Should be an interesting build, keep us up to date with pictures!
Kevin
Kevin
Alfa engine, TR4A chassis & Dio Tipo body.
Bit more than an engine conversion but this seems close to the right thread header unless I am pointed to another which would be better.
I bought a Weber intake equipped engine from a member here a few years ago to put into a Marcos 1600 I had.
Finally decided that the Marcos was equivalent to restoring three normal cars so sold it, it's now back in England.
Then wanted another body to put the Alfa into.
Never found the Devin I really wanted but recently got a Dio Tipo 61 with TR4A chassis.
Not cheap but considerably less than the $6500 a new body goes for.
The Dio Tipo was originally designed around the TR3 so should be fairly simple to build.
The TR chassis I have is a roller but has no engine or trans.
I have the choice of using the Alfa 2000 or a Buick V6 I also have at hand.
Thinking the Alfa may be more "Correct" for the Dio Tipo body style.
Performance should be adequate and still a sports car rather than just another "Really wanna Cobra" build.
To do the Alfa I think I need to graft in the Alfa rear and re-drill the TR front hubs to the Alfa 4x108 pattern.
May need to swap the Spider oil pan for something shorter, I do have an Alfetta pan but not the correct oil pump for it.
Not sure if that would really be shorter.
Shooting for less than 1400 Lb. when done so should run OK.
At that weight I may want to switch to a 4.10 rear?
Unlike a lot of builders I will drive the car frequently if not daily when it is not snowing.
May also take it up the road to Virginia City on Hill Climb weekend. >
One of too many projects but actually probably the simplest to build as there will be no need to hunt down any original parts or adhere to any "Correct" details!
I am sort of looking for Alfa gauges to put in it.
I bought a Weber intake equipped engine from a member here a few years ago to put into a Marcos 1600 I had.
Finally decided that the Marcos was equivalent to restoring three normal cars so sold it, it's now back in England.
Then wanted another body to put the Alfa into.
Never found the Devin I really wanted but recently got a Dio Tipo 61 with TR4A chassis.
Not cheap but considerably less than the $6500 a new body goes for.
The Dio Tipo was originally designed around the TR3 so should be fairly simple to build.
The TR chassis I have is a roller but has no engine or trans.
I have the choice of using the Alfa 2000 or a Buick V6 I also have at hand.
Thinking the Alfa may be more "Correct" for the Dio Tipo body style.
Performance should be adequate and still a sports car rather than just another "Really wanna Cobra" build.
To do the Alfa I think I need to graft in the Alfa rear and re-drill the TR front hubs to the Alfa 4x108 pattern.
May need to swap the Spider oil pan for something shorter, I do have an Alfetta pan but not the correct oil pump for it.
Not sure if that would really be shorter.
Shooting for less than 1400 Lb. when done so should run OK.
At that weight I may want to switch to a 4.10 rear?
Unlike a lot of builders I will drive the car frequently if not daily when it is not snowing.
May also take it up the road to Virginia City on Hill Climb weekend. >
One of too many projects but actually probably the simplest to build as there will be no need to hunt down any original parts or adhere to any "Correct" details!
I am sort of looking for Alfa gauges to put in it.
Attachments
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Been making some actual progress on the Alfa/Dio Tipo build. >
And lots of changes!
No longer using the TR4 chassis, may put that under another Dio later.
Now using an old Art Morrison design multi-tube frame, or at least basing my build on his design with some updates.
The good news so far is that I have the main chassis tubes bent to shape so I have the foundation to build on.
Also used some PVC tube and a hole-saw to fabricate mock-up cross-members that I may easily move around as needed for optimum placement.
Also made a cradle to hold the engine and trans, spacers for the chassis and body.
Engine sits about 4" behind the axle center-line as measured to face of the front cover (2" to face of crank pulley) so it will be a "Forward mid-engine" build.
I will be sitting only about 14" ahead of the rear axle, I expect weight balance to be excellent.
Trying for very neutral and flat handling.
After getting all the mocking up done I've figured out that there are some issues with the AM drawings.
But I've also determined that the stock Alfa Spider track is fine with factory optional 6"x14" wheels and 205/60-14 tires.
May try to go to 15" for better performance tire availability (?).
The bad (?), to get the engine to fit without having to cut the bonnet I end up with only 4" ground clearance under the Spider oil pan at the drain plug.
That is at 10" behind the front wheel center-line, so the tires may not help to lift the sump over speed bumps very much.
May not be as bad as the sump being low in front of the wheels as original. :question:
Probably not an issue on a track, but I'm a little leery of it for the street.
Never thought of Alfa engines as being particularly tall before now.
Almost makes me wish for a 1300 to use, I know they are shorter and rev like crazy. :wink2:
I am now looking into ways to make the pan shallower without having to go to dry-sump.
This IS supposed to be a budget build and eventual guide for others to also give new life to rusted out Spiders.
I have an Alfetta pan and oil pump, but is seems the depth is virtually identical to a Spider pan. :frown2:
Would prefer to use the Spider pan if possible as it appears to have better oil control for cornering.
Thought of fabricating a flat bottom half but not sure the oil pump and pick-up could be modified to work?
Suggestions?
Front suspension will use reversed stock lower arms and spindles, custom upper arms, R&P steering (Why the arms are reversed!) and coil-over shocks.
Rear suspension is based on the AM four-link.
As it turns out the chassis fabrication is simple compared to the bodywork.
This is a very basic kit, no factory chassis available at this time and no real instructions or detail parts.
