Question for all the "barn find" owners

[Red83Spider]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevew If I may be so bold, what was your cost of liberating this beauty from the barn. Also, looked over your list and congratulations on saving the radiator cap! Be sure to check that drain lines from the front cowl are clear. A transparent issue till the problems with "creeping lightness" begin. Others can tell you about additional drains that should be checked (around the back of the convertible top tray, perhaps?). Cables for the trunk and hood release can be failing. The trunk cable rear attachment lurks out of sight under the carpet in (wait for it) the trunk! Mine was ready to go when someone mentioned it on the BB. Failure of the hood release cable can have you looking for your Sawzall. Backup arrangements on both are a wise option. Regarding the brake MC, tell us about the pedal travel. Believe there is also a suggested "heavy up" of a cable from the alternator that improves system voltage. You'll need to search for that one...helped my charging system quite a bit. Oh, and a variety of ground points get tired, with unpleasant consequences. The oil vapor separator is notorious for clogging with one of the first symptoms being a dip stick that keeps mysteriously popping up. And of course you have a pan guard, right? How many mile on her? I trust my suggestions will stir the memory juices of others. Best wishes.

[etip]

Sounds like you've hit most everything that you can do preventitively. Now just fix things as they break.... Looks great and congrats.

(I have been working on a barn find Duetto for the past 3 years and it's great fun.)

[new2alpha]

my 71 was a barn find. 18 years in a garage. 18 years of dust. A non Alfa mechanic gave up on her. I gave her 4 years

[LucaMax]

Wow 18 years. How much work (you said 4 years) to bring it current condition? Body, motor, interior paint? The car looks beautiful...that's a cool color.

[Red83Spider]

Quote:

Originally Posted by new2alpha my 71 was a barn find. 18 years in a garage. 18 years of dust. A non Alfa mechanic gave up on her. I gave her 4 years

[vwtlat]

Beautiful! What a great save.

[new2alpha]

I paid $2500 for her. She was complete. The interior was in pieces but all there. Almost nothing worked. I think I replaced all the items listed at the beginning of this post and more but fortunately the engine hasn't been cracked. Perfect compression. Once adjusted the Spica has been strong and steady. The timing on the Spica was 180' out and is the reason she would not run. I believe the rear wheel bearings and the motor mounts were the hardest thing but working on a car is sort of like being in pain. When you are in it you can't recall what it is like not to be in pain and when it is over our minds help us forget the horror. There was zero rust but the RR qtr panel was stoved in and there where many many smaller dent including the bump in the hood, visable in the photo, from the oil cap. Thus the paint job. Matched the original color from the underside of the cowling. `

[LucaMax]

Nice work, can you post a few more pics?

[Anfanuts]

If a SPica, the SPica oil filter.

Many clean and recoat the fuel tank.

Replace all soft fuel lines.

Clean OVS if one.

Chances are very high that all hydraulic appliacances are bad including boosters.

Front brake hoses.

Check/replace thermostat.

Main fuel filter.

[81spiderman]

I have also been resirrecting A 1981 Spider which sat for ten years, I also had a mouse living/crapping in the trunk! Looking at your list looks a lot like what I have been going through. The one item i didn't see on your list and you might want to check is the gas tank. Mine had crap, looked like rust flakes, in the tank and the pump wires were gone? so was the tank pump filter? I removed the tank had it cleaned at a radiator shop (also had them test the radiator). I also feel the need to go through everything I can and make sure it's at it's best. I'm also documenting every step with photos so if there is anything I can do to help let me know. I have my Spica pump being rebuilt and the head is getting a valve job. Once i get them back I will be assembling it and get it running.

Enjoy your journey and good luck.

Dave

[new2alpha]

Ditto on the gas tank. JC Whitney makes a kit if you want to DYI but for about $200 you can have it done. Most motorcycle shops also sell a kit. I have seen threads on the procedure but if you can't find them PM me.

[Red83Spider]

Okay, two more things knocked off my list this weekend.

1. Welded the heatshield on the Downpipe. It was so bad at ~3200rpm, I thought it was the timing chain. I kept rechecking the chain but it was always just right. The sound was very "chain like''. Now that it is welded, all quiet again.

2. Replace non-functional Oxygen Sensor. Despite the low miles, it just gave no meaningful output. It was runing very rich. Now, it is purring and happy again.

Next task for the next weekend. Resealing the windshield.

[msiert]

Replace all the rubber flex brake lines....30 yr old rubber

[bianchi1]

after you do all the work to get her on the street....................................drive the snot out of it.. i will run better....i do that once a week...

[Red83Spider]

Quote:

Originally Posted by msiert Replace all the rubber flex brake lines....30 yr old rubber