I finally got a GTV !!!!!! - Page 8

**smestas** · #**106** (**permalink**) 07-03-2007, 06:31 PM

Well it’s been a while since I have done a GTV update.

Let’s see. A few months back the car was in an accident and the front driver’s side was pushed in. GTV -vs- Hillside = Hillside wins. The car has been sitting in my garage while I debated what to do. Since I sold my other Alfa I'm back to the GTV and I think I'm going to strip it all down and have the body work done and painted. I'm not going for a 10 point concourse car, just something that has decent paint and interior and can be enjoyed. Should I be starting with a new tub or stick with this one. The one pro about this tub is that it has very minimal rust issues. I'm hoping that it's frame is straight. Many have said that the damage is not bad but I'm a bit skeptical.

What do you guys think?

**smestas** · #**107** (**permalink**) 07-03-2007, 06:33 PM

a few more photos of the damage.

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**smestas** · #**108** (**permalink**) 07-03-2007, 06:35 PM

Here are a few photos of the beginning of tear down.

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GoldCloverLeaf · #**109** (**permalink**) 07-03-2007, 07:12 PM

It doesnt look that bad, a new front valance panel is available in the UK and the rest could be beaten back into place by a skilled person. Hows the door gap?

**italcarguy** · #**110** (**permalink**) 07-03-2007, 09:58 PM

Too many GTV's are getting chopped up these days. There are plenty of good body men who can pound it out rather than cut and weld. DO NOT CUT THIS CAR! Take it to Kevin.

PSk · #**111** (**permalink**) 07-03-2007, 10:40 PM

Do not strip the car anymore BEFORE it is put on a chassis machine and pulled. Modern chassis machines are designed for car on their wheels thus you will make it more difficult and expensive if you strip any further.

Really this is a 2 hour job for a panel shop to pull 90% straight and then you can think about whether it needs a new nose panel or not. This car will NOT need to have the front chassis cut off, just pulled straight and it will be as good as new.

Please talk to a proper panel shop as I bent my Alfa Sud years ago as bad as that and it was straight within 1/2 an hour on a chassis machine. Thus do not under estimate modern panel beating methods ... bloody amazing.

I'm going to ask Akitman to have a look at this thread as while you may not believe me, maybe you will believe a professional Alfa panel beater

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Pete

BlpltGTV · #**112** (**permalink**) 07-03-2007, 11:15 PM

Simon,
This is good to hear. I thought you were unloading all the extra cars, I'm glad to see that you decided to keep the gtv. The damage doesn't look all that bad. A good body guy should be able to pull the majority of the damage, and a hammer and dolly will get the rest. I've been there and done that. When I got my Datsun, the front end had at least as much damage, but I learned how to do bodywork, and its really not that bad.

Will

GoldCloverLeaf · #**113** (**permalink**) 07-03-2007, 11:38 PM

Chassis alignment jigs are pretty cool, some of the newer shops have laser alignment jigs . You enter the cars factory chassis geometry into the computer and the machine will make whatever pulls neccesary to get it back to the correct geometry.

Hey if it can be done on a truck it can be done on a little GTV

MidLifeCrisis · #**114** (**permalink**) 07-04-2007, 06:45 AM

Simon,

The damage to your car looks really familiar... it's really not that bad and it doesn't look to me like the frame was damaged. Check out my before and after pics below - I did the work myself:

GTD · #**115** (**permalink**) 07-04-2007, 09:12 AM

Simon
Ouch!
You should have posted on the Injured Alfa thread.
As others have stated - it's repairable. Have the best repairs done that you can afford; you won't regret it.

**smestas** · #**116** (**permalink**) 09-25-2007, 03:28 PM

Well I started strip the car so I can send it out for body and paint. I pulled the motor out last night so I thought I'd give a little progress report.

I opted to pull the motor and transmission out as a whole. A few pointers that I have for others doing the same job is to move the lift point hoop forward to help you get the right angle. The other tip would be to disconnect the steering cross bar ahead of time so you will have enough clearance for the transmission to come out. Both of these tips came to me after talking to Anthony Rimicci and telling him the motor wont come out. So a big thanks to him and Santos Italian Car Service for taking my calls.

Other then that it went fairly easy and was a one man extraction.

Next step is to remove all the interior.

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GregTV · #**117** (**permalink**) 09-25-2007, 04:07 PM

I always liked your GTV especially because of its original paint and patina and the fact that it was a little rough around the edges. Seems like too many GTV’s are getting so polished it would be crazy to drive them… really drive them. Good luck but don’t make it too nice

MidLifeCrisis · #**118** (**permalink**) 09-25-2007, 07:26 PM

I believe that these projects are as much fun and just as satisfying as driving the car... enjoy it.

GTD · #**119** (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 05:04 AM

Simon
It's good to see you've got the boys involved; (like you could keep them out of it?)

As the years pass and they come into their own; Man, you're going to pay your dues as a Pop!

Enjoy!

AlfaNewB · #**120** (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 10:43 AM

is that you 25 years ago?