[CountryAlfa]

I first posted about my Spider when I bought it about a month ago ('71 Alfa Romeo Spider 1750), and I have been slowly pouring over the car bit by bit to more fully assess what is good, what is bad, and how best to approach putting this car as back to original as possible--while still keeping it as a fun driver for me to use in the meantime. I have also been working on getting my project space in order by building a face for my existing carport, thereby turning it into a weather-protected garage (El Casa De La Araña).

As I started compiling my list, my wife saw the sort of time I was putting into this and suggested that I start a sort of project log for the Spider, to track my plans, my research, and what I have accomplished. This quickly turned into quite the voluminous Apple note, so I have decided to move all this information to this thread and maintain it publicly, where perhaps someone else might also take advantage of anything interesting that comes up. Or perhaps my kids might find it useful in the future when I decide to pass it along to one of them.

I am not looking to turn my Spider into a concours competitor. My aim is to take what is now a very solid '4', condition-wise, and bring it something closer to a 2.75 (ha). If I can keep a part that is original to the car, then I will--I don't mind a bit of patina. If something is beyond reasonable repair, then I will try to replace it with the best example of a used or NOS part I can find. If I can't find that, then I will replace it with a modern production version, where available. But I will be happy if I end up with a solid car mechanically, that looks clean and original wherever possible, with my wife smiling in the passenger seat. I also hope to involve my five kids wherever possible, if they are interested. They currently range from 9 months to 15 years, so there will be lots of opportunities both now and as they get older.

As far as my plan of attack, since my car is currently in drivable condition and all I want to do is drive it (but, side note, I live in the Pacific NW, which means it's currently pouring rain every day 😭), I am first going to focus on some interior trim improvements that are not only a bit easier to take on project-wise, but will be something I can enjoy and show off to the wife immediately.

Below this starter blurb I will start to post some of what I have been doing over the past few weeks, but in the meantime, here is a shot from the drive home after buying the Spider. There was some construction that had the road blocked and at a standstill, which is obviously the perfect opportunity to grab a photo:

 

[CountryAlfa]

December 16, 2022: After purchasing the car from a local in NW Portland, I collected all the keys (ignition, door keys--all different); the title; all the service paperwork from the mid-‘90s onward; a photocopied original owner’s manual; the original set of steel wheels and old tires (the Spider currently wears Turbinas and extended lugs); original circle hubcaps; some sombrero hubcaps; a tonneau cover; the front bumper grill guard; a front license plate mounting bracket; the original tire iron; and some replacement straps for the cover:

I then went straight to the DMV to try to transfer the title and get a new registration. Once I arrived, I was flipping through documents and noticed that the VIN number as listed on the title is different than the chassis number ... by ONE digit. So, I had to call the insurance company to change the insurance to match the title (Hagerty's wanted the number off the title, regardless of the chassis number), before going ahead with the title and registration transaction along with some replacement plates. Later that evening I reviewed the old documentation from the PO and noticed the title error has been this way since at least 1998, but probably was a carryover from when the prior PO transferred the title to Oregon from Nevada. Regardless, I will have to try to correct the title with the DMV, if they'll let me.

According to the inside door label, the car was manufactured September, 1971. I also confirmed the relevant identification numbers on the Alfa:

• Chassis Number: AR*1486767 (1971 correct)
• Engine Number: AR00551*00360 (1968 engine block traded for 1971 block during an engine rebuild in 1995)
• SPICA Pump ID: 237/2 (1971 correct)

Next, I sent a request for a Certificate of Origin to FCA Heritage ... only really hoping I hear back in a reasonable amount of time, based on the prior comments I've seen on this site.

My wife and son love the new car, but I did have my first hot start issue leaving a store in Forest Grove. That said, it was pretty easy to find three kind people to give me a push start to get it going. I have a feeling it’s a bad ignition switch, since the engine wouldn’t crank at all, only the fuel pump was activated. This doesn't happen during a cold start.

Next I went through the box of papers and such that the PO gave me with the car. It has some amazing information about what has all been completed, and when (that’s how I know when the engine was swapped out.). I intend to take the invoices and service information and catalogue them all in one spot to help me orient what is needed more immediately versus what can wait.

 

[rusty mayes]

Very nice! Enjoy your journey and I am sure we will enjoy watching your progress.

