Milano purchase advice needed pls!

[dave_fonz_164]

i know this may have been spoken about but i really need some tips and things to look for since i most probably will be buying a 3.0 milano in a month if me and the guy can agree on the price. the car is an 87 2.5 swapped to a 3.0 with 3.0 tranny, the power steering unit has been removed and the car is dropped 2 inches. the car is only driven in the summer and belongs to an alfa specialist mecanic who is very well known


what i need from you guys is a cheklist of important things to look for and ask. all info would be greatly appreciated!

[genius]

Dave

The one thing I missed when I purchased mine was the dreaded tin-worm that was developing out of sight....The way the 75's were constructed gives ample opportunity for the space under the scuttle (wiper) panel to become full of leaves...

This can cause either of two problems to occur...either the heater will be become blocked by foliage which may cause a fire....

or the drain holes become blocked causing standing water and eventually rust at the top of the firewall which is a ba****d to fix.


Hope this helps

[CrowBar]

Rust around the rear wheel arches, and around the front fenders where they meet the front bumper trim. Classic water and grime traps.

You will absolutely be replacing the guibos on the driveshaft, as well as the center bearing and center bearing support.

You absolutely will be replacing the exhaust from the center back if it hasn't been done already.

You absolutely will be replacing the rear wheel bearings.

That's about it.

-CB

[Hit an Apex]

Head Gasket

See when the Grakes were done last

Thats all i can think of for the moment..

[bill_bain]

Timing belt on a V6 -- it you can't positively be certain when it was last changed or its more than 30K miles since its last change, you'll need to change it ASAP so figure that cost right in.

[genius]

Oh yeah....I forgot

....have a good look at the clutch...If you need to replace it you'll need to be best friends with bank manager !! (assuming the cost in the US is similar to NZ)..

[AlfaRacer75]

Dave,

I know you asked this in my Monster Milano thread, sorry I didn't get around to answering sooner.

There is a really good FAQ and list of things to look for on the GTV6.ORG site.

Check out these sites: http://www.gtv6.org/gtv6faq.htm
and http://www.gtv6.org/check.htm


Definitely find out when the timing belt was replaced last. Also find out which kind of tensioner it has. If it has the new style non-oil-fed type then I reccomend replacing it and the timing belt IMMEDIATELY, use an original oil fed type with the oil passage plugged or use a manual tensioner like the one from Zat.

Get under the car and look at the driveshaft donuts, look for and cracks, missing chunks or dry rot.

Check for oil & coolant mixed, check compression, see how well it shifts, feel wheel bearing for play, and check for rust really well.

[AR4me]

Other issues worth paying attention to:
- ABS (if the 2.5 you are looking at has that)
- power steering rack (sounds like it is gone on the car?)
- AC
- 2nd gear synchro
- Rev counter (will show too low), maybe minor thing but tends to go.

If the car is closing in on 150k and those have not been done, chances are you'll be looking at some of them.

Jes

[dave_fonz_164]

Thanks guys, ill be going to see the Milano next week. It was originaly a 2.5 but he swapped it for a 3.0 and took out the power steering unit and replaced it with an alfetta unit. the only mods are a 2 inch drop with koni adjustables. the car is only summer driven so forget about rust but i will make sure and ask all the important mechanical questions. the good thing is that its not a garage queen and he drives it everyday

[bill_bain]

I don't know that I'd go for a non-power steering Milano. The Milano power steering unit gives wonderful road feel and makes the car a real joy to drive. The Alfetta non-power steering unit is the same (IIRC -- could be wrong on this) as on the GTV6. There are a number of GTV6 owners who have put power steering from a Milano in their cars to compensate for the GTV6's heavy low speed steering effort. Since the Milano is even heavier than the GTV6, AND the steering wheel is smaller than on the GTV6 (therefore less mechanical advantage when turning the wheel), I'd be concerned that a non-PS Milano might be less nimble than a PS one, and it's the car's nimbleness that makes it such a blast to drive. I don't know whether the Euro 75s all had PS or not, but if not, perhaps some of our friends from the right side of the pond could comment as well.

[genius]

Bill...

...my other half returned home from our local AROC meeting last week with an original and absolutely mint sales brochure for the 75 for me. It covers all of the specs & options.....Power steering was not available on either the 1.6 or 1.8 but was an option on the 2.0, 2.0 turbodiesel & 2.5 Cloverleaf. Unfortunately it's an early publication and doesn't cover the T/S or 3.0 (but I presume it was an option or standard on both of the later models).

Dave...I've had a bit of experience with driving a 75 with & without P/S (the pipes died !) and I can assure you that without P/S is no fun at all....the car has all the response of a bulldozer !!...but don't let me put you off....enjoy your new toy

[AlfaRacer75]

I have no power steering in my 24v Milano project. I'm using a GTV6 steering rack. It's no fun at parking speeds with my monster 225 width front tires and small diameter (350mm) MOMO steering wheel, but once you're moving it's not at all bad. I don't feel like I have to muscle the car around when attacking a twisty road unless it's like a 1st gear hairpin.

If you have to parallel park often then you won't like the non-PS!

[Mezevenf]

The earliest Euro 75 (like the one I own) has power steering, I am pretty sure ALL Milano's/75's come stock with it.

EDIT: Well, looks like I was wrong.

[verdegrrl]

Reverse gear to make sure the teeth aren't chipped.

I haven't bypassed the power steering in my Verde, but from the other non-PS cars I've had, if you live in town, consider a car with PS or convert back. If you don't use it in town, don't worry.

BTW, running a PS car w/o pump is nothing like a rack never intended for PS. One has seals and other things that may become a safety issue due to possible binding from lack of lubrication as well as increase effort. The other is very simple if high effort. I do not suggest running a PS rack w/o PS.

[dave_fonz_164]

ive decided not to go with the car, after closer examination my head ruled over my heart and decided to stay away from a converted 3.0 milano that hasnt been a garage queen. i took into consideration that im 20 and a student and need a more recent car with less mechanical complexities such as the milanos drivetrain setup, gearbox, etc.......


after driving a 164LS, i got hooked and i am now leaning more towards that sort of car wich is more solid, reliable and current(1994-1995). my patient journey to find an alfa continues!