1976 Giulia Super 1.6

wirelessjunkie · #1 (**permalink**) 06-20-2006, 05:31 PM

Need some help here. I have just fitted 4 new Koni adjustable shocks to my car and found the rear to be much lower than the front. Is this the car's natural stance or my springs are kaput? Appreciate as much feedback as possible as I'll be entering it for the local 1000 miles mille miglia at the end of June

Alleggerita · #2 (**permalink**) 06-20-2006, 07:35 PM

Rear lower than front is good on a 105 series Alfa. If the nose is lower they usually don't drive well - how do you spell understeer? Max Banks has likened it to a wheelbarrow which is probably the best description I have seen yet. Having said that, the rears start sagging more quickly than the fronts but that's not a huge issue. Usually when the rears start sagging the driver's side will be lower than the passenger because of driver weight, fuel, etc. Once it starts hanging down on one side it's definitely time to change rear springs. If that's not the case, I wouldn't worry at all for now.

Andrew · #3 (**permalink**) 06-21-2006, 07:05 AM

In my experience, almost all stock Giulia sedans sit a big higher at the rear than at the front. Good or bad, that's how all mine have been, all with stock suspension. I assumed it was for load-carrying ability, since it is a four-door and does have a big trunk.

I don't know why the ride height would have changed by switching shocks, unless the old shocks were gas type, and were elevating the rear a bit. The rear springs have a much lower rate than the front, so maybe they'd respond to such a change more than the front. Just a theory.

Andrew

**italiansedanman** · #4 (**permalink**) 06-22-2006, 01:27 AM

I'm with Andrew on this one, they had greater load carrying ability and thus slightly taller springs. Lets just thank the nice people at Arese for not giving the Giulia Super leaf springs like Fiat did on the otherwise lovely 125!

wirelessjunkie · #5 (**permalink**) 06-23-2006, 09:23 AM

Hmmh. I'll snap some pics tomorrow for a better perspective.

wirelessjunkie · #6 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 04:28 AM

Manage to take some pictures today. The trunk is not exactly empty. Filled with a car battery, 1 audio amplifier, 1 subwoofer with custom enclosure a box of old shock absorbers.

**italiansedanman** · #7 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 05:20 AM

wirelessjunkie - that is a gorgeous Giulia. Considering that you've got a bit (a bit?) of stuff in the boot, i'd say it looks normal. What a great car! You've got no chrome trims around the roof gutter, did you remove them?

Alleggerita · #8 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 07:12 AM

Gourgeous looking car. The color really works well on it. Did you replace the bumpers and the front signal lights? They are earlier than '76. Did you change grille, hood and trunk as well for that earlier look?

BTW, '76 never had the chrome trim.

Given your junk collection

in the trunk, it sits normal. If anything, it sits flat rather than low in the rear when you look at the bottom door shut line.

wirelessjunkie · #9 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 09:21 AM

I do have the chrome trims on the doors. It's in the boot. The car is a 76 in its original form for the right hand drive market which was still fitted with the older trims. My guess would be that it was manufactured in 1975 as the registration was in early 1976. Will take some more pictures of the car from the front and rear.

wirelessjunkie · #10 (**permalink**) 06-28-2006, 03:20 AM

Got some pics I snapped last year.

**italiansedanman** · #11 (**permalink**) 06-28-2006, 04:02 AM

wireless junkie - what country are you in?

Alleggerita · #12 (**permalink**) 06-28-2006, 06:39 AM

What a grand looking car. Now I got a whole bunch of questionss. Now are you saying that Alfa still built the old body style for RHD markets while they were already producing the LHD Nuova (Nuova production started in 74)? What is your chassis prefix? 105.28? I assume it is a 1600 model. Is the car identified as a Giulia Super or Giulia Super 1.6? Where was it originally delivered?

wirelessjunkie · #13 (**permalink**) 06-30-2006, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by italiansedanman

wireless junkie - what country are you in?

wirelessjunkie · #14 (**permalink**) 06-30-2006, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alleggerita

What a grand looking car. Now I got a whole bunch of questionss. Now are you saying that Alfa still built the old body style for RHD markets while they were already producing the LHD Nuova (Nuova production started in 74)? What is your chassis prefix? 105.28? I assume it is a 1600 model. Is the car identified as a Giulia Super or Giulia Super 1.6? Where was it originally delivered?

**101/105guy** · #15 (**permalink**) 06-30-2006, 08:17 AM

I have to hear all the details about your air conditioning system!! Looks like a very clean installation!