door handlesv& new paint job

[peterosefirepit]

I took the first spin around the hood today , in fact its the first time I have even driven the car since I got it in June! Now just a little of this and a bit of that and its done, at least done enough to drive. I must say I am a Lemans blue believer! something about it makes me smile... sure its not as tuff' as good ol murder red (with a white nose) but I've grown up alittle and it matches my daughters eyes.
I am looking from some blinkers to mount in the front , any Ideas?

[peterosefirepit]

Anthony installed the new/old Rotas,pre hub-centric with a 10mm spacer and everything clears. IAP springs and thats it.

[AlfistiSA]

Hi Gents

Those rubber gasket around the door handles were originally installed for the German market, the UK suppliers usually have them in stock.

I bought 3 sets for my 105 cars & would not even contemplate restoring a 105 car without them - they stop the water going down between the handle & the aperture.

Secondly I use a medium density sheet of rubber, (with a woven webbing insert in it - think thin exhaust hangar material), cut to shape to fit between the "C" shaped tin bracket which secures the handle to the inside of the door - this rubber sheet spreads the load of the bracket & I've never had one dimple the door panel & the new paint. The original sponge foam was designed to stop squeaks, by soaking up water & rusting out the door skin just under the handle - it can't sqeak if there is no metal left for metal to metal contact.....

I apply loads of tectyl / waxoyl to the inside of the door, some prior to the rubber mat & the rest afterwards, making sure I cover the rubber mat well, to make doubly sure against corrosion. Electro-plating the "C" shaped bracket also helps.

Of course new door handles help matters somewhat, but if your originals are in good condition, there should be no issues.

Pete - stunning colour choice, well done for swimming against the herd !!

Ciao
Greig
Sunny South Africa
Some 750's
Some 101's
Some 105's
Some others

[peterosefirepit]

really no choice,other then the white stripe /clover. which gives the car a lower longer look. Lemans blue was the original color, although this particular 'batch' has a touch more violet. I am going to try the gaskets one more time today, but as stated before, the lip to clip is super tight to begin with and the gasket thickness really makes the fit a job for Job.

[italcarguy]

the car looks better and better every time i see it. i can't wait till the next time!

[Alfajay]

peterosefirepit had written: "I am going to try the gaskets one more time today, but as stated before, the lip to clip is super tight to begin with and the gasket thickness really makes the fit a job for Job."

Yea, I experienced the same thing. The gaskets look sort of nice, and it is odd that Alfa would have designed the doorhandle-door with nothing between them. After all, components like the front parking lights and taillights have gaskets separating them from the paint-body.

BUT

At least on my car, the door handles simply didn't work with the gaskets in place. The problem is a bit hard to describe - when you actuate the handle, it interferes with the top of the cut-out in the door. peterosefirepit's statement that "the lip to clip is super tight to begin with" says it pretty well. The pot metal piece that you squeeze up to open the door passes close to the top of the cut-out, and when you add the gasket, it hits it.

I gave up on the gaskets after a half hour or so of fiddling around. Anyone have a trick for getting the latch to work with the gasket in place?

[Peter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterosefirepit I am looking from some blinkers to mount in the front , any Ideas?

[BlpltGTV]

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterosefirepit Anthony installed the new/old Rotas,pre hub-centric with a 10mm spacer and everything clears. IAP springs and thats it.

[peterosefirepit]

Thanks , I will be taking the car up to napa monday to have it out with a pesky 2002tii ala' bald tires driven by a drunk gypsy with 6 thumbs. look for the chemtrails!

[peterosefirepit]

friggin Nightmare. the door handles have taken there toll on my sanity,with interest. Without a doubt the most horrific part of the job was getting that little piece of **** to make friends with the bigger piece of ****! Im so pissed, I want to drive this thing off a cliff, but not before I put my foot through the little hole that will not accept its destiny to become one with the door handle.
Im going to home depot and have one of those guys hanging around the parking lot apply painters caulk and staples around the huge gap between my little friends.

[AlfistiSA]

Pete

Is there any way you can trim the inside lip of the door handle casting to get it to fit better - try a Dremel tool - they work wonders when it comes to "fiddling & fettling" things to fit better ??

You did mention that the handle had been welded in the past - I wonder if something is not either too tight, or out of alignment. I trust that the paint around the handle is not too thick ???

Finally - if all else fails, the UK suppliers have new handles.... but they are expensive

Ciao
Greig

[1969read]

re-die the carpets jason

[peterosefirepit]

word. I love the wisdom that comes across the big ponds at 5 in the morning.
I guess chasing kangaroos off your porch before they crap on your ' home sweet home,mate' door-matt keeps you guys balanced, and allows you to fiddle and faddle all night long with nothing but a blunt rock and a can of Fosters, or Jo'berg.
Seriously, Thanks for all the input, I think, no actually I know its the sum of all of those things mentioned, a bent lip, an old door and a repaired handle all add up to a poor fit. I can live with it , and will have to. actually it looks better after I took a shower , hosed the blood of of my neighbors siding, and squinted a little. The lip does need to be reworked to engage the flange better, and it does stay put, it just moves out of position when I tighten down the nut closest to the door catch. I may use some epoxy to keep the two little lips mated and then snug the fasteners up.

[peterosefirepit]

Well I jerked the motor for an engine bay paint job and found out my spica pump was on its last leg. Time for webers!!
SO I welded up some seams in the bay for extra stiffness and reloomed the wires. santo and anthony rebuilt a set of 40's I had and we dropped in some 11mm cams. Lightend the flywheel a bunch I think we removed the entire 21 lbs. so it should spool up nicely.
Also fab'ed up some blinker housings from Alum tube and then got in some glass amber Mini lenses. Got the bling of the gtam without the commitment of rivets!
its gonna be a great Xmas!

[daveydog]

Verry Coool... Must be some kind of SoCal mod that proves that the marriage of form and function creates perfection.