Ongoing restoration of our 1967 Giulia GT Sprint Veloce

[borrani]

Absolutely fantastic work. I enjoy this thread so much.

Just be careful with that rear section from a later car. As you may know, the rear parcel shelf was of different lengths between early and late GTV's, i.e. the rear seats and shelf from early cars don't fit later cars so well.

Sorry I can't provide more details, but do dig around.

Best wishes,

Steve Schaeffer
Seattle, WA

[39cub]

Not sure if this is what you need...

My headlights are still out and I'd be happy to take some detailed photos if you can direct. It's an early '65.

Chuck

[alfa_corsa]

Steve-great to see you're still in Alfaville. We exchanged emails years ago when I first acquired the car. Do you still have your GTA? I didn't know about the parcel tray difference, thanks for educating me. Glad you're enjoying the restoration, I don't feel like I've done anything worthy of too much praise yet, I'm still tearing it down rather than building it up!

Chuck-thanks for the picture and thanks for the offer. If it's still open I'll take you up on it. This picture gives me a good idea of how the ring fits at the top, but what I really need is to see where it fits on the bottom, specifically at the "7 o'clock" and "4 o'clock" positions, as well as the angle of the bottom portion as it sits in the nose piece "trough". If you're able to post some pictures of those areas I'd be forever grateful.

Ciao!
-tj in Los Gatos

[borrani]

Hi TJ!

Glad you remember me. You're creating a wonderful 'new' GTV here. Fabulous patience and documentation.

After 5 wonderful years, I sold the GTA. Can't believe it happened, but life moves on. I had the time of my life with her. Not many of us get a chance to own and race the car of our dreams. I discovered spec racing, so I'm racing a more or less spec BMW E30, and enjoying the competition very much. My racecraft has improved a lot due to the very close racing involved. I couldn't afford to have two race cars, so one had to go.

We once tried to stuff a '72 GTV's rear seats and parcel shelf into a '69. No way, Charlie! Hope others can shine more light on that matter.

The NWARC is having a swap meet on Oct. 3, near Wes Ingram's place (Daron's new shop). If there's anything you want me to keep a sharp eye for, let me know.

Best wishes,

Steve S.
Seattle, WA

[39cub]

OK. Here are some details from my unrestored '65GT.

The first is of the 7 o'clock position, the others of the 4 o'clock position.

All of the driver's side (LHD) headlight. (Please pardon the rusty spots. )

The forward face of the bucket housing appears to be vertical. Laterally it seems to be located by the overlapping flanges seen in the photos, to which you've previously referred.

Happy to try more, let me know.

Chuck

[alfa_corsa]

Chuck-thanks very much for posting these pictures. They're exactly what I needed.

[pathung]

You're on Summit Rd.? I drive it to get home to Aptos everyday from San Jose! You're not the house where there's an old BMW CS rusting away in the front yard... can't be 'cause that's actually on Old San Jose Rd.

I've got a well-rusted '67 originally in Bluette, waiting in the wings, but that's project #3.

[alfa_corsa]

Hi Pat,

I am on Summit, yes. I know the house you mean on San Jose Soquel, that car has been there for years. Ironically I do own a BMW CS, but it's an L model, and it's not rusting away. What kind of car do you commute in? Give me a call some time. You're welcome to stop by and see the project.

Ciao!
-tj in Los Gatos
1.408.373.9180

[1750GT]

TJ, my car's lights are totally different than yours so there was no point in posting up any pics. Looks like others have provided exactly what you need....Progress is looking fantastic!

[alfa_corsa]

Thanks Rossano. Unfortunately my progress has been stumbling a bit. I've got problems with the chrome headlight rings that I purchased (repros) in that they won't fit on the headlamp support rings that we've been discussing. It looks like they're about 2mm too small and they won't fit over the lip of the support ring as they're supposed to. Apparently originals are NLA. I've got the guys from Alfaholics checking to see if they're experiencing the same problem as they have said they've never heard about this until now, but they've always sold NOS chrome rings until recently.

On the bodyworking front I'm having serious burn-through problems. I tried to tack the front corner repair section in place last night and the original metal that I'm trying to weld it to will not take the weld at all. With my Mig welder at the lowest setting and with a very low wire feed setting it just blows through the original fender metal. It's not rusty so I don't know why this is happening. Obviously this is a problem, and one I'm not sure how to fix but to replace the entire fender. Suggestions or comments are welcome.

Ciao!

-tj in Los Gatos

[1750GT]

Did you wire wheel clean the back side of the sheet metal in the area of the weld? I know that if there is some residual paint or rust on the back side it'll outgas and blow the molted metal out. Also, I was using a copper strip backing (others have used aluminum strip) on the inside so that the MIG wire had something to "hit" on initial strike/start of weld...did you use any backing like this?

[alfa_corsa]

Hi Rossano, I didn't do either but I will. I've seen the copper backing plates sold by Eastwood. I'll clean the back better and try a copper plate to see if that helps.

Ciao!
-tj in Los Gatos

[red69]

tj,

You can make your own copper backing plates using short pieces of around 1" diameter copper pipe or copper pipe transition pieces from the hardware store. Pound them flat with a mallet and they are perfect. Cheap and don't have to wait for them to be shipped.

Marc

[daveydog]

That's a good tip red69. I've even resorted to copper pennies to help in closing up a blow through hole . It gets kind of hot holding them without gloves on and I know you won't ask me how I know.

[PSk]

One day I should try this copper blacking plate idea ... I just weld up the hole if I make a hole, but most of the time I don't have problems and the penetration is 100+%

I do find that you need to keep your tip and shield clean. Makes big difference .
Pete