More upgrades

I've been making a list of "things to do" while driving the car.

The handling of the car seems a little "off." When you are driving around, the shocks seem to stick in certain positions and the stance of the car is always changing.

I've also found that the timing can be erratic. You will hear backfires through the carbs as you accelerate from red lights, etc.

In both cases, the suspension and the ignition, I suspect the original parts are worn out. So I ordered an Alfaholics suspension kit and an electronic distributor (123 Ignition) last week.

My plan is to start the upgrades this coming weekend.

Rear diff oil changed & more miles

Some more small tasks done.

Yesterday, I changed the rear differential oil - which looked / smelled old, but not completely foul. The new Redline 75W90NS made a small difference when I took the car out for a test run. Another job done.

I also spent about an hour cleaning the interior & conditioning the leather. It takes a lot of elbow grease to remove the years of dirt and dust!

The car, and most noticeably the engine, is starting to loosen up as I put more miles on it. When leaving from a standing start, there is an occasional 'klunk' coming from the rear end. So it looks like I'm going to need to track down a worn bushing...

More miles

I tweaked the timing a little and put another 40 miles on the car --- running beautifully.

Rear bumper update

You may recall from an earlier post, the original bumper was mangled in the accident. I found a used bumper, in 'ok' condition, but it had several large dents and red paint overspray.

A few months ago, Barry took the bumper mid-section to a local panel beater. The fellow made a profile jig and worked his magic - and the section looks brand-new.

We spent several hours cleaning and polishing the remaining pieces. The 'C' clamps needed straightening. Finally, we riveted everything together.

More miles on the car

I drove the Alfa about 30 miles today.

The engine feels good. It starts easily, has good oil pressure and runs at a steady 180 degrees. No leaks! It does feel "tight," so I'm varying the driving speed and revs.

Some pics from today:

A Little Humour

1st Spring Drive

After dusting off the cob-webs, I gave the Alfa a short run. The car felt great, but there is a list of little issues I'd like to address. The clutch pedal does not feel right; and I'd love to find a short-shifter kit for the car.

I also fixed the clogged idle jet on cylinder number 3. A sewing needle helped me clear the old gas varnish out; and the engine ran much smoother afterwards.