 

[goats]

what does the tipo plate in the engine compartment say ? 105.62? With a sept 71 build date, i would not be surprised if this car is really a 72 115 type car with a 2L -- if not, it must be one of the very last 105.62 spiders to roll off the line..

 

[CountryAlfa]

December 19, 2022: I have been going over the car bit by bit to decide what needs to be replaced and what can be rebuilt, although I haven’t started a formal list. I think a little low hanging fruit is what I need to have the confidence to move on from there. For example, I decided early on that I wanted to ditch the radio in favor of a blanking plate. Original blanking plates seem really hard to find, so I spent way too much on one from an Italian who pulled it from the same year Lancia. But it’s original, in pretty good shape for 50 years old, and identical to the Alfa Pininfarina version, so I'm excited!:

I saw in some of the 'S2 blanking plate' threads that there were discussions about what it takes to reproduce one of these, so here are photos of the measurements, for future reference (the back is shown above):

Next I’ll try finding a replacement vinyl drape and replacement right center console panel to get rid of the holes a PO made in the car for Kenwood speakers (groan), before attempting a complete removal of the whole sound system.

I also purchased from Classic Alfa new brake and clutch pad covers, a new enamel Milano badge for the grill (the existing plastic one is in rough shape), plus a new pull handle for the soft top—I don’t expect it to last much longer (NOTE: I posted photos of the subsequent install on the daily Spider page). Then I placed an order for a new car cover for when it’s sitting, from Alfaholics, because it just looked pretty ... you'll get to know me as I continue to write on this BB, but I am learning that this is apparently a bad habit I have.

I also noticed the car doesn’t have a sump pan guard, but, when I researched that bit, I learned that those are not standard, they were aftermarket parts for these cars. My sump pan is covered in a thick layer of oil and road crud, so I plan to remove and thoroughly clean that during an initial oil change:

I also heard back from Stellantis/FCA Heritage (Certificati Origine) about the certificate of origin for the vehicle, and they said they have the available the Model, Production date, Delivery date, Market destination, Exterior color, and Interior. They do not have the engine number available. I ordered it ($127.41). My full discussion of this process I have posted here. I wish I could've found out what dealer the car was originally sold from, but I was only able to learn the import location (Newark).

Then I heard back from Wes Ingram on the pump rebuild. He thinks I probably need a new thermostatic actuator given the crazy rich startup and indicated that the 237/2 pump cores are in short supply, so I will need to send the pump and injectors when we he gets closer to the build date. It makes me a bit excited to think about beginning the removal process this summer, but I will also be sort of sad to lose the ‘running’ aspect of my new driver. I guess I can use the downtime to make some other needed fixes and upgrades.

I should probably take care of the ignition issue beforehand so I’m not sorting to many variables at once when I get the pump back. Wes also put me in touch with Bryce, who does air box restorations for the SPICA, but I'm still on the fence whether I want to restore that completely.

This project is turning into a part time job!

 

[CountryAlfa]

Very nice! Enjoy your journey and I am sure we will enjoy watching your progress.

Thanks, Rusty! I'm following along on your '69 1750 thread and expect we'll be seeing some similar issues going forward .... 😆

 

[rusty mayes]

Sounds like you have a really serious case of the Alfisi Virus. There does not seem to be a vaccine that works well either. The only thing that offers any relief is online shopping

 

[CountryAlfa]

what does the tipo plate in the engine compartment say ? 105.62? With a sept 71 build date, i would not be surprised if this car is really a 72 115 type car with a 2L -- if not, it must be one of the very last 105.62 spiders to roll off the line..

I was absolutely wondering the same thing when I first came across this car ... it seems to me as well like it has to be one of the last U.S. Spec. 1750 spiders produced. I know Alfa didn't necessarily go in order when it came to chassis numbers, but it's still only listed as a 1971 in the non-Fusi collection of chassis number ranges (i.e., Fusi doesn't mention AR1486767 at all, but D'Amico & Tabucchi do), which seems to be a hallmark of the later productions for that year, just based on a quickie review of the Spider register.

