Welcome to the community. Your not alone is being young. I'm 17 and going through my 73 spider. Your exhaust leak could be a bad gasket which easy easy to replace. It could also be a hole in your manifold or exhaust which could be welded shut if small enough. Pictures are worth a thousand words when problem solving so a few pictures can go a long way.

 

Thank you


Thank You! I will get some photos of it today.

 

Welcome to both of you guys and I will tell you it’s a joy to us old guys to see younger people like you driving Alfas and doing your own wrenching. You’ll find a lot of help here.

 

Thank you, I love cars but have never gotten to actually doing my own wrenching on any so I wouldn't be telling the truth if i wasn't a little nervous.

 

welcome to the BB!
You've come to the right place and there is loads of help on here.
I wish this place was around when I had my first alfa at 17.

the exhaust leak in header, if it sounds to you like a spitting or ticking noise, could also just be a loose nut.
Check all the brass nuts (13mm wrench) and snug any loose ones up without going crazy (your alfa has a full aluminium engine and gearbox and things need to be tightened with feel, not grunt)
If the copper gasket is leaking you should normally see some traces of black carbon between manifold and head.

Any new alfa owner needs some basic tools to start, like metric sized wrenches, a digital volt meter (alfa electrics!), a couple of allen keys and a socket set (oil pan, diff and transmission fill and drain plugs use 12mm allen hex and 22mm sockets)

Post a photo or two of the car as it is today (one of the engine would be nice too!)
In that 2006 photo it looks like new....smart color too

 

Thank you for the advice, I ordered some tools a week back and they should be arriving soon. The previous owner said that a small welding job should fix the leak, I will be posting more photos today.

 

you are in trouble now,, you have the .......... afflection........ it wont go away.... ask many of us... we are slaves to it...now

 

Im already starting to see the afflection...

 

Welcome. I drove my 86 Spider for the first time when I was 18 (almost 20 years ago), though I only bought it 6 years ago. I don't plan on ever getting rid of it except under extreme duress.

 

Welcome to the asylum! Owning an Alfa is a disease - fortunately there is no cure, only treatment!

Click on the link in my signature for a web page with DIY diagnosis info about the L-jetronic system in our cars (you may need to first click the down arrow to see the signature). L-jet is a very reliable system - if everything is working properly. The most common issues are poor grounds (where the wiring is bolted to metal parts for their electrical connection) and low battery voltage. L-jet wants a strong battery & clean/tight electrical connections to power up the computers for easy starting. The second most common issue is called 'false air'. Any leaks in the intake air ducts or vacuum hoses will mess up the calculations for the amount of fuel to inject. All air entering the engine must pass through the Air Flow Meter. And air that gets in beyond the AFM is thus called 'false' or unmetered.

Good luck with your Alfa. Drive carefully - while not an antique vehicle your Alfa does not have any of the nanny devices of current cars. It requires the driver (you!) to be involved with driving it at all times. Somehow those soccer moms in their huge SUV's don't seem to pay attention to our sporty low slung cars - drive defensively.

And remember - we like pictures. So post lots of them! How about a picture of you & your grandpa with the Alfa....?

 

Yah, the Alfa disease. It's worse than smoking or Heroin.
You may quit for a while, but it will call you back and suck you back in!

I had 5 Alfas between ages 22 and 28 -- and then I thought I was free of them!!!! ...Until last month, after over 45 years being Alfa-free!!!
I re-contracted the disease and the doctors all told my wife that I will die with the disease this time!

There is no cure, and evidently NO PREVENTION either.

 

i have been working on my alfa conversion for 5 years now.. i just coming back.. soon to be finished.. as my freind alfa vulcan.. we both ' thought ; it would be a ; easy ; conversion.. we both are 5 years in to our own personal ' afflection '

 

Hello all. I recently bought a 1986 spider veloce and just want to learn more about the car as I go down the road. The car has 56k miles on it and runs well.

Background- I am currently 16 years old and bought this car with my grandpa in hopes of improving it and selling it at some point. Considering that he lives across the state, I will have to do most of the maintenance to the car.

The car is in pretty good condition cosmetically with only the front splitter needing to be replaced due to a dent in it. The only mechanical issue on it is a small leak in the exhaust header.

Just trying out this forum to see what I can learn. Please feel free to offer any advice. Thanks.


Note: This photo was taken around 2006 back when it was in New Jersey. (2 owners before me).
View attachment 1660827

Welcome tot the club! I have an '86 just like the one you acquired! Exhaust manifold - check for cracks. Originals were faulty. If it is cracked replace it. I have replaced just about all mechanicals on the car except the engine. Mine has run relatively fine since I bought it in 2002. If it refuses to start, and it is not the battery, check the fuel system control fuse under the cover behind the seats. Not well made and very hard to troubleshoot. Also a few relays under there that you should get familiar with. Make sure the grounds are good - battery to frame and there is a braided ground by the starter. A little hard to get to that one. Only other real nasty is a known defective clutch pedal linkage by the brake master cylinder where the weld will let go when you least expect it. You will have fun working on it. Don't hesitate to ask questions!

 

ALFA.... or A lways L ooking F or A nother. Once you're bit, things will never be the same.

 

my girlfreind once asked me this question.... how do you love more me or ' that ' car.....

 

Hopefully she was prepared to have her feelings hurt when she asked.

 

Congratulations on your spider. I’ve been wrenching on Alfa’s since I was about 7. But only three in my garage right now. If you find that the cast-iron exhaust header is cracked, let me know. I just picked up a spare motor that still has one on it that I think is correct for your car. It’s free for the shipping if you need it.

