so I decided to have a longer poke of the underside.
As with many GTVs, the rear suspension components are in need of an overhaul, and the crusty cornflake appearance is at odds with the continuously good ride. I suspect these are all good quality or original components near their end of life.
Drop links and dogbones in granola but working order...
TRW struts don't look too bad. Hopefully I can re-use them.
Springs looked alright but a poke with a screwdriver and the coating lifted to reveal rust on all ends - I think they're old and due replacement.
ARB looks original throughout.
Some further rear floorpan edges will need treatment while the back end is all out.
The control arm/wishbones also look original (behind the struts):
Bump stops look original, but perhaps the original cups will be salvageable:
Spring pans: as expected, they have completely gone. They might be salvageable - I know a lot of people do - but this car can't be off the road for the weeks I need to do that, plus the rose bushes are shot. Note the prominent rust pustule on the anti roll bar at the top of the frame.
What to do? Well, I think its time to do it all properly. We have a bit of money set aside to keep this car in good order, might as well sort the rear end before a spring pops through a springpan or a drop link snaps in a pot hole.
We are going the 'non poly' route where possible to keep a more pliable ride, and defintiely not lowering or anything like that.
1) Dog legs (with three bushes) sourced from Germany.
2) Fedi drop links ordered.
3) Spring pans and Springs - aiming to order from Alfashop as I have th 10% AROC discount and they have rubber rose bushes.
4) Wishbones - might ahve to go with an eBay refurber that paints them red and puts in poly bushes... can't find originals anywhere.
5) Shocks - the TRWs might look a bit brown but the are working well. Keep.
6) Bump stops - aimign to refurb the cups and replace the actual stops.
7) ARB - Original items not found, again likely to be the eBay red paint refurber, but with rubber bushes.
I would be keen to hear any advice, guidance or experience changing out these components and the rear end!
snotrag said:
Don't try and piece-meal it. I've learnt this the hard way after owning numerous similar value/age/style of cars.
Don't worry - I have form on ALfa undercarraige refurbs... I completely subscribe to dragon-level parts hoaridng and spreadsheets. My 164 took around 8 years before we replaced everything front and rear - completely transformed the car, then the damn ULEZ snuffed it out from my daily driver duties!Spreadsheet already started, parts numbers and diagrams saved in a new folder... eBay and cross reference across dutch, german and english parts suppliers underway...
V6Nelo said:
Cool to read you are sticking with the rose bush spring spans.
Regarding the other suspension stuff I have a good indy to do those bits but enjoyed watch Rick going through the steps on YouTube, inspiring.
https://youtu.be/KByLGWZ51-8?si=FwI-tGz8AqXRalP9
Yep the roads we drive on are dreadful, and I've not had too much joy with polybushes over the years. Regarding the other suspension stuff I have a good indy to do those bits but enjoyed watch Rick going through the steps on YouTube, inspiring.
https://youtu.be/KByLGWZ51-8?si=FwI-tGz8AqXRalP9
I will be watching all videos - hoping to book in time with Phil of Alfacraft for 2 days once I finally get everythign together. Hopefully shorter than the 8 years for the 164!
My estimated parts cost seems to be around 1300GBP once I factor in the bolts and all the tie rods and other pads/bobs I had msised off initially. Phew. Its goign to be a big one. I'll just ignore those sills over there for a little while to ensure I don't second gues the veracity of this action...
mercedeslimos said:
I wish I had low annual mileage and could subscribe to that sort of game plan on a daily driver - instead I'm very much of the fix it when it breaks or is going to fail test agenda on my dailies - doing 45-50k a year between 2 cars also would mean ruinous cost.
The trick is to buy enough cars to have a low mileage annually on all of them... and be able to have some off the road!While suspension parts are being inexorably drawn to my GTV, I replaced the two most diseased exhaust mount to cure a clonking.
These two looks a tad past it...
Original Alfa parts - Klarius now in. Might not be as long-lived but it alt least has structural integrity.
The rearmost one in particular looks a bit... rubbish. We'll see.
A hanger further along needs correction - this angle looks a bit too geared to speed bump antagonism for me...
B'stard Child said:
Not quite sure how I missed this thread but I'm all caught up now - thanks for sharing the journey
My brother had a TS GTV in the same colour for several years - quirky but nice looking car.......
Replaced it with a Nissan Terano/Ford Maverick or whatever it was called (don't ask) and an MGB RV8
I fancied an RV8 for a while when I was on my succession of Rovers, but they always seem to have been expensive due to rarity. What were his thoguhts on driving it?My brother had a TS GTV in the same colour for several years - quirky but nice looking car.......
