NLA parts

[AlfaNewB]

the door window gaskets/window guides for milano. i havent seen those available. oh and on the dash of a milano where the switches for the fog lights are, there are 2 plastic parts, the first part is the base, and the second part is the cover that snaps onto the base part. the switches are located onthe left and right side of the speedometer, i would post a pic if i had one.

[Slackjaw]

Let me add a few things to the list of hard-to-find or NLA items. Just off the top of my head:

* Molded carpet sets with the pad for the dead-pedal for the Milano and GTV6. Trunk too!
* Interior door handle trim rings for the GTV6
* Gaskets for exterior mirrors on the GTV6 where they mount to the door
* Bumper-to-body rubber "accordions" for Milanos
* Black plastic caps for seatbelt mounting bolts on the GTV6
* Various plastic covers for the under-hood wiring junctures on Milano and GTV6
* White-ish plastic clips that hold the heater hoses on the Milano inner fender
* Rubber intake hoses that mount to the AFM from the airbox on GTV6 and Milano
* Sun visors (and clips!) for Milano and GTV6
* Plastic shrouds for the steering column, especially on GTV6, including mounting screws
* Dare I say it... GTV6 dashboards with updated material that won't crack from the sun!
* Plastic piece on the underside center of the GTV6 hood where the hood spring rides.

[Tim-Spruill]

The plastic should be here Friday or Monday. Monday is more likely. When I pour the cap I will also pour a small sample in a popsicle stick like pattern. I can then check it out for flexibility and what not. If this plastic is flexible enough for all these clips then I will let everyone know. I will look to see if any of my clips are salvageable, but I doubt it. If anyone has any in good shape that they are willing to let me mold off of, then send me a private message and we can exchange information.

Tim

[kredden]

Tim,

Which clips are you looking for?

Kevin

[Tim-Spruill]

Really, any clips would do, from any car, but what I was refering to was the wiring loom/hood prop clip for spiders.



Also, has anyone ever taken one of the milano or gtv6 gas caps apart? I am going to make an attempt tonight to take mine apart to make the correct molds when the plastic gets here, but I am nervous about damaging it. Verdemilano mentioned that the locks are easy to change, and this makes me think it is an easy process to get the whole thing apart. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Or better yet, if anyone has a damaged or destroyed one sitting around they could just send me some pics of the inner workings. (I know you guys keep trash on the shelves, don't try to hide it, I do it too!!) Wish me luck. I will report my findings tommorow morn.

Tim

[Craig]

G'Day Tim,

I'm not sure if the Milano gas cap is the same as that of the 75 but if it is, you need to break it apart at the seam indicated in the pic.

[Tim-Spruill]

The caps are similar, but not exactly the same.



The milano cap has a piece that holds the threaded part captive. This "captivator" is somehow attached to the part that you grip. So the three major parts are the "grip", the "captivator", and "threaded" center piece. There are some other bits, but lets ignore them for now. So basically the threaded part is held between the grip and the captivator. I pried and examined but cannot figure out how the captivator is held in place. Must be a snap section built into the pieces.

Like I mentioned before, if someone has one that is in pieces, or has had one apart before, please let me know the secrets. I do not like the words, break this part off....

Tim

[Craig]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim-Spruill I do not like the words, break this part off....

[Tim-Spruill]

Alright Craig, its you and me now. I have attached a link with pictures of my cap, all in one piece. I tried to clearly show the differences between the Milano cap and the 75 cap. It is my belief that they are almost identical in construction except that I have no lip to grasp because the glued in piece is inset rather than exposed like yours. Through much careful prying and examination I have decided the glued surface is on the "bottom" of the "captivator". There is a lip on the handle side and the lock cylinder side, but there is nothing else to pry them against. Today I tried using a couple of those rubber jar lid opener things to twist the pieces apart. No luck. I have taken the Milano "offline" all this week so I can do the gas cap thing and maybe a few other projects. If that stretchs into next week it would be ok. I just want to start making some progress. I have a box full of plastic stuff sitting in a closet, just waiting to become a gas cap or three.

So, someone help me out here. If I knew I could do this successfully I would just break the original and mold the glued back together pieces. If I did not consider these gas caps so important, I would just move on to another part. Any advice would be apreciated.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ishapespace/Gascapproject

Tim

[Craig]

G'Day Tim,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim-Spruill Alright Craig, its you and me now.

[Tim-Spruill]

I finally got the gas cap to come apart. The "captivator" was glued on the bottom face with some crummy glue. The careful use of o-ring picks and some dental tools brought the whole thing to pieces. I cleaned up all the edges somewhat and have made molds of two of the four pieces. The rubber molds should be cured enough to remove the originals tonight, but need another 24 hours before they are ready for actual casting. This is so exciting. The rubber stuff makes a mess, regardless of how careful you are. It is like trying to work with honey. I took several pictures and will post them tonight. We should have the first brand new plastic bits by Monday!!!!

Tim

[Tim-Spruill]

Things are progressing nicely. Aparently I got caught up in the moment and did not take as many pictures as I thought. I will take some more soon and get those up on the same link I used earlier. For now you will just have to imagine me making little plastic and rubber bits on the kitchen counter.

The first four pieces I made were decent in quality. Only one is even close to what I would consider usable. But even that one is too rough for real life use. A night ago I made some additional molds to use with the original ones that should correct the problem. I ordered additional supplies on Monday. I ran out of little tiny measuring cups and could not find them anywhere in town. Thats fine because 100 cups cost almost nothing from the plastic people. When the supplies get here tommorow or Thursday I will be able to do more plastic casting. If these come out nicely (less than perfection is unacceptable) then I will begin casting molds of the larger pieces. I figure it is more efficient to do the experimenting on smaller bits before wasting plastic on big stuff.

I also have a GTV6 cap lined up for molding once the Milano caps are in production.

Just wanted to keep everyone posted!

Tim

[jontg428]

I think its great what you are doing, taking up the slack where alfa suppliers have left off, keep it up!

[Tim-Spruill]

Alfisti,

long time. no update. So here goes...

After about 2 weeks of trials I have finally made 5 usable pieces. It took alot of experiementation to get the techinique down pat. I am now able to consistently replicate the small squarish piece and the captivator. The pieces are usable and of decent finish quality. I may have to remake the mold for the captivator if the test subjects do not like the quality. Either way it has been an excellent learning experience, and now I am ready to make the bigger pieces.

This weekend I will start making the molds for the two larger elements. It will probably take a week to finish. Each mold takes 24hrs to cure before I can do more molding, and the two larger pieces are going to require at least three seperate molds to make a whole. I have all the supplies I need and am ready to go!

I have posted more pics at the same link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/ishapespace/Gascapproject

In one you can see some of the rejects I made along the way. You can also see the molds, me, some math, etc. I hope these pics make this as much fun for everyone else as it has been for me.

Tim

[Tim-Spruill]

I have my first complete prototype almost finished. I just have to tweak the lock clip and glue the "captivator ring" into place. It is not cosmetically perfect but will function correctly for testing purposes. I am still trying to get the exact procedure down on this last casting. The handle has to be exactly perfect. It is the part everyone will see. The last thing I want is for people to look at someones car and say "you must have one of those reproduction caps...."

Everything is ready to go. I have all the molds, supplies for all the clips, and the springs. As long as my test units continue to be functional but ugly I will send them to various people to give a trial run. Once I have something that looks great I will send them to more important people and possibly open up for sales...

It is so close I can taste it! Besides I am tired of driving the spider while the milano just sits and collects dust! It is time to wake up the old beast and go get some gas!!

Tim