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What did you do Alfa Spider related today?

520K views 6K replies 427 participants last post by  Bern1 
#1 · (Edited)
I noticed that the 164 & 168 guys have a very active thread about what they've been up to, and I think us Spider guys and gals need to get with the program- so I'm gonna start and see what happens!

Today was a very good day! It was a beautiful warm, clear day in South Florida, and I'm sorry to tell so many of you in the more "Arctic" or "Nordic" places, but it was PERFECT top-down weather!

My Sofia (my Spider's name- still looking for a permanent occupant for that other seat!) was in prime condition, freshly painted, washed and tuned, and I even put the boot on today (it really does add that last dash of class...) so we took a ride along A1A, right along the Atlantic coast, starting in Fort Lauderdale (it's Spring Break Time- although I'm way too old for that :crying2:) where some of the beach crowd took notice of us with waves and smartphone shots, and then headed north, eventually getting into an impromptu group of 3 red convertible sports cars in a semi-caravan. Sadly, my companion's cars were from a certain manufacturer in bratwurstland, but what can you do? For a while I had a modern Maserati convertible in black as my wingman, but I think he was too cool to notice- probably because he was NOT too old for the Spring Break crowd!

Anyway, got stuck in traffic at the beach, and didn't care. Sofia ran like a champ and never threatened to overheat, and my sunblock did it's job keeping me from turning Alfa Rosso myself. :blushing:

Weather is supposed to be great here all this week (that means evening lows in the 70s, daytime highs just below 80°- that's 21-27C for you metric folks) so you may be hearing more from me soon!

Let's hear from you guys and gals!

I remember many years ago driving in a snowstorm in Syracuse NY with the top down so I could get 3 kegs of beer in my old Fiat Spider for a frat party! Any crazy persons (like me) up there in the tundra enjoying a topless winter blast?

Viva i ragni! :clap:
 
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#1,686 ·
Thanks Dom-- Mike and I did the engine mounts a couple of years ago. I saw the old posts about the plastic cups on the injectors, so yes I'll be watching for them alright. And yes, I may go ahead and drop off my injectors here locally for cleaning and testing... I thought about it, but I've always used 93 octane gas and I'm the original owner, with around 80K miles on it.

Man do we appreciate the Alfa BB...
 
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#1,688 ·
Ready to install the new top, got some vinyl from Hobby Lobby and just got done wrapping the front bow. The vinyl was slightly thicker than the original but it looks nice, a bit more " texture" to it too. Didn't worry about the visors, at 6'2" they are pretty much worthless anyway. Out of the same vinyl I cut the new rain aprons for when I get back there... I used the old rubber channel cuz Centerline was out of stock (typical) and was not paying 70 bucks for one thru Vicks. Rubber is on the way. I wire brushed it real well on the inside to clean it up well, I heard of the potential headache feeding the rubber seal through. Hopefully with a copious amount of dry silicone it wont be much problem. Excited to get the top back on although I do have a couple of months before the rains come...
 
#1,689 · (Edited)
My Spider won best in class at the Italian Car Fest Car Show in Grapevine, TX today. Over 100 cars were at the show from Alfa’s to Ferrari’s. Best in show was a stunning Lamborghini Mira. The only negative to the day was the 100 plus temperatures. It was HOT!

Doug
 

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#1,693 ·
Got caught driving in the rain with the top down yesterday, at first thought I be ok but had to slow down for a small town and then it just poured.

Check out the name of the diner, that I pulled into to put the top up, Henry's Diner (nothing finer).

Last time the Alfa got wet to the point I needed to get the hose and wash bucket out was in the Summer of 2011. :surprise:
 

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#1,694 ·
Murray, you park in those remote spots I always pick. And BTW, you know the S4 Spiders have really good rust protection, compared to the earlier cars, so a little rain ain't going to hurt a thing buddy! :grin2:
 
#1,699 ·
I did nothing to my S4 besides drive her. What a concept eh? In fact I've not lifted a wrench "in anger" for nearly a month. I'm probably tempting cruel fate here.:surprise:
 
#1,701 ·
I did a little schmoozing today. The second and third pics are the trunk deck while in the garage.
 

