[Rob.Walton]

Hello all,

My name is Rob. I have loved the Spider ever since I was sixteen and started my love affair with fun roadsters.

I have owned and loved the following beauties:

1955 Jaguar XK140 Coupe - concourse restoration by my dad and I in the early 80's

1971 Triumph Stag - really fun, awesome sounds.

1985 Mercedes SL450

1952 Mercedes 220 Cabriolet B - Gretta

2005 Mercedes SL55 AMG - Gretta 2

And now finally I own a Spider

1985 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce - Sophia is her name with Utah historic vanity plates: CIAO

 

[grapppa]

Welcome to Club Alfisti! Best of luck with your spider veloce!

 

[pantera928]

Interesting collection of cars and now you have the last year of the classic dual pod Alfas and a Veloce to boot.
I started with a XK150 Jaguar.
You will find a LOT of support on this forum.
WElcome

 

[alfaromeoblack]

Hello all,

My name is Rob. I have loved the Spider ever since I was sixteen and started my love affair with fun roadsters.

I have owned and loved the following beauties:

1955 Jaguar XK140 Coupe - concourse restoration by my dad and I in the early 80's

1971 Triumph Stag - really fun, awesome sounds.

1985 Mercedes SL450

1952 Mercedes 220 Cabriolet B - Gretta

2005 Mercedes SL55 AMG - Gretta 2

And now finally I own a Spider

1985 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce - Sophia is her name with Utah historic vanity plates: CIAO View attachment 1665197

Yea S3 is the best of all worlds in the Alfa community. Old school styling and fuel injection!


Ken

 

[Rob.Walton]

I just took delivery of Sophia from New York. She was a one owner and spent most of her life in Florida. (Just 43K original miles).
I'm currently dealing with a no spark, no start issue. But I've been sent in some good directions by BB members having sent me a Papajam original wiring diagram for an '84 and the L-Jetronic troubleshooting article (thanks Eric).
Currently ordering and replacing both flywheel position sensors. We'll see where that gets me.
Thanks for all the advice. Keep it coming.

 

[ghnl]

Welcome. Thanks for the photo (did anyone mention we like photos?).

How is the battery? The L-jet computers (there are two) require about 10.5V to power up and send the make spark/squirt fuel signals. If the battery is a little tired it can sound like it is cranking over fine but if the available voltage is below that threshold it won't start. Connect a voltmeter to the battery (a dash gauge is usually not wired for this test). With everything off a fully charged battery should read 12.6V. 12.3V is 1/2 to 3/4 charged. Next see what it reads while operating the starter motor. As one point of reference, our Spider will show 11.6V - 11.8V during cranking.

 

[pantera928]

Welcome. Thanks for the photo (did anyone mention we like photos?).

How is the battery? The L-jet computers (there are two) require about 10.5V to power up and send the make spark/squirt fuel signals. If the battery is a little tired it can sound like it is cranking over fine but if the available voltage is below that threshold it won't start. Connect a voltmeter to the battery (a dash gauge is usually not wired for this test). With everything off a fully charged battery should read 12.6V. 12.3V is 1/2 to 3/4 charged. Next see what it reads while operating the starter motor. As one point of reference, our Spider will show 11.6V - 11.8V during cranking.

Of course not Eric. We knew that you would and did not want to take that away from you.

 

[lgbalfa]

Congratulations and welcome.

 

[Rob.Walton]

I just got Sophia to start. It was those two crankshaft position sensors you all recommended changing. Thank you.
I ordered two of them at $54 each. 15 minutes to swap them.
And boom! She fired instantly. Not even a hesitation at all.
It's only 47 degrees here in Utah and I drove her around (top down) for two hours.
Wahoooooooo!!!!!!

 

[pantera928]

Glad to hear it. Just FYI, Porsche 928 uses the same sensors and where they put them takes days to change if you can get them out.
Congratulations. I would have taken a top down drive too.
What year is your spider?

 

[Bjorn S]

Glad to hear it. Just FYI, Porsche 928 uses the same sensors and where they put them takes days to change if you can get them out.
Congratulations. I would have taken a top down drive too.
What year is your spider?

in the intro he said:
1985 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce - Sophia is her name with Utah historic vanity plates: CIAO

 

[pantera928]

in the intro he said:
1985 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce - Sophia is her name with Utah historic vanity plates: CIAO

Are you telling me that I need more coffee?

 

[Bjorn S]

Are you telling me that I need more coffee?

nah,,,,maybe something with a bit higher octane ! lol

 

[IRONBLOCK]

Well done Rob. Welcome to the party!

Mark

 

[pantera928]

nah,,,,maybe something with a bit higher octane ! lol

Well, that can be arranged. In fact it is almost 5:00 o'clock here. 🍻🥂
Like your past Triumphs. I used to turn a wrench for British Leyland.

 

[andylarry]

What color is it? Hard to tell from the image. Looks green to me. Is that the original color, paint? I don't remember the 85 coming with color matched bumper trim and side mirror caps.

 

[pantera928]

What color is it? Hard to tell from the image. Looks green to me. Is that the original color, paint? I don't remember the 85 coming with color matched bumper trim and side mirror caps.

Bumpers originally would have been silver and black unless on a quad. I have seen the power mirrors in both black and painted to match.
I do not think that color is original. Looks like British Racing Green which was not offered until the S4 if i recall correctly.
A custom paint job.

 

[garwood1]

Welcome ! Nothing like a story with a positive ending. I like the colour of the car, even if non-standard. Enjoy the ride !

 

[pantera928]

Welcome ! Nothing like a story with a positive ending. I like the colour of the car, even if non-standard. Enjoy the ride !

I like it too!

 

[bianchi2]

......a new .......'victim '......................of the 'spider bite......