Replaced it with a Nissan Terano/Ford Maverick or whatever it was called (don't ask) and an MGB RV8
thomasrs50 said:
I hadn't seen your post about the rear suspension. It will be a money-pit if you tackle it all at once. I've learned with the GTV (and other alfa's I've owned in the past) that once you starting diving into it, you'll come across other things that need adressing.
Thanks for the note and yes your thread is exceptionally helpful (and inspiring!). I am erring on the full replacement side, or at least big chunks in one go, as Phil at Alfacraft will be my tutor and I have bought or managed to secure a large amoutn of the bits already. If I'm paying for a day or two of Phil's expertise, I'd rather get as much done as possible.Jhonno said:
A little tip I was given for exhaust rubbers.. Get some big zip ties and wrap them around also. Might help if the replacements aren't great.
Good idea - some rubber actually do have an integrated fabric or plastic circlet. I will add a jubilee clip or two.The GTV has not been washed in months, so on a rare dry day I gave a it a good scrub. It came up well, as always, despite the absence of polish or any actual detailing.
Thanks - I am amassing parts and trying to get time with a reputeable Alfa fancier. Just need the time!
Alfa used less of late but continues to be our reliable runner when nothing other than two humans need to be transported.
One item that has bother me since purchase was a handbrake sleeve that had lost its button and had torn velcro issues. I finally succumbed to a breaker's offer of £20 for a better unit, which arrived with a broken plastic fitment. Fortunately my original one was in one piece, so cleaned up the new one, added a shot of Gorilla glue and its made a small but significant difference.
One small wheel centre went adrift, but I found some spares when we bough the car in the glove box.
It continues to pass the 'turn back to look at it once parked' test.
Alfa used less of late but continues to be our reliable runner when nothing other than two humans need to be transported.
One item that has bother me since purchase was a handbrake sleeve that had lost its button and had torn velcro issues. I finally succumbed to a breaker's offer of £20 for a better unit, which arrived with a broken plastic fitment. Fortunately my original one was in one piece, so cleaned up the new one, added a shot of Gorilla glue and its made a small but significant difference.
One small wheel centre went adrift, but I found some spares when we bough the car in the glove box.
It continues to pass the 'turn back to look at it once parked' test.
From purchase the temeperature gauge has either stayed at 55 (all winter) or shot up to 110 (stationary traffic in summer). The latter has thankfully been solved by the fan resistor and wiring surgery documented in prior pages.
The former is a well known twinspark 16v issue - the thermostat sticks open. Unlike most of the fleet this isnt a simple £7 part with a hilariously named jiggle pin. No - Alfa had to make multi-pronged itesm that evolved throughout the car's lifecycle.
With summer approaching (ish) I splashed out with the Alfa Club discount on AlfaSHop for the CF2 stat, which arrived swiftly and is a Magneti Marelli part.
Access is deceptive - the thermostat is rgiht there when you open the bonnet, but if I was doing this again I would remove the air intake assembly for better access. This was an hour of 'single click spannering' due to the entrails all over the place!
Whenever I see one of these clips my heart sinks. I refuse to buy a special tool, and instead always replace them with hose clamps.
Rusty clamps ahoy.
Some time later... the hoses were well and truly 'soft rusted' on, despite the rubber being mainly pliable some serious screwdriver prodding was required to get this little beast out. The old stat appears to have some brazing on the bottom joint... any Alfa aficionadoes know if this was standard?
Old and new. I put a light smear of gasket sealant on the new rubber seal, swapped over the temp sensor and naturally sourced some hose clamps that looked less like cocao dusted truffles.
Lost about 2.5 litres of coolant into the pan, nothing too dramatic.
New thermostat had some differences, including the 'locator groove' being 90 degrees out. Leatherman deployed to swiftly sort out that issue.
A generous dose of red OAT and distilled water later, the car was ready. Total time spent on the change - 30 minutes. Total time wire brushing hose clamps, finding new hose clamps, adjusting other hose clamps unrelated to this project and cleaning other bits of the engine irrelevant to this item - 60 minutes.
Short drive today, and temp back where it belongs! Phew. So far, so good. Likely some air locks to work through so will monitor.
The former is a well known twinspark 16v issue - the thermostat sticks open. Unlike most of the fleet this isnt a simple £7 part with a hilariously named jiggle pin. No - Alfa had to make multi-pronged itesm that evolved throughout the car's lifecycle.
With summer approaching (ish) I splashed out with the Alfa Club discount on AlfaSHop for the CF2 stat, which arrived swiftly and is a Magneti Marelli part.
Access is deceptive - the thermostat is rgiht there when you open the bonnet, but if I was doing this again I would remove the air intake assembly for better access. This was an hour of 'single click spannering' due to the entrails all over the place!
Whenever I see one of these clips my heart sinks. I refuse to buy a special tool, and instead always replace them with hose clamps.
Rusty clamps ahoy.