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#1,708 ·
I played Golf yesterday. Clubs in the passenger seat of the Spider. The thing is, I remember being able to fit my clubs behind the seat in my older (actually newer in model years) spiders. I think the clubs are getting longer?

My drive home was in the rain. Top down. In the dark. A bit scary as those trucks go by. I worried that they couldn't see me. However. as long as it wasn't coming down too hard it was a fine trip, though the back of my neck did get wet.

Mo in NJ
Back at work.
 
#1,710 ·
Pretty much have the new top installed, just waiting a day for all the adhesive to dry well before I finish up. Not that difficult, the installation manual is a bit ambiguous in spots and the diagrams leave a lot to be desired but all in all it went quite well. I think if I did another one I would change the order of the procedure a bit.
 
#1,714 ·
Today I drove my spider to work. Top up at 6:30am and Top down on the way home. San Francisco and the peninsula is having a three day heat wave. It was a perfect 87deg. I left work late today and HYW 101 had light traffic --- I was driving 75 mph all the way home. My S3 was so smooth --- wow what a car. We are so lucky to have such great cars that are not trailer queen, still look great, run fantastic and are affordable. Have a great weekend and drive your Alfas!!!
 
#1,718 ·
I've been through similar machinations. BB's general front suspension: lower AND upper inner bushes should be the same, OE ones are good if you get the right shipment from China, Talk to your favorite supplier.
upper control arms should be the adjustable ones. Rear bushing in the trailing arm is OEM, front bushing there should be Poly; I've had solid aluminum for bunch of years. Remember the plastic pieces (top and bottom.
Alignment Should have as much inside caster as you can get. I've seen racers with -13 degrees - thats a lot but it tries to keep the front inside wheel on the track.

Poly bushes on the lateral sway bar are really good. I have an old Shankle sway bar that is thick as a big tree branch, with long welded end arms easy to drill a few holes if you need even more torque transfer. Poly in the little top and bottom connection links.

Alfaholics has a front A-arm (big cast vertical piece with the wheel axel) that drops the geometry that are lowered to follow the lowering of most springs to correct bump steering. Or JRR will modify yours to whatever suits - call him to discuss. This helps keep the the front inside wheel on the ground as you roll over the track bump. you can even modify the idler arm similarly. Look at JR's pinned thread.

I find it interesting that all these changes actually improves street driving. Much of it is to correct the inside wheel coming off the track, and to correct a bunch of suspension geometry than happens when you drop the car with stiffer front springs.

Use poly on the rear swaybar too as above. I just took mine off (well I just disconnected the end links) because was best with a bit of oversteer (Red Robin's too, cold, too hot) (BTW it's a Shankle F/R set) set that happens, well from a lot of these changes. I like a bit of oversteer (tail slides out in a turn) to make faster corner exits. Too much will put the car thru the fence backward - oversteer puts the car thru the fence nose first. Both happen when you are going too fast, or off the magical "line". Oversteer is magically sweet making street corners but right in front of the Cop Car with his radar. Flashing lights! Bad weekend!!!
too
Oh, I forgot about shocks. OEM's suck. Lots of others are good. I have yellow Kony's on front set at middle, red on the rear set on softest possible.

Robert
 
#1,722 ·
Hi Robert. Are you like me where from the neck up you are still 17? (and doing 17 year old things?)

.... Oversteer is magically sweet making street corners but right in front of the Cop Car with his radar. Flashing lights! Bad weekend!!!...Robert
 
#1,725 ·
Yesterday, I took the spider out for a run to the horse races (Monmouth Park).

It was a great day overall, until an engine miss almost left me stranded somewhere in the swamps of Jersey.

I'll be replacing the fuel filters, and maybe the distributor cap, with my fingers crossed.

Mo in NJ
78 Spider
Checkbook mechanic, aspiring for better.
 
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