oil "filter" on my Giulietta Berlina

[Andrew]

After sorting the fuel system (boiling, sealing, painting, installing the tank, checking the lines, getting the fuel pump rebuilt) and changing the oil, I was set to try to to fire up my Giulietta Berlina, until I went to change the oil filter and found this where it is supposed to be. It's a blanking plate, with a machined internal passage to allow oil to flow as it should. Why would someone go to this trouble, assuming their filter broke/cracked/whatever? The machining is a bit rough, but was nonetheless a fair amount of work compared to bolting on a filter.

This car was last on the road in the late 70s, when Giulietta filter housings could be had for free, or nearly so. I can't understand it. Anyone ever seen this? I've got a correct period filter now, so once I get the dist sorted I'll try to start it.

Andrew

[Bill S]

Perhaps they lived in a part of the country where just about all Alfa parts were unobtainium without knowledge of a network? Dunno, that's a strange one all right.

[Andrew]

The car was at Bill Gillham's for a few years (sitting), Seattle area before that. Dunno.

Andrew

[GTD]

Two possible scenarios come to mind:
A) The blanking plate was used because a remote filter was plumbed elsewhere; the block would have been tapped somewhere for this.
B) The previous owner was simply ... stupid.

[Andrew]

This is the lowest-power modern four-cylinder Alfa engine of all: a 750 series Giulietta Berlina with single-throat Solex (actually, with a WW2-era Carter Jeep carburetor at the moment), so it likely was not used in racing, etc. There is no plumbed separate filter. I'll go with B.

Andrew

[Bill S]

Well, we know it was pre-Bill Gillham since he probably has a 55 gallon drum filled with filter housings! I'm sure he'd never do such a thing anyway. I remember when this car was on ebay. Do you have the correct carb for it? I believe it's the same one as some early Volvo, maybe the 544. Not shared with any other Alfas that I know of. If you know the Solex # I can check with a vintage Volvo buddy here in town.

[alfa soon]

Originally a Solex C. 32 BI, cancelled and replaced by Solex C. 32 BIC for engines up to 1315-74950 in the Berlina, then changed again to C. 32 PBIC from engine 1315-500001.

I just happened to be looking through the parts book CD looking at Giulietta Sprint Speciale suspension diagrams making a list of parts I need...

[Andrew]

I was not trying to slag Bill. As I said, the car basically sat during his ownership; I'm sure this mod predated his time, and likely the owner before him, Drew Dawson. The gasket was ancient crumbling cork.

I have two correct Solex carbs (one NOS), but Bill says the car ran (he drove it on and off the trailer), so I'll try the Jeep carb; what the hell. It fits like it was designed for it.

I bid on the car when it was on ebay 3-4 years ago but Bill outbid me.

Andrew

[Alfajay]

Andrew:

I suspect that Bill Sinclair is on to the correct answer - some previous owner just figured that an oil filter was an unnecessary expense.

Your berlina probably spent its early life in Italy - in impoverished post-war Italy, this sort of economic decision wasn't that uncommon. If the neighborhood blacksmith could make up a blanking plate, and it saved a few lira on replacement filters, great.

Back in the mid-1960's when I was building the hotrod shown in my avatar, I had an early small block Chevy ('55 265 cu) engine that came from the GM factory with no oil filter. That engine had an add-on oil filter that I assume was an option - it mounted to the exhaust manifold with U bolts, connected to the block with flex lines, and accepted a cartridge. So, back when your Berlina was new, oil filters were sort of a luxury option.

[GTD]

Quote:

I had an early small block Chevy engine that came from the factory with no oil filter.

[Andrew]

It was sold new to Hoffman Imports in NY on 3/1/56, so it was a legit period import, not a car brought over from Italy.

Maybe a luxury for some cars, but all modern Nord Alfas had filters.

I got started on Fiat 850s, which had no filter as such, but a centrifugal slinger inside the crank pulley, where crud in the oil got thrown outward and trapped in cast-in pockets, which you periodically removed the cover from and cleaned out. And I've had plenty of air-cooled VWs, which have a pickup screen coarse enough to keep out stray rod bearing shells, but not much else.

Andrew

PS: I just read somewhere that Max Hoffman was Dustin Hoffman's uncle, hence the Alfa connection for "The Graduate."

[Bill S]

Andrew,

Yeah, I knew that you weren't slagging Bill G. and from my dealings with Drew I can't imagine him as the culprit either (yes, I know you weren't slagging him either). I like Jay's somewhat romantic explanation with the Italian blacksmith. Heck, VW bugs never had anything but that useless screen - even well into the 70's!

[GTD]

Quote:

PS: I just read somewhere that Max Hoffman was Dustin Hoffman's uncle, hence the Alfa connection for "The Graduate."

[PSB]

Hi Crew;
My 2 cents was on the remote issue..
But why I had to post was ,Wow I had no idea about the connection and the Hoffmans in 35+ years of Alfa owner ship. Thanks Andrew.
Peter

[GTD]

Peter
It's likely Andrew recently read that info HERE

Now; I'd like to return On Topic and continue pulling Andrew's leg about the Oil Filter, or lack thereof, issue!