Finally!

[81alfa]

Yo Vinnie,
Congrats on the new ride. You will love the ride down to Cape May in the fall.
Gotta take the back roads . It's a blast. You will also think you have died and gone to heaven the first time you need help. This forum is loaded with quality people who bend over backward to fix these little gems.
Funny story :: I was changing some old fuel lines this weekend and was under the rear of the car pulling of the old lines to the fuel filter and pump when the guy next door walks up and says " Been awhile since you have been under that thing, What's wrong? Have no idea where it came from but I shot back. " Nothing - Sometimes she likes to be on top. It's like having a second love.
Good luck and welcome.

[rmatteo]

I live in Mullica Hill, lots of country roads and about an hour from Cape May. That ride sounds mightly fine.
As for the question on Veloce's and Normale's, it's my understanding that in 1984 the only model available was the Spider Veloce.

[81alfa]

They offered the 2000 Veloce and Spider 2.0 from 71-94 Could have been that only the Veloce was avail in US . It's really a 1750 with some engine modes and interior upgrades - + All the emission and safety crap they put on the US cars. Did you buy your car from a dealer on Rt. 73 near Berlin. I swear I saw that car before. Maybe on ebay.

[rmatteo]

No, I actually got it from a guy in Virginia. I saw it on a message board and scooped it up.

[Rosso Veloce]

Like rmatteo, I too just bought my first Alfa a couple of weeks ago - following many years of dreaming. I finally decided to take the plunge after finding what I'd always hoped for: a red '69 Spider Veloce. She is almost all original (paint, alternator, electronic ignition) and in great shape.

Greetings to all -- I am already sharing the shear joy of Alfa; hopefully it will be a while before I experience the pain. But then again, I guess that just makes you appreciate the joy even more! Here's a pic:

[Alfapaulic]

Welcome to you RV. The 69 looks great.

[Suitkins2]

Wow. That is a beautiful Alfa. House isn't bad either

[Davy13]

Hey RMatteo and Doug! Sounds like you guys will be passing by at some point... I am in Seaville, right near Rt. 9 and 50 (Exit 20 on the Garden State Parkway). If you are ever in the area, drop me a line. There is always extra coffee for passing Alfas... Doug is right; Cape May is great this time of year... All the tourists (or Shoobies, as we call them) are gone for the winter, and the restaurants and bars are still operational... The new purchase looks great RM! You don't see the trim piece on the side too often. I wonder if that was a dealership option, or something. What are your plans with the new car? Any real big issues to contend with? The folks on this board have been a wealth of information for me... Great bunch of people.

[Rosso Veloce]

Thanks for the welcome Alfapaulic & Suitkins2. The house is not mine - it's the house of the lady from whom I bought the Alfa. Given the choice, I'd rather have the Alfa! Enjoy!

[81alfa]

Davy,
Thanks for the invite. I usually take 206 cute through to Lake Lenape and pick up 50 - Used to go to 9 but with the bridge closing I take 50 to 9 and then to 47. I keep my boat next to lighthouse pointe on the ICW at a friends house . It's a great drive both ways. I will look you up if I get that way this fall. Today I am replacing the slave cyl. Looks like it will be a messy job.
See you on the highway.

[Duke58]

Rosso Veloce,

Nice Spider! Reminds me of a favorite movie that stars a Graduate...

I was a Marine stationed at NAS Lakehurst a long time ago. Lakehurst was my first duty station. I loved it. I even saw Bruce Springsteen in Tom's River, NJ before he was famous.

Dollar for dollar, these cars are great. You have to learn/like working on them, and they can get frustrating, especially if you have electrical problems. But if you want an ugly car with bad electricals, buy an MG.

[rmatteo]

Hey guys...I was out of town for a bit. There is some work that needs to be done on my Alfa, but mostly minor. A small dent up front and a new exhaust are the biggest concerns. Rosso, that is one sweet Alfa you have there, best of luck with it.

[WopJob]

Hello, The first or reverse is a common issue, not a problem. All spiders do that from new. Don't actually put in second before going on first, to save that gear's syncro, user third instead, don't have to put it in just go to like you are going to 3rd without putting it in. Same with 4th to put in reverse. Bad thing is, after a while this becomes a habit and you will do it to all your ather stick shift cars. You should clean the Vapor-Oil separator from the gunk that it has accumulated over the years, before doing a tune-up.

TonyG - Pequannock NJ

[Davy13]

Also, replace the trans/diff. fluid with the redline stuff... Search the forum for info in that regard. SHifting wise, I always pause briefly going from first to second... When down shifting, I just touch the higher gear slightly with the lever (i.e., kinda put it into gear, but not fully... Just enough to feel a wee bit of resistance). In other words, I will touch 4th before downshifting to 3rd. I never skip from 5th to 3rd. Also, I touch 1st (some people evidently touch 4th) prior to shifting into reverse. Sometimes I roll forward in first a few inches, then it slips right into reverse, usually with no grind. But the trans should live many long fruitful years without a rebuild, if treated nicely. Not necessarily babied, but just be cognizant of how synchros work...

[Roadtrip]

Rosso Veloce - Stunning coda lunga there. That's the kind a of car a newbie to the Alfa world ought to buy. Really nice. Please email the exact of where the car is parked unattended at night.

I think Alfa is getting a bad rap on electrics. Ok, so Alfa did not use the best connectors or shields, but they live under pretty harsh conditions, especially in a Spider. The problem is that owners think that electrics are put in the car, then they ought to function without fail or maintenance for the lifespan of the car. Truth is, again, especially in Spiders, that electrical connections corrode in the too often moist environment of a leaky convertible. Further grounds corrode all over the car, if not maintained. And in a 30+ year old car, what do you expect? If you've got an old Alfa and you've never gone over the electrical system and clean and tightened connections, then don't be suprised when things occassionally fail.

I've done that to my '74 and every blessed electrical item on the car (except the seat belt interlock which I took the jumper wires and wire cutters to) works without fail, first time, every time.