 

Welcome to the community. So good to see younger people appreciating these great cars.

It's not actually an affliction. It's the love of your life. Enjoy!

 

Seriously, you chose the right car. Read up on the history of Alfa Romeo - it's an amazing company. A couple ideas for you.
1. Drive your car like you stole it! The twin cam motors are designed to be revved - just make sure the temp is up to normal before doing so.
2. Don't be too hard on the transmission. Shift nicely - don't ram it into gear - gently, but firm!
3. Use good gas. I recommend 91 octane and if you can get no ethanol, do it. Your motor and rubber parts will thank you.
4. If you don't have electrical problems, something is wrong with your car.
5. If your car doesn't leave drips on the driveway, you're low on fluids.
6. For all your friends who drive a V-8 Dodge Charger or Challenger, tell them your Alfa has a hemi engine. It's true! And Alfa beat Mopar by a year (1950 for Alfa and 1951 for Chrysler)!
7. Your motor has an aluminum head and block. Make sure you warm it up before pushing it.
8. Leaking oils (differential, motor, transmission) are actually a good thing. It keeps the rust from forming on important parts like the frame!
9. Girls love Alfa's - you're a teenager only once!

If you have a chance to drive an earlier Alfa, 1974 or older, do it! It's a completely different feeling car than yours. Your car is what's called an S3 (series 3). When Alfa put the Bosch L-Jet system into the car, it brought the car into the 1980's - modern and more efficient (and cleaner burning). The car did lose some of it's soul - when you drive an early S2, you'll understand in a second. Though you can get into a lot of trouble in an S2 car if you mess with the SPICA system. Adjust the wrong thing and it's curtains - you have to pull the unit and send it to a magician who sprinkles some weird stuff on it and says some magic words. About $1000 later, the SPICA has been Exorcised and it should work - or you can do the smartest thing and install two side draft carbs - the purists here HATE when they hear this, but I think carbs are perfect for these motors.

Once you drive an older Alfa that's adjusted correctly and maintained properly, you're done for. You won't be happy until you find the perfect car or you spend countless $$ and hours trying to make your car feel like the one you drove on that fateful day! For the ones of us who are lost causes, we've gone thru 4, 5, 6 or more Alfa's ... but we're super happy with the one(s) we own now and we look forward to a nice warm day when we can put the top down and go for a pleasure drive!

This is the magic of Alfa Romeo!

Enjoy your beautiful new car and welcome to the club!

 

Seriously, you chose the right car. Read up on the history of Alfa Romeo - it's an amazing company. A couple ideas for you.
1. Drive your car like you stole it! The twin cam motors are designed to be revved - just make sure the temp is up to normal before doing so.
2. Don't be too hard on the transmission. Shift nicely - don't ram it into gear - gently, but firm!
3. Use good gas. I recommend 91 octane and if you can get no ethanol, do it. Your motor and rubber parts will thank you.
4. If you don't have electrical problems, something is wrong with your car.
5. If your car doesn't leave drips on the driveway, you're low on fluids.
6. For all your friends who drive a V-8 Dodge Charger or Challenger, tell them your Alfa has a hemi engine. It's true! And Alfa beat Mopar by a year (1950 for Alfa and 1951 for Chrysler)!
7. Your motor has an aluminum head and block. Make sure you warm it up before pushing it.
8. Leaking oils (differential, motor, transmission) are actually a good thing. It keeps the rust from forming on important parts like the frame!
9. Girls love Alfa's - you're a teenager only once!

If you have a chance to drive an earlier Alfa, 1974 or older, do it! It's a completely different feeling car than yours. Your car is what's called an S3 (series 3). When Alfa put the Bosch L-Jet system into the car, it brought the car into the 1980's - modern and more efficient (and cleaner burning). The car did lose some of it's soul - when you drive an early S2, you'll understand in a second. Though you can get into a lot of trouble in an S2 car if you mess with the SPICA system. Adjust the wrong thing and it's curtains - you have to pull the unit and send it to a magician who sprinkles some weird stuff on it and says some magic words. About $1000 later, the SPICA has been Exorcised and it should work - or you can do the smartest thing and install two side draft carbs - the purists here HATE when they hear this, but I think carbs are perfect for these motors.

Once you drive an older Alfa that's adjusted correctly and maintained properly, you're done for. You won't be happy until you find the perfect car or you spend countless $$ and hours trying to make your car feel like the one you drove on that fateful day! For the ones of us who are lost causes, we've gone thru 4, 5, 6 or more Alfa's ... but we're super happy with the one(s) we own now and we look forward to a nice warm day when we can put the top down and go for a pleasure drive!

This is the magic of Alfa Romeo!

Enjoy your beautiful new car and welcome to the club!

I think you nailed it. My S2 came to me when i was in my 50s I hadn't driven one since my mid 20s but never got over it it was 18 years in a barn when i got it but being a South Texas car it had zero, and I mean zero rust. Of course anything rubber was way gone. I spent almost 4 years rebuilding almost very system on the car with the help of the BB. In over 10 years I have only changed 1 fuel pump, plugs, and the battery. Its always on a battery tender and starts every single time. The Spica has never been messed with although i did install a new TA back then. Best advice I ever got was if you think the problem is the SPICA fix everything else before you touch it. it leaks like a sieve but who cares? Compression is perfect and it runs like a striped *** ape.

 

La meccanica dell' emozione....