Some time later... the hoses were well and truly 'soft rusted' on, despite the rubber being mainly pliable some serious screwdriver prodding was required to get this little beast out. The old stat appears to have some brazing on the bottom joint... any Alfa aficionadoes know if this was standard?
Old and new. I put a light smear of gasket sealant on the new rubber seal, swapped over the temp sensor and naturally sourced some hose clamps that looked less like cocao dusted truffles.
Lost about 2.5 litres of coolant into the pan, nothing too dramatic.
New thermostat had some differences, including the 'locator groove' being 90 degrees out. Leatherman deployed to swiftly sort out that issue.
A generous dose of red OAT and distilled water later, the car was ready. Total time spent on the change - 30 minutes. Total time wire brushing hose clamps, finding new hose clamps, adjusting other hose clamps unrelated to this project and cleaning other bits of the engine irrelevant to this item - 60 minutes.
Short drive today, and temp back where it belongs! Phew. So far, so good. Likely some air locks to work through so will monitor.
The combination of a working thermostat and warm weather prompted the cooling fan to fail last week - my wife reported a burning small and climbing temperature gauge in traffic after work...
After an eBay seller wasted my time for four days, I am very grateful to CloverParts for sorting out a fan assembly and getting it to me in doublequick time. They even supplied two connector clips (which we will come to later...) to ensure I could fix the hacked wiring.
The connector here had been truly fudged with electrical tape - as the fan overheated the tape melted and most of the plastic here was in a Daliesque mess.
Luckily removal was easy - two 10mm bolts under the slam panel, and nothing on the bottom other than a slot, so the whole assembly can be unplugged and wrestled out under the bonnet release cable.
Newly in from Cloverparts... I asked for a good fan and connector. "Do you need a good shroud?" they asked. "No, mine is fine"...well a true mongrel turned up.
Fair bit of fluids for 10mm bolts and both were quickly split into components.
Old fan was cofnirmed as seized - straight in the bin.
It was then I spotted the issue - original shround on top, Cloverpart below...
Ugh. The front impact that this car defintiely had had deforemd the bottom of the shroud, the creasing and compression a bit easier to see here:
Bottom original twisted support:
There was nothing for it - I had to get to work on the 'new' item. Goggles, ear defenders and power tools... sorry neighbours...
Some time later it actually came up nicely.
It was not good enough to give the full Bilt Hamber treatment though - for time and bothersome sake I just attached it with Hammerite.
Three coats will do. Reassembly of the good parts nice and easy with the 'best of both'.
Back in the engine bay, the original wires were a coagulated meltyburn mess.
Fortunately with a Stanley blade and paid of small pliers they came up good enough for a wire brushing.
The supplied clip was taken apart leaning on my years of Rover/Alfa/Honda clip dissassembly, and I'm very happy to say it went back together in a satisfying manner.
Easy reassembly - let's hope it works correctly for the rest of the summer at least!
Ready for the commute.
And I'm ready for the evening with Glastonbury.
After an eBay seller wasted my time for four days, I am very grateful to CloverParts for sorting out a fan assembly and getting it to me in doublequick time. They even supplied two connector clips (which we will come to later...) to ensure I could fix the hacked wiring.
The connector here had been truly fudged with electrical tape - as the fan overheated the tape melted and most of the plastic here was in a Daliesque mess.
Luckily removal was easy - two 10mm bolts under the slam panel, and nothing on the bottom other than a slot, so the whole assembly can be unplugged and wrestled out under the bonnet release cable.
Newly in from Cloverparts... I asked for a good fan and connector. "Do you need a good shroud?" they asked. "No, mine is fine"...well a true mongrel turned up.
Fair bit of fluids for 10mm bolts and both were quickly split into components.
Old fan was cofnirmed as seized - straight in the bin.
It was then I spotted the issue - original shround on top, Cloverpart below...
Ugh. The front impact that this car defintiely had had deforemd the bottom of the shroud, the creasing and compression a bit easier to see here:
Bottom original twisted support:
There was nothing for it - I had to get to work on the 'new' item. Goggles, ear defenders and power tools... sorry neighbours...
Some time later it actually came up nicely.
It was not good enough to give the full Bilt Hamber treatment though - for time and bothersome sake I just attached it with Hammerite.
Three coats will do. Reassembly of the good parts nice and easy with the 'best of both'.
Back in the engine bay, the original wires were a coagulated meltyburn mess.
Fortunately with a Stanley blade and paid of small pliers they came up good enough for a wire brushing.
The supplied clip was taken apart leaning on my years of Rover/Alfa/Honda clip dissassembly, and I'm very happy to say it went back together in a satisfying manner.
Easy reassembly - let's hope it works correctly for the rest of the summer at least!
Ready for the commute.
And I'm ready for the evening with Glastonbury.
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