Question About "Spica"

Hit an Apex · #1 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 05:10 PM

Ok, first off I don't know jack about Spica - hang out in the Milano forum..My question is, theres all this discussion about the spica system, there are books you can buy through various Alfa parts venders - is the Spica system that messed up??

Also, how long was the system around?

**Roadtrip** · #2 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 06:20 PM

"Messed up?" Not sure what you mean by that . . . . reliability, tuneability, performance, fuel economy???

Properly maintained and tuned, the SPICA Mechanical Fuel Injection System is reliable and an excellent performer. However, is it MECHANICAL and does require some maintenance. Occassionally, parts fail and must be replaced, especially after 30 years of often abject abuse by owners. The SPICA fuel injection pump is basically an industrial diesel injection pump. It was adapted to gasoline in the late 60s in response to tightening emissions regs in the U.S. It was used through 1981. In 1982 there was a switch to the Bosch L-Jetronic electronic system. While the SPICA system was fairly precise (MUCH more so than carbs), the L-Jetronic system was even more so, and MUCH less costly to produce. The SPICA injection pump is a marvel of mechanical engineering, production, and probably the pinacle of an automotive mechanical computer. It was a VERY costly piece of machinery to mass produce.

The SPICA system has sometimes garnered an undeserved black eye for reliability. From my experience, this almost always can be related back to non-existant maintenance and abusive operation. For instance, never changing logic section oil, oil filter, gas filters, etc. The plungers and bores in the pump section are machined to within 50 millioniths of an inch. They will last 100-200k miles, unless you overheat and abrade them with poor fuel flow, dirty oil etc.

For the owner who wants to learn the system and do a modicum of maintenance, I highly recommend a SPICA Alfa. It's to that person that I've developed this hobby of trying to educate owners to preserve these special cars. They are unique cars that alway draw attention. When another auto enthuisast asks what's the fuel system and you tell him, "It has a mechanical fuel injection system, you'll invaritably generate a long conversation.

For the non-mechanically inclined owner, I'd recommend a Bosch injected model, for it's simplicity and ease of finding a good mechanic that knows the system. There are relatively very few mechanics these days that are knowledgable on the SPICA system.

**papajam** · #3 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 07:10 PM

John sums up quite nicely what's 'messed up' with the Spica system with one of his first sentences and last; "Properly maintained and tuned..." and " There are relatively very few mechanics these days that are knowledgable on the SPICA system." Heck, there were NEVER many knowledgable Spica mechanics even when the system was new! With the aid of books and enthusiasts like John, Spicas' 'black eye' is rapidly healing.
Aside from the 2900+ Montreal V8s and the GTAm race cars, Spica pumps were fitted to US market only 115 and 116 4 cylinder cars from 1969 thru 1981 inclusive.

Hit an Apex · #4 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 08:02 PM

Thanks for the answers

DriverJon · #5 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 08:22 PM

Here's one they missed, the time of production..

They started in 69, (my first alfa was a used 69 Berlina) on the 1750 motor, on thru 72 when the 2000 started, and went to (here I'm not sure) 80 or 81.. pretty sure 80 was the last year, a bastardized version with one single throttle valve instead of the throttle per cylinder used up to that point.

Then 81, and the era of electronic fuel injection began..

edit oops.. missed papajam covering the dates!

**Roadtrip** · #6 (**permalink**) 12-21-2003, 08:47 PM

The 80-81s were the "monofarfalla" ("single-butterfly") version. I've never even seen one in person. The REALLY stupid thing about the design is that the idle air adjustment requires some kind of strange tool to adjust. If I had one of those versions, and the idle air needed adjusting, I'd be inclined to rip the whole thing out and install some sort of off-the-shelf valve to adjust the air going into the idle circuit. Th 80-81s were getting about to the limit of what they could do with emissions and a "relatively" imprecise mechanical metering pump.