Here are the tipo plate and manufacturer's ID tag for reference:

 

[CountryAlfa]

Sounds like you have a really serious case of the Alfisi Virus. There does not seem to be a vaccine that works well either. The only thing that offers any relief is online shopping

Rusty ... it's absolutely a sickness and I'm definitely infected. And to make things worse, my wife (whom I'll mention constantly because she's my biggest cheerleader), is more than supportive of this endeavor, despite that it took away her exercise garage, and, well, her husband. We'll see how far that support extends as time goes on, but just so I can prepare for the worst ... does anyone have a good lead on a marriage counselor who services afflicted Alfisti and their spouses? 🤣🤣🤣

 

[lgbalfa]

Beautiful car!

 

[rusty mayes]

Well, I know that my wife likes that I sold the boat and now spend time at home instead of spending all day at the marina working on the boat. As long as working on the car does not get in the way of the honey-do lists she will be happy. I keep her Maserati and Rover serviced and clean so she leaves me to fiddle with the Alfa.

 

[Robert J Marrow]

Get your wife driving it as much as possible and you’ll have no need for the marriage counselor. Even better, have her help with the project. Just don’t wash greasy engine parts in the kitchen sink.

 

[Joe1957]

I first posted about my Spider when I bought it about a month ago ('71 Alfa Romeo Spider 1750), and I have been slowly pouring over the car bit by bit to more fully assess what is good, what is bad, and how best to approach putting this car as back to original as possible--while still keeping it as a fun driver for me to use in the meantime. I have also been working on getting my project space in order by building a face for my existing carport, thereby turning it into a weather-protected garage (El Casa De La Araña).

As I started compiling my list, my wife saw the sort of time I was putting into this and suggested that I start a sort of project log for the Spider, to track my plans, my research, and what I have accomplished. This quickly turned into quite the voluminous Apple note, so I have decided to move all this information to this thread and maintain it publicly, where perhaps someone else might also take advantage of anything interesting that comes up. Or perhaps my kids might find it useful in the future when I decide to pass it along to one of them.

I am not looking to turn my Spider into a concours competitor. My aim is to take what is now a very solid '4', condition-wise, and bring it something closer to a 2.75 (ha). If I can keep a part that is original to the car, then I will--I don't mind a bit of patina. If something is beyond reasonable repair, then I will try to replace it with the best example of a used or NOS part I can find. If I can't find that, then I will replace it with a modern production version, where available. But I will be happy if I end up with a solid car mechanically, that looks clean and original wherever possible, with my wife smiling in the passenger seat. I also hope to involve my five kids wherever possible, if they are interested. They currently range from 9 months to 15 years, so there will be lots of opportunities both now and as they get older.

As far as my plan of attack, since my car is currently in drivable condition and all I want to do is drive it (but, side note, I live in the Pacific NW, which means it's currently pouring rain every day 😭), I am first going to focus on some interior trim improvements that are not only a bit easier to take on project-wise, but will be something I can enjoy and show off to the wife immediately.

Below this starter blurb I will start to post some of what I have been doing over the past few weeks, but in the meantime, here is a shot from the drive home after buying the Spider. There was some construction that had the road blocked and at a standstill, which is obviously the perfect opportunity to grab a photo:

View attachment 1765578

Wow, it looks in amazing shape for a '71! Very nice! I too have a '71 Spider 1750 Veloce which I have owned since '82 but stored for decades awaiting my life to allow time to work on it. I am simultaneously restoring my '92 164L (90% finished) and then on to the Spider which I know will take a couple of years to get road ready. Good luck with your work on this driver, and I look forward to reading updates!

Joe1957
'71 Spider Veloce 1750
'92 164L
'12 Subaru Legacy 3.6R

 

[CountryAlfa]

December 20, 2022: I started into some additional research on the center console and what looks like may be broken, missing, or incorrect pieces. 1971 is a unique year when it comes to the center console because it has two small round lights above the shifter that are not found on the Euro. Spec. model or in subsequent S2 center consoles with the large ash tray. This, in turn, will make it tricky to find a direct replacement that is used or NOS.

