I have joined the 80's! New Milano Verde owner needs help...

Storsav · #1 (**permalink**) 05-19-2006, 03:19 PM

I recently bought a 1987 Verde that was for sale here on the boards. Thanks to the previous owner for a great transaction and to Foreign Auto Menders for doing the t-belt and water pump. One question I do have is about what the previous owner thought might be the clutch.

Well, having not owned a Milano before, I'm learning the shakes and rattles of these cars. I don't know if it's the clutch, or something in the driveline. But the car shudders when launching. Especially at a standing start in first. Sometimes I can finesse the car out of first by slowly releasing the clutch with low rpms. If i'm rolling the clutch engages fine out of first, and there's some shudder out of second too. Third and up don't seem to make any noise. I know when my old 74 GTV started having driveshaft problems these shudders were similar, still I don't know if it could be the clutch (can adjustments be made).

Is this the clutch or the driveline? The car has only 58k miles and the drive shaft was completely redone at 30k miles (about 3 years ago). I'm thinking maybe the rear engine mount? as low speed take off copuld accentuate any play in the driveline.

Thoughts? I'd appreciate any advice. I have searched through the archives on this, but didn't fine much. Need a new perspective. Pics of the car to come.

**La Voce** · #2 (**permalink**) 05-19-2006, 03:56 PM

Congrats! You have bought one of the finest sport saloons ever made.
My Verde (78,366 miles) has the slightest of shudder IF I add too much throttle at takeoff in first gear. If I feather the clutch out at little to no throttle, there is no shudder. Other than that, none exists.

Storsav · #3 (**permalink**) 05-20-2006, 02:30 PM

Any other thoughts about the shuddering issue?

Also the PO said that some suspension mods had been done. I'm gonna get under the car soon, but doesn't the rear end of the car look lower than normal? Or are Verdes like this?

Greg Gordon · #4 (**permalink**) 05-20-2006, 02:41 PM

A shudder when launching sounds like a driveshaft issue. It could be the clutch but it's not likely.
Greg,
www.hiperformancestore.com

JoeCab · #5 (**permalink**) 05-20-2006, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Storsav

I'm thinking maybe the rear engine mount? as low speed take off copuld accentuate any play in the driveline.

Storsav · #6 (**permalink**) 05-20-2006, 02:54 PM

Joe, the rear engine mounts really are NLA? How about in Europe? Do any of the performance manufacturers make replacement ones? Oh also aside from moving the rubber parts around, what is the best way to check the mount and guibos? Thanks.

JoeCab · #7 (**permalink**) 05-20-2006, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Storsav

Joe, the rear engine mounts really are NLA? How about in Europe? Do any of the performance manufacturers make replacement ones? Oh also aside from moving the rubber parts around, what is the best way to check the mount and guibos? Thanks.

**La Voce** · #8 (**permalink**) 05-20-2006, 07:33 PM

Good looking Milano! Yes, it appears she has been lowered in the rear, a quick peek underneath will probably reveal red springs.

**kredden** · #9 (**permalink**) 05-21-2006, 05:43 AM

I just bought a ton of new parts for my Verde in the last month spreading the wealth among all the normal vendors since most were out of some of the key ones. I did manage to find a rear engine mount. I'm not 100% sure but I think I ended up getting that from DiFatta.

Kevin

Storsav · #10 (**permalink**) 05-21-2006, 09:45 AM

Thanks Kevin, and I'll be sending you my VIN# soon too.

SamW · #11 (**permalink**) 05-23-2006, 12:56 PM

Just a thought, having the rear lowered can cause the rear exhaust to rub on the passangers axle, proabably most likey to rub on take off due to rear end squat. I guess I need to order a rear engine mount for my GTV6, I just put one in my Verde...

tomp · #12 (**permalink**) 05-23-2006, 01:29 PM

I just replaced the rear mount in my verde. Its an interesting job because I had to unbolt front mounts and rear in order to drop the rear mount low enough to knock out the old mount. had to heat it really hot with a propane torch then it came out by using a drift and tapping around the edge of the metal shell. Helps to freeze new mount and heat the housing when installing. Wear gloves to prevent burns! New mount definately made an improvement in the overall drivetrain behaviour.
-Tom P.

Storsav · #13 (**permalink**) 05-23-2006, 05:31 PM

Okay update: Stewart Jr. has the car at Alfa Performance Connection. Looks like it was the clutch after all, but hopefully I can get by with replacing a few parts and not the whole clutch. He's taking care of some other things, and I look forward to using them for all the car's needs to come.

The car has Koni sport shocks and Ricambi Sport (red) rear springs and a thicker rear sway with poly bushings too, so I'm happy that the car is revealing good things too.

DonBeeson · #14 (**permalink**) 05-23-2006, 05:41 PM

Any ideas what happened to the Verde Phonedial wheels? I thought the wineglass wheels only came on the platinum?

Storsav · #15 (**permalink**) 05-23-2006, 05:46 PM

The 87's had the wineglass wheels. 88 and 89 switched to the phonedial. However! the spare in this car is the GTV6 style wheel. My guess is that it had different rims on at some point and were switched back to these as the tires are quite new, and the PO mentioed that there were different wheels on at one time.