'63 Giulia Spider Normale Restoration (Euro) - Page 54

**Gordon Raymond** · #**796** (**permalink**) 08-13-2009, 09:21 PM

Ha! Unless it's a custom made GTA pressure plate made for Ausca in 1972 by a really nice guy who is now DEAD! Had to start from ground zero. He built me a PP that had very little pedal travel, not a horribly stiff pedal, but was very very quick, and right there every time for 37 years. Figured out the what and how last night, and will get it back in shape for another engine. Even with the Alfa clutch tool, this one was a real mystery. I'm better now. Car is all together less exhaust. Last NOS GTA PP & disc I owned is in there now. Should be fine for an old guy on the street. No more frustration.

**pathung** · #**797** (**permalink**) 08-14-2009, 12:12 AM

Had a chance to really use the brakes (and everything else) today - 180 miles. My three-shoes work, but in my opinion not as well as the discs on my 105s. This took some getting used to, and on a few occasions I wished they were better when the car in front of me braked unexpectedly hard. But I didn't rear-end anyone, especially Brad Baum's Celeste Sprint in front of me on our drive to Big Sur today.

The car performed flawlessly, and Highway 1 in an open car with a distinct exhaust note is something everyone should have a chance to experience. A glorious Alfa day, today.

**pathung** · #**798** (**permalink**) 08-16-2009, 12:54 AM

Well, added another 40 or so miles today, and everything performed as before; unfortunately, two problems surfaced:

I discovered tonight that I have a fuel leak right at the fitting between the copper line (from tank) and steel line (from engine). No matter how much I tightened the fitting, it leaked, and faster! I may have stripped the threads... If stripping has occurred, it'd be the female threads inside the copper line, you all think? I wonder if I can get a replacement line with good thread, not that I've seen any on offer at the usual suppliers. Now the car is dripping fuel into a pan outside the garage, and I'm really hoping that I wouldn't have to go find new lines in order to fix this problem.

Help, anyone! I knew these past few wonderful days of storming up and down the coast with abandon couldn't last!!

I attended Concorso Italiano yesterday, with Alfas well represented by at least 40 vehicles. I took some videos, and will continue posting them here in future posts; here's the first one, of Alfas on the field:

YouTube - Concorso Alfas 1

**pathung** · #**799** (**permalink**) 08-17-2009, 08:27 AM

After some discussion with my mechanic, he suggested that I give it some more wrenching - if the threads are already stripped, I've got nothing to lose. Otherwise, temporarily replace the S-bend tube with a section of 5/16" fuel hose, and be on my way. Sounds good, so I started tightening the fitting again, and two turns later, the leak stopped. The better! I'll try to put a few miles on the car after work tonight and see if the leak has stopped for good.

**Subtle** · #**800** (**permalink**) 08-17-2009, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pathung

Had a chance to really use the brakes (and everything else) today - 180 miles. My three-shoes work, but in my opinion not as well as the discs on my 105s. This took some getting used to, and on a few occasions I wished they were better when the car in front of me braked unexpectedly hard. But I didn't rear-end anyone, especially Brad Baum's Celeste Sprint in front of me on our drive to Big Sur t

**pathung** · #**801** (**permalink**) 08-17-2009, 11:18 AM

Will do! Thanks for the advice, Subtle.

**pathung** · #**802** (**permalink**) 08-20-2009, 11:09 PM

It looks like the gas leak has indeed been cured, and I'm getting used to the drum brakes. I'll be driving it lots on the weekends, and working to install all the trim that's yet to go on, as follow:

Trunk lid gasket is too fat - will try Re-original's.
Headlight bowl gasket is also too fat, not letting me pop on the headlight rings.
The vent window assembly still needs to go on in order to install the side glass, and eventually the door panels.
The wiper rack still needs to be properly attached; hence no wipers.
Glove box is also awaiting installation.
Finally, the top assembly, which has NOT been touched since I took it off the car four years ago.

Boy, still lots of work ahead of me, but I'll keep working and posting photos here. It ain't done yet, so keep reading

don000 · #**803** (**permalink**) 08-21-2009, 09:56 AM

Good source for correct gaskets: Wefco Rubber Manufacturing Co., Inc. - Industrial, Marine, and Automotive Rubber Products

Drum brakes have more character - you can practically feel the differing response at each corner. Just drive accordingly (in particular allowing for fade under hard use) and enjoy the tactile difference from modern cars.

**Subtle** · #**804** (**permalink**) 08-21-2009, 10:40 AM

Pat

Make sure you have the right seals for the "thingies" that secure the wiper shaft to the cowl.

Now I'm sure that you never drive in the rain--prolly never rains.

But, when washing the car, water can drip on to the floor mat.

Bob (from the rain forest)

**pathung** · #**805** (**permalink**) 08-22-2009, 01:07 AM

Rain, in California? You gotta be kidding. And I don't plan on washing the car ever. But if it does ever go through an automatic car wash, I'd want those wiper post gaskets installed and performing.

I do have a set of these rubber washers from one of the usual suppliers, but it's the plastic/rubber spacer between the gasket and the wiper arm that has me stumped. These come in a regular cylindrical shape, and it's up to the user to slice away whatever's required to match the angle at which the wiper post protrudes from underneath the bulkhead... I got one right, but the other one is all wrong - need a new one. I used my table grinder to grind the gasket down to the angle and height I needed, and grossly misjudged the second one. No help needed here, just more trial and error.

Looking forward to taking the car out this weekend for a few quick blasts in the hills - just thinking about this puts a great big smile on my face... "heavy throttle, BAH-BAH-BAH-BAH-BAH, upshift, more throttle, more Alfa bark, brakes, double clutch for a rev-matched downshift, throttle again, BAH-BAH-BAH-BAH, and on and on. Life is indeed wonderful in an Alfa.

**JayR** · #**806** (**permalink**) 08-23-2009, 07:29 AM

How has your restoration been coming?

**Brad750f** · #**807** (**permalink**) 08-23-2009, 07:43 AM

Must be a great caption for these pictures in Carmel, but the words escape me now.

**Subtle** · #**808** (**permalink**) 08-23-2009, 07:46 AM

Looking good--those Vred tires?

**pathung** · #**809** (**permalink**) 08-23-2009, 02:34 PM

Those are them skinny Vred tires, SUBTLE.

Attached are a few more photos of car in a HomeDepot parking lot in Seaside, just after Brad snapped the above photos in Carmel:

Carlos Vasconce · #**810** (**permalink**) 08-23-2009, 03:17 PM

Having followed your rebuild work for the last "Idon't know how many months" I can only congratulate you on how fantastic your car looks, especially when having a good idea of how much good detail work has been done under the skin!!!
I would however hope that you are planning to do something about correcting the different ride heights between the front and the back....
Again many congratulations!
Carlos