What immediately stands out for my center console area that could use addressing are a broken brake service test light, which is missing the button lens and spring (which seem to be pretty difficult pieces to find), but has the receptacle for the button; some wrinkling to the bezels around my gauges; a speaker inserted into the passenger side panel; an aftermarket radio; a mostly-broken handle attached to the ash tray lid, which is also missing chrome; an incorrect aftermarket cigarette lighter that also doesn't work (I'm a non-smoker so that's not so much an issue); missing hand throttle (yes this was standard on a '71 with SPICA!); a torn shift gaiter; and a litany of dimming or burned out bulbs; a broken hand brake gaiter and handle; plus a damaged ash tray that is starting to separate from its base. I'm also unclear whether the heater switch control plate should be chrome or black plastic--the photos I've seen from sales advertisements show it in black, but I have no reason to believe mine was ever replaced. The rocker switches have some cracks in the plastic but nothing that would detract from their charm and are usable. And the center console itself is cracked, damaged, and missing large chunks in sections:

Once I got my list together, I started hunting for some fixes or replacements. In looking through other threads it seems that while the brake service test light is very difficult to find, it is essentially (if not) identical to the part used on the prior year model VW beetle bug. So, using that as the criteria, I found one available on eBay and sent the seller a question whether it was a test-type, how well it worked, and its size:

I also found a replacement ash tray and chrome surround with the original push lighter, that I can use to scavenge some parts for my own. No guarantee the lighter will actually work, though, which, again, I don't need, but could likely fix later if I felt up to it. I decided it was worth the gamble and made the purchase.

(Ahem, not my thumb)

As far as the rest of the interior, it seems like the list goes on ... the map holder for the passenger foot area is missing, the rear vinyl drape has holes in it for speakers. The side pieces along the drape are also in pretty rough shape, as well as various pieces of molding in the car being broken or missing, notably along the B pillar.

The cool thing, though, is that although the car currently has an aftermarket carpet installed, the original rubber mats are installed throughout and appear in near-mint condition. I can't wait to get the carpet out and look around further to verify that!

The door cards are ratty and need replacing. The glove box is warped and there's no key for the lock. The courtesy light on the rearview mirror is entirely disconnected. The sun visors drop down and don't stay up longer than 10 seconds when driving. I'm sure there's even more that I missed that will be added to the list as I continue on. Here are some of the visuals I'm relying on during my assessment:

 

[CountryAlfa]

Well, I know that my wife likes that I sold the boat and now spend time at home instead of spending all day at the marina working on the boat. As long as working on the car does not get in the way of the honey-do lists she will be happy. I keep her Maserati and Rover serviced and clean so she leaves me to fiddle with the Alfa.

That honey-do list is critical, no doubt. Thankfully, I'm 50% caught up at the moment, which tends to be about as much as anyone can hope for I think.

Get your wife driving it as much as possible and you’ll have no need for the marriage counselor. Even better, have her help with the project. Just don’t wash greasy engine parts in the kitchen sink.

Hahahaa ... you make a great point. She's a good driver, too, so no issues there. And I bet she'd LOVE to help me with cleaning up that sump pan! But yes ... not in the kitchen.

 

[CountryAlfa]

Wow, it looks in amazing shape for a '71! Very nice! I too have a '71 Spider 1750 Veloce which I have owned since '82 but stored for decades awaiting my life to allow time to work on it. I am simultaneously restoring my '92 164L (90% finished) and then on to the Spider which I know will take a couple of years to get road ready. Good luck with your work on this driver, and I look forward to reading updates!

Joe1957
'71 Spider Veloce 1750
'92 164L
'12 Subaru Legacy 3.6R

Thank you! All things considered, it's in very decent shape, and the most important thing (rust) doesn't seem to a big issue here, if one at all. But it definitely needs some fixes to pass the 10-foot test ... I shared some of the interior issues above, and as I move on to mechanical aspects and exterior I'll only be showing more! The rich combustion, hot start, and paint issues top the list on that front, and I'm keen on rebuilding the SPICA with TA to head off other problems down the road ....

Do you have a link to a photo of your '71, I'd love to see it!

 

[CountryAlfa]

December 21, 2022: This is why I love AlfaBB ... not only is there all this knowledge and experience right at your fingertips, but there is also generally an Alfisti at the ready with just that extra part you're looking for when you least expect it. After posting about some items I am hunting, I heard back from an AlfaBB member with an original passenger side map/coupon book holder, still mounted to the panel! This is exactly what I need for my wife to play navigator. Where else would we store the map?

I also looked over the rear ‘seat’ of the car a bit more, which seems slightly worse off than I remember it, but I need to reevaluate when it’s not dark out. The driver’s seat pan could use reconditioning as well. Upon further inspection, I only need a right side panel abutting the center console, though, not both sides—the left side looks pretty good and has no speaker inset.

