Well, the weather's finally warming up so I thought it was time to start the disassembly of my 1969 GTV. She's a US spec 1969 GTV that was built January 10, 1970 so she's just had her 40th birthday! Her original color was Dutch Blue but has apparently had a VERY thorough respray to red at some point in her past. And YES, she will be repainted Dutch Blue!
Hopefully it won't be too awfully long before she drives out under her own power again.
One of the few places where the original Dutch Blue can be seen is where brake fluid leaked and peeled the red paint.
The first order of business is the remove the interior. The PO made a mess out of the dash and console. The Alfa script will move back to the trunk lid and the correct switches will be re-installed. Any one know where I can find a decent dash?
I was relieved to find the original doors are in good condition.
Can you imagine someone who would cut something structural in order to install speakers? Yea, previous owners are like that.
As 1750GT writes, it shouldn't be that hard to restore - it doesn't have to look original - just put enough metal in there to replace the original stiffness the factory brace provided.
My answer would be, "As original as is financially feasible". Which means, if I can put it right without it costing a terrible amount of money, I'll do it. Otherwise, sheet steel it is.
It's pretty amazing the work that went into painting this car red. Somebody must have really loved this little car 10 to 20 years ago when it was done. I can imagine the respray cost more than the car was worth at the time, so it had to have been a die-hard Alfista to do such a thing. It would be interesting to find someone on the BB that remembers this car back then. Really, how many Dutch Blue '69 GTV's were painted red to this level. It's too bad it spent the last several years in the hands of a buffoon.
usa spec 69 are such are strange concoction of parts from earlier and later 105 cars. truly unique and rare with 600 or so unit made with a good portion of them rusted and tossed out to the recyclers. Ive notice the rear bulkhead is also different from all the early and later cars as well.
Another problem caused by the PO is the issue of the gas flap. For some unknown reason he felt it necessary to cut and rotate the gas filler and seal off the flap.
The flap can still be seen from inside the trunk so I assumed he'd merely bondo'd it shut.
After the fuel tank finally gave out and spilled its contents on the garage floor, I needed to free the flap so I could use the new, non-butchered tank.
Alas, it was not going to be that easy. The flap is seal welded shut! Fortunately, I found an NOS fender on e-bay a few days later for $300.
It's the peculiarities of the '69 GTV that I want to preserve. There were only about 640 of the many thousands of GTV's that were built in 1969 to have these features. Sure, I could drop the SPICA and run a nice set of Webers, or leave it with its converted single circuit brake system, but it would look just like all the others. And that front bumper! Why would anyone with a '69 run without bumpers when it's the best looking of any of the quad-headlight GT's?
Ive notice the rear bulkhead is also different from all the early and later cars as well.
It's the peculiarities of the '69 GTV that I want to preserve. There were only about 640 of the many thousands of GTV's that were built in 1969 to have these features. Sure, I could drop the SPICA and run a nice set of Webers, or leave it with its converted single circuit brake system, but it would look just like all the others. And that front bumper! Why would anyone with a '69 run without bumpers when it's the best looking of any of the quad-headlight GT's?
How? I haven't paid that much attention to that area.
i'd leave the inezione if possible... its a specific 69 only spica without the fuel cut off solenoid that has a race car like over run that i missed when i put in juiced up 2Liter.
do you still have the dual MC? they are a pita but do have a safety benefit.
agreed, great looking front bumper with the bespoke smaller turnsignals shared with other exotics of the day. i track mine with the bumper on still on because i like the stock street car look.
1 early rear bulkheads are lattice construction that dosent seal off the entire trunk area.
2 69s are seal off with the exception of the 2 access panels for shock mounts
3 late 1750-2000 gtvs are similar to the 69 but you will notice a vertical break on near the wheel houses for increase strength. the plastic access panels arent interchangeable between a series 1 and 2 car because of this section break as i recall. strange yours appears to have the later bulkhead?
the rear boot area aft of the bulkhead structure is different also. i reckon the early cars are the lightest
69 are the heaviest not sure if there is substantial extra strength
1750-2000 being lighter than a 69 but a much stronger trunk area design after apparently weaknesses encounter with trunk area buckling.
The car currently has the SPICA from a '71 1750 and was working well when I bought it. It ran fairly rough so it probably needed to be tuned properly.
I have, however, found a '69 injector pump to use as a core. I've had the car just over a year now and I've used that time to round up most of the missing "1969 only" pieces. So far, besides the pump, I've found the air box with attached idle equalizers, dual circuit M/C, brake pressure differential valve, and an NOS clutch M/C guard. Have I forgotten anything?
I've got the tank, the oil vapor separator and the "69 only" strap for the two. I've also got the clutch fluid reservoir and two new boosters waiting in the wings. And, yes, the PO had 5 generic toggles on the console and I have no idea what they're all for. The console will be repaired and the correct switches installed.
missing the small bracket and vent tube via fuel tank that dumps into the valve cover fitting.
