just bought my 1st alfa 88 verde red

[Grant]

You don't own the X 1/9 with the K20 in it do you?

If those are stock torsion bars, lowering the car much will be a bad idea. I was smashing down pipes on bumpy roads at the STOCK ride height.

[spiderrey]

Thats a very nice car. Unfortunatly I dont own it. Mine is just a 74 with a turbo honda motor sitting next to it right now. I was putting a type r into it, but ended up selling that when this became available.
I have read about the problems with lowering the car. I figure ill try it at 1 notch below stock. Im just gonna cruze the car around abit. The roads arent bad around here. If it becomes a problem Ill just put it back up.

[Grant]

I'd look into getting a set of 25.4mm torsion bars. The 27's just seem to be harsh for some reason, but the spring rate isn't THAT high. Only worth it if you drive pretty hard or go to the track now and then.

The 25.4's are much easier to install, as you might have read, and I don't think they are too expensive if you get them from Brad Bunch directly. Maybe another forum member can chime in on the ride quality and handling with the 25's...I only have them on an Alfetta, but I'm very pleased.

[spiderrey]

Thanx 4 the info on the bars. The only reason i lowered it on the stock bars for now is our economy. Work is sporadic, as soon as it gets better Ill put some money into the car. Until then Ill just try and fix little things here and there with all this spare time Im having. I havent got to drive it much, maybe 3 miles at the most so far. But it really seems like a fun car. Oh I forgot, when I bought it I drove it about 7 miles up through a canyon. Thats what sold me on it.

[Grant]

O yeah for sure, these cars aren't that fast around really twisty stuff in comparison to newer cars, but dang, I still haven't found a car that was more fun. Euphoric!

I've kind of strayed too, I found it to be too expensive and troublesome to continue using my Milano as a daily driver, but I'm hoping to have time and money to play with it once again. I've driving/playing with various Japanese and German cars but I haven't found anything that was more fun out right than the transaxle cars we have. Where are you located?

[spiderrey]

San Dimas , about 15 minutes east of Pasadena Ca. Ive been playing with Italian cars for 31 years. Some people just dont get it, but i have a good time and always end up with a big grin. Sometimes i dont drive them 4 awhile and start to think i should sell them. Then i pull my spider out and say no way after a short run.

[RAGs]

...cut or replace with washers the lower A-arm to body bushing? I understand to retain proper camber you may need to reduce the lenght.

Good luck.

[spiderrey]

No I didnt cut anything. the spacers were about an inch long. Havent got out there to raise the drivers side yet due to rain and a bad battery in the car.

[RAGs]

… you either have to trim (with a lathe or such) about ¼ of an inch from the smaller end of the bushing, or replace with a commensurate stack of washers to retain proper camber once the car is lowered. I could be off so I’ll defer to the experts on this one.

I do know from personal experience, however, that if you lower the car w/o compensating for the increased camber, the tires will not be happy.

[spiderrey]

Thanx for the info. ill keep that in mind when i get the car where i want it.

[Grant]

I just carefully used a hack saw to cut the spacers down. You can use some basic trig to figure out the amount to cut off to get whatever camber you desire. If you want the best handling, you might want to leave as much camber as possible, the camber curve is hurt a lot when the A-arms are angled upwards after lowering the car much more than stock ride-height. Good luck!

[spiderrey]

Well it stoped raining here in sunny so Cal. I went out and took the good battery out of my 74 x and stuffed it in the Verde. Then I started looking around under the hood and wondered why the windshield waser bottle was so dang big. It was empty and I was told they normally have a leak in them. I removed it it inspect it better. I think ill just leave it out. Ill check it for a leak though before I chuck it into the garage.
I then started the car and watched to see which lights would flash on for me this time. I had the drivers door open, but the rear door light for the drivers door was flashing on and off? The antilock light wont go off. The oil pressure gauge shows pressure , but the oil light on the gauge is on. The coolant and the washer fluid light go off and on, this was before removing the tank. I had been told before I even thought about buying this car that these systems all went haywire. So I didnt take the lights seriously
Dumd idea, check the oil etc. Ive only driven the car 2 blocks to put gas in it since I got it. My son brought it home when I bought it. Coolant tank looked low, so I added coolant. Oil was actually just below minumum, need to go get a quart. Washer tank was empty, its now removed so who cares. the only real problem seems to be the antilock light. Any ideas.

[La Voce]

Lots of threads here on the antilock system and pump/light. Turn the key on but don't start the engine. Do you hear the ABS pump (under the hood, atop drivers side fender) running?

[spiderrey]

Not 100 percent sure, but i think so. There is also a noise at the top front of the motor. Which is odd to me, I would think I would only hear the fuel pump running.

[verdemilano]

If the oil is at the minimum mark you are 2 quarts low.