Then, a different AlfaBB member sent me a response on my hunt for a new rear vinyl drape without speaker holes! He’ll send photos once the cold spell in Texas has passed and then let me know about shipping. I guess it was 12 degrees there, which isn’t very fun for a Texan.

At the end of the day I also heard back about the brake test light button, which seemed to be right on point, so I bought it ($35.00). When I went out to the car to measure the opening, though, I started messing with the existing ash tray at the same time and heard something metallic either disconnect and fall off, or jingle. Could’ve been a screw I had stuck in the ash tray for safe keeping, but I’ll need to keep my eyes peeled for that when I pull the carpet.

Snow is predicted for the weekend. Hoping to button up the garage situation a bit before then (NOTE: this didn’t happen haha).

 

[CountryAlfa]

December 22, 2022: This morning I woke up to an email from Certificati Origine about the certificate of origin, and sending separate emails for the payment and shipping requests.

I also continued my hunt through the Alfa parts catalogue noting items I may need to replace, such as the vapor canister (105.46.32.221.00) and restraining strap (105.46.52.026.00) ... I have both, but my canister is covered with overspray and the strap is completely worn:

I'll also need to source the snaps for the rear vinyl drape, as many of mine are missing or broken:

Anyone have any idea where to find the snaps or the retaining strap I'm looking for?

 

[CountryAlfa]

December 26, 2022: Had to regroup after a little break for Christmas and Hanukkah. I installed the front badge on the grill and in the process, removed the grill itself and gave it a cleanup and polish. It’s still pitted, nothing changed that. But with some jiggering, a new enamel front badge is in place and with the original metal retaining rings (1488.38.005) holding it in place, too. One of them broke, but it turned out to be better for the spacing of the pegs on the back of the new badge. I cleaned the retaining screws for the grill as well with a wire brush—they had red overspray like a lot of other little pieces. I also noticed that the front grill was missing the rubber spacer (105.03.59.397.00) that holds the lower portion of the heart grill in place. Currently it’s metal on metal. I reattached the grill in the meantime, but I'm wanting to source a new one, so I’m adding that to the list:



I then removed and replaced the soft top frame handle, keeping the original screws for reattachment. The old one was corroded on the metal retaining pieces and the rubber was falling apart as I removed it, to reveal a corroded metal strap. I decided to save the rubber clutch and brake pedal covers for a different day, as I had other stuff to deal with for my home remodel project that I'm still working through. My son helped me out with the emblem, so we snapped a photo after the reinstallation. He was pretty proud:

 

[CountryAlfa]

January 1, 2023: After making the decision to request a SPICA pump and TA rebuild from Wes Ingram, I started looking into some of the other aspects of the Spider fuel system to see what I should be planning to clean/fix/replace at the same time that the SPICA pump and TA are installed, so that I'm not putting 'good' back with the 'bad'.

I went through a lot of threads on that subject on AlfaBB, and yes, I also plan to address the fuel filters and fuel pump, but I kept running into divotandtralee's work in putting together OVS kits in brass, which won't corrode like the OEM versions. I am more than convinced it's a worthwhile upgrade, so a bit after midnight I decided to reach out to request a kit to purchase. Not only is it a chance to learn how to solder (the kit comes disassembled), which satisfies a New Year's resolution, but it will be a clear improvement over the existing stock part.

The full thread discussing this OVS solution is here and is worth a read if you're not familiar!

Today the kids and I also started ripping apart that third garage bay in order to add a new face and garage door to protect the Spider and have a dedicated spot to do my work and store all my tools. Yes, I had help from the little ones, but they lost interest once I ran into issues drilling into the concrete pad. The sub-par kit I purchased had a sub-par drill bit for concrete. It broke after about 4 ‘holes’, only two of which were drilled correctly. I ended up heading to Home Depot for some replacement bits. Came home, tried them out and it was like night and day. I managed to get the lower sills installed, so tomorrow I hope to finish framing and start up on the door itself.

Of course, when I was moving the Spider I got the itch to go for a ride ... it was an uncharacteristically sunny day out, and also New Year’s Day, who could blame me? So I called the kids back outside and went to load them up, but I had some trouble with the passenger door handle and it busted right off in my hand .... Oops.

Guess I’ll be buying door handle replacements sooner than I anticipated! I wonder what else I'll need for that project ....