Yes, they are the wrong tail lights but I kinda like them. This is one area where I'm not sure if I want to put it right. As my 7-year-old daughter says: "I'm in a quandary".
I've got the tank, the oil vapor separator and the "69 only" strap for the two. I've also got the clutch fluid reservoir and two new boosters waiting in the wings. And, yes, the PO had 5 generic toggles on the console and I have no idea what they're all for. The console will be repaired and the correct switches installed.
I'm lost on this one. Photos?
Yes, they are the wrong tail lights but I kinda like them. This is one area where I'm not sure if I want to put it right. As my 7-year-old daughter says: "I'm in a quandary".
look at post #9 (wrong idle circuit) and #11 look carefully, u can c theres a very thin brass line running along the valve cover that dumps into the boss fitting right before the big tube that goes to the vapor separator. as i recall from the top of my head, the line runs from the rear fuel tank vapor canister to be reburnt in intake airbox. they are mounted on the same studs were the short yellow airbox straps are. yes its a convoluted route and many people remove it.
looks like you found the difference on your workshop manual. i wonder if they came on the later S1 cars
what i would like to know is the series 1 and series 2 intake manifolds are the same?
i measured the port sizes on my series 1 and they are quite a bit smaller than the 2000liter manifold which may be the same as a series 2 1750? ive never had a S2 motor apart so i wouldnt know. maybe the hot set up would be putting a 2liter mani on a 1750 motor without anyone knowing
My CarDisc shows both versions of the SPICA system but doesn't show a difference in the manifolds or the throttle bodies. It appears all the differences are in the parts that attach to them. It looks like the Series 1 and 2 manifolds for the 1750 are the same.
Looks like you are on your way, Brad! Nice car to restore. In the “For what it is worth” department:
Your rear bulkhead looks right to me. It matches the one in my silver ’69 and also the tracktoy ’69 I sold a few years back.
Total production for the US series 1 was a little over 1100 cars, all sold as 1969 models. Some, (including yours) just happened to have been made in 1970, but were sold as ‘69s for emission purposes. Still, a relatively rare subset within the GTV range.
Since you are going to restore the fuel filler to the original location, you should think about modifying the neck of your new tank to improve filling. The stock angle is too severe and it can be really hard to get fuel from some gas station pump styles. That is why so many have been modified over the years.
Finally, with regards to the intake manifold, the ’69 style obviously doesn’t have the idle circuit collector piece on top, but I can’t remember if it is bolted on, or cast in. Here’s a pic of what a '69 manifold should look like:
i remember both of your 69 cars. the red one is down in SF area now i believe. did u do the conversion on the pedals?
i havent took the car cover off mine in over a year! yes i think his rear bulkhead is right...your correct. the later ones are different now that ive looked at a few pics.
the 105 fuller is a pita with the cali elephant trunk nozzles. im not sure if the have those in seattle or texas. a solution i use to use in my lotus was to use an old piece of rad hose in the filler as an extension.
2x twin line idle circuits are located on the airbox on 69 cars.
strange ive always heard the production numbers where 600ish for the 69 gtv spicas? is it possible the 1100 number inclued the duetto ?
I've always heard there were 640 GTV's sold in 1969. Maybe "sold in 1969" is the key. I know there were several "69's" built and sold in 1970 and I assume there were some 1968's as well. Though, I can't see it adding up to 1100.
Okay! So I have one of 446 1969 GTV's (105.51) that were built in 1970. That works for me.
Papajam,
It's good to see you in on this thread. Like I've said before, I'll need all the help I can get. Particularly since so little is still the way it left the factory. I can't just note how it came out and put it back in the same way.
that clarifies it somewhat. i can understand why 68 may have been sold as 69's but one wonders why cars built in 70 were title, licensed, registered, stamped or sold as 69's?
only thing i can think of it must have been a usa certification thing.
i thought the 70 cars brought in the country via canada where euro spec cars.
well "649" 1969 works for me too but my original title said 1968?
Thanks, Mike! I may have that base covered already.
When I bought the '69 injector pump core off of e-bay ($22), the seller said he had a bunch of related stuff and, if I'd pay shipping ($18), I could have it. I'm never one to pass up a good deal! When the box arrived, I was delighted to find the metal fuel lines, throttle bodies, manifold with the thermostatic actuator attached, and a front fuel filter to boot! It was like Christmas!!
How can I check to make sure the manifold's the right one? What is the part number, and is it cast into it?
This is a 69 manifold....it does not have extra bosses cast into it to support the idle distribution manifold.
Another photo showing the a 69 manifold (upper) versus the 71 (lower).
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