Proud owner of a new alfa

1980alfa · #1 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 02:43 PM

Hi all,
I thought i'd introduce myself to the forum my name is Roger and I recently purchased my first Alfa ever a 1980 spider veloce. I live in Mass and drove down to conneticut with a trailer to purchase this car off an older gentleman in his 80's who owned the car since new. It had been off the road for approx. 5 years and has a little over 57,000 miles on it. The car is all original from what I can tell with SPICA fuel injection and what not. The gas was never drained out of the car when parked and mice have reaked havoc on some of the electrical. I have managed to get the car running and replaced all the fluids, filters, wires, cap and rotor etc. I'm currently waiting on a new ignition pickup from international auto to replace the corroded dual pickup that was in place. I hope to have pictures shortly and am glad to be part of the forum. I can't wait to start enjoying my new (old) car!

**Geoman** · #2 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 05:03 PM

Congratulations on the new car. Well if you got it running after sitting around for 5 years, you've undoubtably learned a lot already! Believe me, there's more to come! But that's what makes it exciting. I understand about the mice, I had a family of seven of them living in the car when it was dropped off at my house. Didn't realize it until that night hearing scratching sounds coming from the car! Took a few days, but got them all evicted. Enjoy.

**vf31rhill** · #3 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 06:17 PM

If you are mechanically inclined enough to trailer a dead Alfa back home and get it running after all it has been through, I would say you are definately an excellent prospect for Alfa owership. With the scaracity of parts and lack of qualified
Alfa mechanics in most places, it will be up to YOU to keep it running and road worthy. And not to mention the high cost of professional Alfa repairs.

You certainly came to the right place to check in with your new Alfa. There is a wealth of experience and sources for parts available on this BB. You will quickly find it indespensable for Alfa ownership.

Welcome to the ship of fools (Alfa fools)

Welcome, Robert Hill in Memphis TN
1988 Black Spider Veloce

**pathung** · #4 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 10:33 PM

What, no pictures?

1980alfa · #5 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 12:11 PM

1980alfa · #6 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 12:30 PM

Thanks for the kind words. I can manage when it comes to figuring things out but its definitely nice to have a resource like this board. I actually worked on an MG midget for three years prior to taking on this project. Before that my knowledge was limited to brake jobs, tuneups and the occasional oil change. The midget opened up my eyes to restoring older cars since it was a total basket case from the PO. With the alfa at least so far it looks relatively un molested which I couldn't be happier about. Its tough to figure things out when there's nothing to go by as a reference.

For some reason i'm having trouble adding an image as a web address so it will display on the page however I was able to upload a few pictures to shutterfly of the car. I posted the link below let me know your thoughts.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/w...0Bbsm7dq1asWEA

**Tifosi** · #7 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 01:03 PM

Huh, site says you've got 3 pix but it'll only show me this one:

If'n you wanna add the others, just right click on the picture, select 'properies' and copy the URL address of the pic.

From there, come here, and type [*img]the url to the pic[/*img] (don't put the *'s in there. They're here just to be able to show you the code)

**Tifosi** · #8 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 01:23 PM

How 'bout this:

Get the pix on your hard drive, then click 'new reply' here not 'quick reply', then using the 'manage attchements' button below the text box in the reply page, upload the pix as file attachements.

You 'might' need to re-scale them if they're too large pixel~wise or filesize~wise which can be accomplished in most any art programs except MSpaint. Filetype .jpg is a good compact type.

1980alfa · #9 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 01:29 PM

Lets see if this works

1980alfa · #10 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 01:31 PM

Looks good. I need to get used t this new format. Although I work with software everyday uploading images has never been my forte' thanks for the help. I'm still looking for that last pic.

1980alfa · #11 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 01:35 PM

Found it. I'm sure there will be many more to come but this is a start. You can see the rust on the rockers thats my biggest concern right now. Providing I get it running well i'd like to repair the body and ready for paint this winter. I'm banking on this new distributor wire addressing the issue of the misfire I get at higher RPM's Should be here any day now. Wish me luck!

1980alfa · #12 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 01:37 PM

Lets try this again

**lowmileage** · #13 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1980alfa

Hi all,
I thought i'd introduce myself to the forum my name is Roger and I recently purchased my first Alfa ever a 1980 spider veloce. I live in Mass and drove down to conneticut with a trailer to purchase this car off an older gentleman in his 80's who owned the car since new. It had been off the road for approx. 5 years and has a little over 57,000 miles on it. The car is all original from what I can tell with SPICA fuel injection and what not. The gas was never drained out of the car when parked and mice have reaked havoc on some of the electrical. I have managed to get the car running and replaced all the fluids, filters, wires, cap and rotor etc. I'm currently waiting on a new ignition pickup from international auto to replace the corroded dual pickup that was in place. I hope to have pictures shortly and am glad to be part of the forum. I can't wait to start enjoying my new (old) car!