My new daily driver - Juliet

[Grant]

Hey Jes, sorry to drag up an old post.

What spring rates did you settle on for the street? Is that a G2 poly bushing that is on top of the coilover in the front, maybe a couple pages back? Long story, but I have Ron's coilovers in the front (only) and am trying to get rid of some clunking and excess NVH.

Would you recommend I just slap on the rubber isolator from Colin's Bilsteins on top of the RSR shock body?

Also, how is the poly bushing for the upper control arm? Does it bring in even more road noise? Basically my car is pretty noisy over expansion joints and I'm trying to figure out why.

[AR4me]

I think I used poly from Performtek, but your rubber ones from the Bilstein's should work fine. I used stock on a previous RSR.

No, I don't think the poly on the upper control arm adds any noise.

Link clunky noisy? The more racy you go, the more noise... Non-rubber joints, e.g. in front sway bar, in Watts, ... can be more noisy, particular if they are worn. At least that is my experience...

Jes

[Grant]

How often do you need to re-lube the poly stuff, if ever? My poly rear end has been grunching over dips bumps since about 3 months after the installation.

Have you gotten wear in your rod ends yet? Luis' front end is about the same as mine, but his car is totally silent over bumps...with 17's.

Also, what spring rates did you decide on? I'm wondering what the best bet is for track/street duties. Does your kit feel a bit under damped on big freeway bumps? On my car and Luis' car, it felt like the car bobbed a bit after a big hit...but maybe that's why street driving is so supple.

[5yearplan]

As for wear, I would say depending on the compound, every few months as poly is geared more toward track fitments i.e. probably wont be on the car long as you are driving it to the limit every time. The best was to tell is to feel the poly. Depending on how wet or dirty your climate and driving conditions are, i would be more concerned about water or sand/particles penetrating into the surface the suspension component is moving against. as for noise, you may have to lube it more depending on how squeaky it gets. How much louder is it now than it was when you first installed it?

[AR4me]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grant How often do you need to re-lube the poly stuff, if ever? My poly rear end has been grunching over dips bumps since about 3 months after the installation. Have you gotten wear in your rod ends yet? Luis' front end is about the same as mine, but his car is totally silent over bumps...with 17's. Also, what spring rates did you decide on? I'm wondering what the best bet is for track/street duties. Does your kit feel a bit under damped on big freeway bumps? On my car and Luis' car, it felt like the car bobbed a bit after a big hit...but maybe that's why street driving is so supple.

[AR4me]

Dredded smog at Test Only center was due for registration renewal. Last time (1.5-2 years ago) I just drove by a smog station after buying the car and it passed as is. I figured, hmm, haven't changed anything to the stock engine besides oil changes and other fluid change, so, why not try same recipe again. My favorit place is a good 25 mile drive which gets everything nice and warm. So, just drove in, and it passed once again Woohooo It is the rolling road test with measurements at 15 mph and 25 mph. Though, one measurement was close The car sat for 40 min at the smog station before it went on, so it cooled down a bit. Anyway, peace for another 2 years...

Next time, maybe I should put new plugs, cap & rotor, air filter, etc. Afterall, the miles add up. Though, it runs well.

Jes

[AR4me]

I haven't updated this thread in a while, but there has been regular maintenance and a few "upgrades".

In terms of maintenance I recently replaced ABS pressure pump, accumulator, and pressure switch with the Buick components, and spliced Buick connectors into the Alfa harness so I could use the Buick pressure switch: http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/mila...tml#post796530

I finally got around to having the rear seat cushion and back reupholstered to match the front leather Sparco seats. The reupholsterer did a good job of matching the leather, thet stitching, the lines of stiching, preforation etc. to the Sparco seats. Pics below.

I have also updated the audio system in the car, including modern features. I will post some pics when I can get home before dark to take a few...

Jes

[75evo]

Wow, the interior is beautiful! This car is screaming for euro bumpers!

[junglejustice]

WOW! The rear looks great Jes! If I may ask; how much to have the two rear sections recovered?

Is it real leather!?

[Rookie ROX]

Looks great Jes. That's what I've always wanted to do, except of course any spare money I had went to go-faster bits!

*right clicks and saves pictures*

You should consider having something stiched onto the front seats in my opinion. I don't know how'd you go about that, but even just having Sparco or maybe the Alfa logo embossed back in would just finish it off. Along the lines of the newer Alfas perhaps.

Something like this perhaps?



I just think it would break it up a little and be a nice finishing touch.

I hope you've got grilles over those speakers though, it's a little unclear in the pictures. You don't want to accidentally put a foot through them!

ROCK ON
R~R

[AR4me]

Thanks guys.

Euro bumpers would be nice, but I'm guessing that just like the Evo rear bumper you will have to fab rear mounting for the Milano, i.e. not a bolt on. If I go through that trouble I might as well put on an Evo bumper - if just the fit wasn't so poor

Yes, rears are real leather (like the Sparcos) - the car smells like a shoe store now Including hide it was $700.

Speakers do have covers. Yeah, it would probably look good with stitching, but I like the slightly less "decorated" as well.

Jes

[spiderrey]

Thats one sweet looking interior. I agree less is more, very clean and simple. Gives it class. I was very dissapointed when i purchased my Milano a few months ago and found out it had the wrong recaros. But this is a sweet solution that actually looks alot better. To bad my rear 1/4 panel makes the thought of having a sweet car impossible on the outside.

[75evo]

Jes,

very easy to mount the rear bumpers. Minimal fab work. The fit is great and your car will look very clean! Evo bumpers look a bit too racy.

[AR4me]

As promised, some pics of the new audio system.

I wanted a headunit meeting the following requirements:
- Improve Milano radio ergonomics - or lack thereof
- Large touch screen
- Nav option
- Bluetooth option
- Full on-screen iPod and iPhone control
- Line output for front, rear, and sub

Large screen in the Milano radio location may seem impossible, but I found this cool unit from Kenwood that allows full and fine control of angle of screen when open, how fra from front the screen sits when open I did some measurement, and figured it should work and not interfer with the shifter. Only caveat is that shifter needs to be in reverse, 2nd, or 4th when opening and closing the screen. The headunit comes with a remote and it can be operated from faceplate (if screen is closed), the remote, or the touch screen.

I bought the Nav and Bluetooth units, mounted under the front passenger seat, communicating with the headunit over a proprietary bus. I purchased new front (with tweeter) and rear speakers. I used a subwoofer and a 2 channel and a 4 channel amplifier out of a previous car. The 2 channel is bridged to drive the subwoofer.

With all the integration and by connecting handbrake switch, headlight switch signal etc. to the headunit it meets all modern standards. Regarding cost I purchased well below MSRP from online seller. It was a hassle as it took 1-2 months with continued emailing to get all the stuff... but it was worth the huge savings over MSRP.

Some pics below:
1. headunit closed.
2. Profile with screen open and adjusted for good angle for driver.
3. Another profile shot.
4. Ipod control.
5. View from driver's seat.

Jes

[AR4me]

Some pictures of the navigation screen.

1. Close-up
2. From drivers seat

For the front speakers, I built a wodden frame that is glue to the back of the door panel to add stiffnes to the speaker mount. The tweeters require just a small expansion of the stock opening and fits nicely.

3. Front tweeter and main speaker
4. Tweeter
5. Main front speaker

Jes