Carb conversion

[alfasouth]

I am part way through a carb conversion on my 75 spica spider using all original euro parts from a spare motor I had, I had intended on swapping the front cover and using the mechanical fuel pump,but this looks like more work than I need.
Can the front cover be removed with the motor still in the car, and without removing the head? or should I just block off the spica mount hole and use a low pressure fuel pump.
I assume I could block the spica pump hole with a flat metal plate drilled to fit, or is there more to it?

Thanks, Terry in NZ

[papajam]

To properly change the front cover, both the upper oilpan and the head need to be removed. Fabricating a blockoff plate and gasket would be the easier alternative. Less elegant but just as effective is to put a little silicon on a sheetmetal screw and screw it into the Spica pumps oil feed hole.
I'd recommend installing the low pressure fuel pump at the rear of the car and not in the engine compartment. These pumps are designed to push fuel, not pull it.

[Zinhead]

Is this the blockoff plate?

http://www.international-auto.com/ca...ia_showitem.pl

[papajam]

Maybe I need new glasses or something. I couldn't find the pic in IAPs online catalog. However, there's a pic on page 11 in the 2001-2002 catalog. Part # is 73418 and listed then for $26.95 US.

[67GTV]

Here's a picture of a carb conversion kit. The Spica block off plate is in the lower right hand corner.

[alfasouth]

Thanks for the replies, it looks like I will not be changing the front cover as I realise I would need to remove the motor to do it properly, so I will go with the block off and electric fuel pump.
I like the sound of the sheetmetal screw and silicon, or should that be screws, if the oil comes in how does it get back out? and is it under pressure? could someone please explain how that works, I would also appreciate some specs for the fuelpump, and would it still run through both filters.

Thanks again, Terry

[Roadtrip]

Do it right. Get a block-off plate and gasket. It probably cheaper to buy one already fabricated. The oil feed hole comes directly from the oil pump unfiltered. That's why there was an additional oil filter in the SPICA FI pump itself. The other hole is just a non-pressurized drain from the logic section of the FI pump into the sump. I suppose you could tap the pressurized hole and put a bolt in it, but a block-off plate is the standard solution. Also if you start tapping things you take the chance of introducing metal shaving into you oil system.

You will need a low pressure supply pump 4-6 psi for the Webers and I think the regular carb filter would be good enough. I don't think I'd use the SPICA filters, but maybe someone else could comment on the practicality of that.

BTW, what's a SPICA injected Alfa doing in NZ anyway? Someone make a wrong turn in San Diego?

[alfasouth]

Quote:

BTW, what's a SPICA injected Alfa doing in NZ anyway? Someone make a wrong turn in San Diego?