Very similar to the kits from the 50's and 60's that so many buyers were overwhelmed by and never finished.
I will be finishing this one, it's a "Bucket list, has to be done" item for me. :grin2:
And lots of changes!
No longer using the TR4 chassis, may put that under another Dio later.
Now using an old Art Morrison design multi-tube frame, or at least basing my build on his design with some updates.
The good news so far is that I have the main chassis tubes bent to shape so I have the foundation to build on.
Also used some PVC tube and a hole-saw to fabricate mock-up cross-members that I may easily move around as needed for optimum placement.
Also made a cradle to hold the engine and trans, spacers for the chassis and body.
Engine sits about 4" behind the axle center-line as measured to face of the front cover (2" to face of crank pulley) so it will be a "Forward mid-engine" build.
I will be sitting only about 14" ahead of the rear axle, I expect weight balance to be excellent.
Trying for very neutral and flat handling.
After getting all the mocking up done I've figured out that there are some issues with the AM drawings.
But I've also determined that the stock Alfa Spider track is fine with factory optional 6"x14" wheels and 205/60-14 tires.
May try to go to 15" for better performance tire availability (?).
The bad (?), to get the engine to fit without having to cut the bonnet I end up with only 4" ground clearance under the Spider oil pan at the drain plug.
That is at 10" behind the front wheel center-line, so the tires may not help to lift the sump over speed bumps very much.
May not be as bad as the sump being low in front of the wheels as original. :question:
Probably not an issue on a track, but I'm a little leery of it for the street.
Never thought of Alfa engines as being particularly tall before now.
Almost makes me wish for a 1300 to use, I know they are shorter and rev like crazy. :wink2:
I am now looking into ways to make the pan shallower without having to go to dry-sump.
This IS supposed to be a budget build and eventual guide for others to also give new life to rusted out Spiders.
I have an Alfetta pan and oil pump, but is seems the depth is virtually identical to a Spider pan. :frown2:
Would prefer to use the Spider pan if possible as it appears to have better oil control for cornering.
Thought of fabricating a flat bottom half but not sure the oil pump and pick-up could be modified to work?
Suggestions?
Front suspension will use reversed stock lower arms and spindles, custom upper arms, R&P steering (Why the arms are reversed!) and coil-over shocks.
Rear suspension is based on the AM four-link.
As it turns out the chassis fabrication is simple compared to the bodywork.
This is a very basic kit, no factory chassis available at this time and no real instructions or detail parts.
Very similar to the kits from the 50's and 60's that so many buyers were overwhelmed by and never finished.
I will be finishing this one, it's a "Bucket list, has to be done" item for me. :grin2:
Got to the point of being ready to begin welding chassis tubes, and ran out of TIG gas.
So decided to get a start on the bodywork.
Sanded out some mold lines, cut out the radiator opening, and just HAD to mount the grill. :wink2:
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Fits like it was made for this!
And yes by thunder it IS going to be a RED car, probably with a silver racing stripe to match up with the silver-grey wheels.
Will probably even use silver-grey upholstery for a little continuity and cooler interior than black would yield.
So decided to get a start on the bodywork.
Sanded out some mold lines, cut out the radiator opening, and just HAD to mount the grill. :wink2:
Fits like it was made for this!
And yes by thunder it IS going to be a RED car, probably with a silver racing stripe to match up with the silver-grey wheels.
Will probably even use silver-grey upholstery for a little continuity and cooler interior than black would yield.
Some chassis progress.
Not pictured is that it is currently blocked up at ride-height with the engine and trans sitting in place for mock-up.
Need to find a way to shorten the oil pan so that I may lower the engine three inches!
Never really thought of Alfa's as being tall engines before now.
For some reason attached images do not display for me so I do not know if the pics are visible.
Not pictured is that it is currently blocked up at ride-height with the engine and trans sitting in place for mock-up.
Need to find a way to shorten the oil pan so that I may lower the engine three inches!
Never really thought of Alfa's as being tall engines before now.
For some reason attached images do not display for me so I do not know if the pics are visible.
Attachments
Maybe for another build but these are rear drive so again it gets complicated.
Not sure the V6 would be any shorter with the plenum intake, not sure what it would take to make it work on carbs.
I've made a deal for the DS from another member here.
Not sure the V6 would be any shorter with the plenum intake, not sure what it would take to make it work on carbs.
I've made a deal for the DS from another member here.
Many years ago I owned one of the Huffaker Genie Alfa's.
If you've been to Monterey and saw a Gold Genie/Alfa that is my old car.
I made the "Sensible"* decision to sell it as I really could not afford to fix and race it at that time.
I've always regretted never getting to drive that car.
The Dio-Alfa is my consolation build.
So it must be a Nord engine, rear drive, and as close to a sports racer with registration as possible.
Having to go DS is more disappointing from the aspect of giving up the idea of this being a budget build and encouraging others to recycle rusted Alfa's to build more.
*"Sensible" = The decision you know you should make, but will certainly regret later.
If you've been to Monterey and saw a Gold Genie/Alfa that is my old car.
I made the "Sensible"* decision to sell it as I really could not afford to fix and race it at that time.
I've always regretted never getting to drive that car.
The Dio-Alfa is my consolation build.
So it must be a Nord engine, rear drive, and as close to a sports racer with registration as possible.
Having to go DS is more disappointing from the aspect of giving up the idea of this being a budget build and encouraging others to recycle rusted Alfa's to build more.
*"Sensible" = The decision you know you should make, but will certainly regret later.
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