Msiert's Black Spider Project

[msiert]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 60sRacer Murray, Looks good to me. Nice sway bar! While you have it apart, check the sway bar brackets and body points for cracks. Most racers will weld a reinforcement at this area (and behind the steering / Idler boxes). That's a lot of load for two small bolts. One improvement to front geometry that's been around since AutoDelta days are knuckle risers. (I'll find a pic when I get home from work). This raises the upper end of the wheel spindle, giving you more negative camber change as the wheel rises (loaded outside wheel on cornering), which generally improves the contact patch and gives greater traction. You've left out dealing with bump steer. (Knuckle risers make this MUCH worse!). Take the wheels off and pull the springs and shocks. Tape a 18 to 24 inch straight edge across the wheel flange. Then lift and lower the wheel to see the vertical suspension motion from max bump to rebound (top to bottom). You will see the straight edge turn slightly as if the steering wheel was being turned. To fix this, RJR and some others makes a special bent steering arm. I think he'll make one for your specific geometry. Some people swap right and left arms to help (they go upside down and the tie rod ends have to be flipped). Alfaholics makes a spherical bearing kit that's adjustable. RJR also cuts and rewelds front spindles to get the geometry correct to control bump steer. The lowered front is the cause of these problems, and at extremes (track set-up) bump steer can get scary! Robert

[PSk]

Mate,

I seriously am impressed with the way you work. Most people would just go crazy and modify but you are aware that Alfa Romeo probably knew what they were doing AND that your car like any car that is used (not brand new) will be improved by a rebuild to near standard.

That is the BEST starting point, but way too many go overboard and then rave about their modification improving this and that when they really have no basis to compare ... other than a worn out old car/suspension.

You can see this method with your engine, everything does as necessary but no more and all things working perfectly together ... wonderful.

Keep up the great work . You should open a car repair workshop ...
Pete

[dscottj]

Unfortunately I must come to the conclusion that these last pictures are not in fact of Murray's car, but are those of an imposter. How can I tell? There's actual, for-real, dirt on it! Grease, even! Why, next thing, you'll tell me he races the car!

[msiert]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSk Mate, I seriously am impressed with the way you work. Most people would just go crazy and modify but you are aware that Alfa Romeo probably knew what they were doing AND that your car like any car that is used (not brand new) will be improved by a rebuild to near standard. That is the BEST starting point, but way too many go overboard and then rave about their modification improving this and that when they really have no basis to compare ... other than a worn out old car/suspension. You can see this method with your engine, everything does as necessary but no more and all things working perfectly together ... wonderful. Keep up the great work . You should open a car repair workshop ... Pete

[msiert]

Jump in the Spider today to take it to the shop that's rebuilding the front suspension. All the new shinny parts in a box tuck tighty in the trunk.

Started it up but it didn't start like usual and idle a little rough. The A/F gauge was hanging in the high 14's instead of the high 12's and anytime I gave some gas it was like a light show.

I tried to go anyway and got about 500 feet when I decided to go back. When I got out and looked things over I saw that my gas pressure gage showed like 12 PSI should be 43 PSI.

After some tests and now having ZERO PSI I hooked a pressure gauge directly to the output line of the in tank pump and got zero maybe 1 PSI

Then I hoked the gauge to a "T" and put it in line from the tank pump and the main pump got the same.

Could it be anything else but a bad tank pump?

Ohhh I stripped the trunk of the amp, 10 disk cd changer, fiber board and carpet too. A savings of 15 bs + ..........Your going down JohnM!

[msiert]

Still not 100% sure the pump is the problem because the darn thing is humming and sounds normal.

In inspecting the pump everything looks good but the hose that connects the pump to the shaft seems a bit Looser then I would expect?

To check it further I hooked the pump to a hose and ran it to a jug. Turning on the ignition without starting gives the pumps juice for a couple of seconds and I did get some gas.

The pump starts as soon as the ignition turns on then in a second or two the gas came out of the hose.

Here's the amount I got.............What do you think?

[alfafan61]

Have you checked the output pressure? you can "dead head" the pump with no problem. You should see more than 3psi.

[msiert]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfafan61 Have you checked the output pressure? you can "dead head" the pump with no problem. You should see more than 3psi.

[slyalfa]

I say this a lot, but stay away from non OEM parts for things like fuel pumps,fuel filters, coils. I will also extend it to fuel regulators. The OEM parts have to last or there will be a class action. But the aftermarket stuff does not and as a rule only last about a year.
with all different kind of cars out there has to be a OEM regulator that will work for you.
I would just go to the junk yard and grab one, say off some v8 or 6cyl and have a part that will last 20+ years not just one.

[Subtle]

Walbro fuel pumps are used in most highly modified Subarus.

They are reliable, not expensive, and made for a number of car manufacturers.

[Tifosi]

But the regulator in use is not found in any OEM, (I don't think anyway), it's what came with the aftermarket TB and rail setup.

Murray, the mostly air in the dead head test post main pump is a possible thing as the pressure built would prevent flow of fuel. (kinda like using an air compressor to blow the lines clear of fuel, but instead you're trying to push the fuel against the air pressure built up in the dead head)

What I'm not seeing on your in tank pump is what caught my eye: where's your filter sock that clips onto the bottom of the in tank pump?

If it's in the bottom of the tank you'll definitely want to retrieve it, if it's not there at all, then the in tank pump can be damaged by little particles of crap and would over time reduce flow and ultimately cause failure. (even worse, little stuff that goes through the in tank can find its way into the main pump and do the same sort of damage)

Regarding the reulator, if it is indeed the version TWM has on thier site, it looks to be rebuildable which is way cheaper than replacement.

If so, likely a kit would be a diaphram, spring, gasket and perhaps another part or two, and would likely be under $20~$30 for the kit. Pop one in, reset the pressure and off you go.

[msiert]

Thanks SlyAlfa, Subtle and Tifosi

Been looking around on line at different regulator's but haven't found anything that looks as good as the one that came with the rail and throttle bodys but it's $250...........................Maybe there's a rebuild kit?

TWM Induction - Fuel Pressure Regulators (805) 967-9478

Emailed TWM Induction on the problem it will be interesting to see what they say about it. They may just send me a new one for free.

Ohh Darren, I got the sock just had if off in the picture. It had a 2" long green tube in it, what is that for............didn't look like there was anything for it to hook into I figured it was to keep the sock from getting suck up in the pump?

[Tifosi]

Yup, just there to prevent sock suck

[Tifosi]

Hmmm, from this page
Do not attempt to dismantle this product. It will be impossible to re-assemble it correctly and will void any warranty

I wonder what makes it so special or more complex than other multi-piece regulators? (they aren't rocket science, really)
With that warning being present, more likely they would not sell you a kit, but perhaps they would indeed swap with you.

[msiert]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tifosi Yup, just there to prevent sock suck