New to everything, need help!

[darkfreeloader]

Hi, i am 19 and new to this forum. I love the alfa 75 all my life and i never knew what brand or etc. until recently (finally decided to look up the car online and stumbled upon this site =D). I was about 7 years old when i first saw the 75 that my dad bought and i fell it love with it instantly. But couple years later, my dad stop driving it (umm...i think it was about 7 years ago?). I was sad to hear that it broke down. He never told me the problem until recently. He said that there were some electronical problems. He even said that at one point he couldnt break at all sometimes. Ever since i got my license, i always wanted to drive that beloved car. I been in and driven many cars, but for some reason i can't find a car that gives me the same memorable vibe like the alfa did when my dad took me around with the 75. My dad started to use the inside of the 75 to store some pillows and blankets that we dont use in the house. Couple years later, he started to put cardboard boxes on top (dont worry the car has a cover it so protects it from scratches) because we were running out of room. It hurts everytime i see the car. So this summer, i plan to work on the car and get it fixed. My dad is a very practical person and told me he didnt want to spend money on it because he already spent the same amount of money buying it and sending it to BMW and other companys to fix it (since alfa pulled out of the usa). So he told me i can have it if i use my own money to fix it and etc. I am really new to maintance. I know some basics, but i dont know where to start. I love this car so much that i am willing to learn and dedicate my whole summer trying to learn mechanics and fixing the 75 with your help =D. Where should i start with maintance? The car been inside the garage this whole time picking up dust. It was never touched. It hasnt been in the rain exposed to the outside weather for about 6-7 years. The inside is still intact and in very good condition. The leather(i think...dunno what the seat is like) still looks brand new. THe inside of the car still smells like it did when my dad first bought it. I can post pictures if you want, but i believe it will hurt you guys to see it covered with boxes and etc. Btw, we didnt put anything heavy or that sort of things on top. haha i know it's still a long time till summer but i need to know how much i will be spending during the summer on maintance. THank you! appreciate responses.

[La Voce]

Welcome aboard, you sound like a true alfista! Let's start with, where in the world are you? There may a local 75/Milano owner nearby willing to come have a look and offer advice.

[nizam]

Wow dude. That's quite the tale. Sure, post some pictures. It can't be any worse than some of the pics of neglected 75's we get on this site.

As Jim says, where are you? It would be easier for you if you had a set of local Alfisti to hang around and exchange notes (parts?) with.

[alfa75 88]

Yes, please post pictures. I'm not sure if you'll want to start with this, but you'll need to do it at some point or time- clean out the gas tank.

[slyalfa]

Dont try to start it untill a new timming belt is put on and Tensioner checked
only turn it by hand to line up the marks. if anything is frozen like a cam you will be able to tell. turing it over with the starter if the belt is bad or Tensioner or if a cam got stuck by siting you can do bigtime damage.

[darkfreeloader]

I am from California. I live in Covina which is located in LA. I dont see any alfa around here..actually i never seen one down here. But if theres anybody, please do come visit (during summer though....stuck at UC school for now)
Pictures, i can go home this weekened and post. i would gladly show the car i love.

Do i really have to clean the gas tank? It still has gas inside so yea..do i still need to? I thought you didnt have to if you already have gas =/.

[Gubi]

The gas in there is six years old. It's either varnish or jell-o at this point. If you try to start the engine with it in there, Bad Things will happen.

Do not ignore the advice about the timing belt and tensioner. If the timing belt has been sitting for six years, it is probably shot. You try to start it like that and it's quite possible it will shear the teeth off the belt and do a couple of grand in engine/valve damage. No joke.

[alfa75 88]

Woah, you live in L.A. and you've never seen an Alfa? That's almost unheard of. I can assure you, there are LOTS of Alfas in L.A.

