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Enjoy that feeling of satisfaction, and yeah shed a tear if you want to ;) :D ... cannot wait to be gassing my GTV up for the first time!

Promise me you will take a fire extingusher for your first few drives atleast until we are 100% everything is nice and leak free, etc.

Best
Pete
 
Osso,

I am in AWE! All the toil, and now the payoff - you get to enjoy your beautiful machine. Hope to see it in person in Detroit this year, Chicago next year, or maybe I'll get to visit it at home when I come to Golden this summer.

All the best,
 
exhaust

Next we installed an IMASAF three piece exhaust system from Centerline. Apparently, Centerline purchases one front section to use on more than one car. We found out that 25 centimeters had to be removed from the back of the front part. It seems like a pretty cheesey to me. See the picture of Papajam with the wheelie cutter. Long after I got the system, a buddy of mine warned me that this brand of exhaust fit poorly at the manifold. Had we not known about this, we could have cracked the manifold when we tightened up the bolts. Even installing two copper gaskets wasn’t enough to stop it from leaking. The system is going in the trash and I will be purchasing a quality CISAM exhaust system from Conti or IAP. :(
Beautiful job! I just went through the same thing with a CISAM from IAP. The fit at the manifold was fine but I had to shorten mine by about 8" for it to fit in my 69 1750 GTV. I think it was actually designed for a Berlina. Even after getting the length right, the angle of the down pipe is wrong so that the center section rubs up against the heat shields. I'm going to have to take it to a shop to have the angles made right. Bottom line--I'm not sure CISAM is the answer. What's more, it was Centerline who filled me in on the angle issues and was very helpful in telling me about the unique angles of needed for different year cars. Anyway, good luck. I'm very very envious of that beauty you've got.
 
Make sure that when installing the exhaust, check the fit of the manifold and the frt pipe. Sometimes the frt pipe has to be massaged to fit. When it is proper, the frt pipe wil fit flat in the manifold. Use 2 gaskets is also good, and tighten the manifold to the frt pipe first. Great work and keep us informed, Good Luck!
 
I am so happy for you. Finally it is coming together. what an awesome looking car!!!
 
Discussion starter · #27 ·
Thanks for all of the compliments and praise. It's been a very difficult journey. Papajam and Jaci's help created the spark that has rekindled the love affair. I hope to continue to make progress over the next month or so.

Make sure that when installing the exhaust, check the fit of the manifold and the frt pipe. Sometimes the frt pipe has to be massaged to fit. When it is proper, the frt pipe wil fit flat in the manifold. Use 2 gaskets is also good, and tighten the manifold to the frt pipe first. Great work and keep us informed, Good Luck!
There were three set of eyes on the installation of the exhaust. The gap between the header flange and the down pipes flange was at the top, not the base. In order to get the down pipes to bolt to the header, we raised the rear of the down pipes to close the gap. It hit the exhaust shield. My preference is to buy a better quality exhaust.
 
There were three set of eyes on the installation of the exhaust. The gap between the header flange and the down pipes flange was at the top, not the base. In order to get the down pipes to bolt to the header, we raised the rear of the down pipes to close the gap. It hit the exhaust shield. My preference is to buy a better quality exhaust.
Heating and re-bending won't solve the problem? ...

I personally have never ever purchased an exhaust that just bolted perfectly up ... is there such a thing?. For a FIAT 850 I worked on once, I had to cut the exhaust pipe and add about 1" of pipe because it was too short and the large muffler would not mount correctly.

Pete
 
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
And I was thought that my Spider was like new after restoration.
Congrats Osso.
Bill
 
I must say that it was both an honor and a priviledge to be asked to help assemble this most excellent example. Thanks osso!!!
 

Attachments

I don't know how I missed this thread. Do you think you can post video when you get the car on the road?

Rich
 
wow

Working on a vintage alfa with clean hands!. Almost as surreal as the pictures in the shop manuals.

Also, great idea to blow up the wiring diagram (posted on the wall). I can't tell you how many times I've used a color pencil to follow that one wire I'm interested in. Having gone nearly blind in the process, the blow up will definitely be handy.

Thanks for posting.
 
Discussion starter · #36 ·
I don't know how I missed this thread. Do you think you can post video when you get the car on the road?
What a great idea! Unfortunately, I don't have a video camera. But, I might be able to twist my buddy's arm to bring his over. :)

Working on a vintage alfa with clean hands!. Almost as surreal as the pictures in the shop manuals.

Also, great idea to blow up the wiring diagram (posted on the wall). I can't tell you how many times I've used a color pencil to follow that one wire I'm interested in. Having gone nearly blind in the process, the blow up will definitely be handy.
It was very handy to have the large plot of the diagram. I'm lucky in that my office has a large plotter. We recently got a 52", so I'll have to sneak in someday and plot a larger version. I called Kinkos about plotting out a poster, it was going to cost about $50. Quite pricey.
 
convention ready?

Osso,

Any chance you'll be able to drive the spider to Chicago in June? I would love to see your car up close and personal.

Gmack
Minneapolis
69 SV
74 GTV
 
So now drive that puppy and get it dirty. I am tired of feeling so inadequate looking at your clean car. ;) Congrats. We all feel like we own a piece of that gorgeous car having read so much about it and it's progress. :D

PS: Those garden tools hanging on the wall by the front fender put the hair up on my neck. I have a nice fender ding when a shovel decided to slip out and fall and Murphy was alive and working . . . on my fender.
 
owns 1991 Alfa ES-30 Sprint Zagato
+1...garden tools MUST come down before tragedy strikes!! I once had a box of soccer balls (what else?) that came down on the hood of my pristine Porsche 930 while it sat quietly in my garage....they were stacked too high and too precariously - like those garden tools!!!!

absolutely love your car and these high level restorations....raising the bar and setting the standard for sure!
 
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