Yeah, you probably want to clean the gas tank.. other things that I can think of off the top of my head:

- new tires (the ones you have now are probably cracked)
- new belts, including the timing belt. If you replace the timing belt, it's also a good idea to replace the water pump and the timing belt tensioner.
- check your driveshaft donuts
- new hoses
- new door/trunk rubber. That's not urgent, but if your rubber is shot, water will leak inside the car.
- the suspension bushings might be dried out, so you might need those.
- new battery, obviously

Also, you'll need to do a coolant flush, bleed the brakes and change the oil. Check your fuel and brake lines, see what shape those are in. New spark plugs, spark plugs wires and distributor cap are also good ideas. Change the oil in the transmission. I know I'm forgetting things, so either somebody will fill it in, or I'll remember and post. Either way, good luck.

Edit- your injectors might need replacing as well. It all really depends on what shape the car was in before it was parked.

Edit #2- Gubi is right, you can't afford to ignore the timing belt advice. Do NOT start or attempt to start the car until you've got that taken care of.

[Jose I]

I'm not sure if I read correctly, but if the car has been sitting for seven years with out being turned on an that same gas sitting inside the tank, that gas has turned to junk. Had the same problem with one of my milanos in the past, the gas that came out of the tank smelled like varnish.

what model milano is it? Tell us about some of the electrical problems we should be able to help, most of us have already been their.



Jose I.

[10-66kruk]

if u ever need a machanic took look at the car there i one in orange APC(alfa performance connection) u can give them a call alfas is basically all they work on 17-14279-0500

[AlfaNewB]

if the gas is inthe tank, isnt there gas in the lines, including gas filter? he may need to replace the gas pump if im not mistaking.

http://www.alfapartscatalog.com/

http://www.vickauto.com/cgi-bin/stor...x&expand=00002

http://www.centerlinealfa.com/

http://www.apedirect.com/

http://www.difatta.com/techtips/timing_belt.html

incase you need some prices on parts

[slyalfa]

I bet the all the pumps are ok the gas that sat in my spider for 10 years pumped out fine when I turned the key.
what I did was drane the gas into a gas can and dumped it in to the camery
I put in like 2 gals of old gas and filled the tank with 92 in the camery to get rid of the old gas.
the ruber gas lines might be bad. if you replace them get the line that says for injected cars on it. the other type will crack and burst after a short while.
but I think that all the Milano used the new type of gas line and should be ok.
the under the hood line is the likly one to go as it get the heat.
but I am guessing that you have so little runing time on any of the parts the most everything will be in good shape.

did you get any info out of your dad as to what the problems were?

[darkfreeloader]

I've saw one 164 around once in my area...it was color white i believe.

I am not sure what model it is. I believe it's just the regular milano with a 3.0 litre v6 engine. Its color tanish yellowish color. Not really sure what the exact color is.

Theres a alfa crew in orange county??? haha never knew that.

I didnt talk to my dad yet. i have to wait till i get home (friday). My dad doesnt like talking about these things especially since i am college so yea. I will ask him about the electronical problems once i get back(he is going to end up giving me a lecture on how to be practical and not "spend and waste" money on it but i will take all means to find out).

Thanks you guys for caring, i really can't wait to start on it! Do you guys think $900 is good enough do maintenance?

[alfa75 88]

$900 is a start, but once you count in registration and what not, it might not be enough.

[darkfreeloader]

I am very sorry not posting for a long time. I've been busy with school work and working. I finally finished cleaning out the garage (finally convinced my dad) and threw almost everything in the back shed (just finished building =D). Anyways, I finally got a good look at the car. Financially, I can start working on the car, but i only have like a month left(not including the traveling i am going to do). My friend saw the car couple weeks ago while i was cleaning. He was amazed on how "well kepted" it was. He just started working on his dream car, nissan NX1500, and wants to someday go on the track with me next to him in my ALFA =D. Here ar ethe pictures














The leather looks like it is NEW!!! Same with the floor. It is clean and spotless (besides the matt)


Is that suppose to be brown..looks like the disk is rusted, but it didnt feel rusted?