[Norseman50]

TIRES

I can definitely get behind the steering, brakes, and suspension improvement suggestions that most of the previous posters have offered, but I'm surprised no one has yet suggested tires/tyres.

I would think that a new set of meats would make an immediate, noticeable difference in traction, handling, comfort, road noise, stopping ability, etc. (the same stuff that steering, brakes and suspension control/affect).

And tires fall into that bolt-on, DIY kind of performance improvement category that I think the OP is asking about.

As to what brand/kind/size/type of tire I recommend? I run 195/60 R15's on my phone dial rims. I like a soft, sticky compound with a higher (H or V) speed rating, that is better in summer but wears out pretty fast. I would prefer to sport Pirelli's, simply because it's an Italian car (and they were one of the original equipment options), but there are a lot of good tire manufacturers out there.

 

[nealric]

I can definitely get behind the steering, brakes, and suspension improvement suggestions that most of the previous posters have offered, but I'm surprised no one has yet suggested tires/tyres.

I would think that a new set of meats would make an immediate, noticeable difference in traction, handling, comfort, road noise, stopping ability, etc. (the same stuff that steering, brakes and suspension control/affect).

And tires fall into that bolt-on, DIY kind of performance improvement category that I think the OP is asking about.

As to what brand/kind/size/type of tire I recommend? I run 195/60 R15's on my phone dial rims. I like a soft, sticky compound with a higher (H or V) speed rating, that is better in summer but wears out pretty fast. I would prefer to sport Pirelli's, simply because it's an Italian car (and they were one of the original equipment options), but there are a lot of good tire manufacturers out there.

That's a good one. If you want even more performance, wider wheels/tires and lower profile tires can get you even more. The current crop of max performance summer tires are night and day different from what was available back in the 60s-80s. Since most people aren't driving their spiders more than a few thousand miles a year and aren't driving in winter, summer high-performance tires are a no brainer.

 

[mcola]

As far as power is concerned, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned (or did I miss it) installing the 2-pce pre-74 or S4 exhaust manifolds. While the gains aren't substantial, they are noticeable.

 

[alfa63]

I'll echo what Randy stated, a driving course. I joined the local club and took my Spider time-trialing at Willow Springs and Laguna Seca, that was for me. For the car, springs, shocks, a slightly larger rear sway bar, and swapping out the steel wheels for light-weight Cromodora wheels on 205/60-14 tires. Being in California, I've stayed away from modifying the engine to keep it smog legal.

The suspension suggestions and work were performed by Ward & Deane.

Good luck and enjoy whatever upgrades you choose to do.

 

[bookem288]

Has anyone had their motor rebuilt by Vick's? They seem to have a good setup for upgrading the performance of the 2.0L.

 

[stevesxm]

I own a 1987 Alfa Spider and I was wondering what some of the first performance upgrades owners usually consider. Any thoughts and info concerning the parts w/ links would be awesome.. Cheers!

all the suggestions so far are all fine in their own way but wouldn't you want to make a pretty clear plan on what you want to actually accomplish w/ the car and what you want to actually end up with first ? then you make a plan for the modifications based on that ? you can do anything w/ this car from leaving it box stock to making it totally and completely unusable as a street car at all... which actually happens sometimes when people charge into this sort of thing without a clearly defined goal...

 

[Velocemoto]

=grazie;6383657, it will never be a mini Ferrari, or Porsche killer, it's still a delightful cruiser with lots of charm and great looks...

It's a good point of discussion how quick a 70's 105 chassis can go if you have complete confidence in said chassis. Even the Spider which is slighly shorter in wheelbase can still hold great corner speed and be decent on the brakes.... Porshce killer maybe not, but a sorted 70's Spider will try its very best to hang onto a similar vintage Porsche IMO, espcially on a road where momentum and corner speed is essential.

While he's worrying about his Porsche swapping ends, you're worried about swapping this great road for a hwy

On topic...things I've done which i think has made the car more enjoyable without diluting its classic nature.
1. Tires and correct pressure. {15X7 wheels open up a world of good tires}
2. Suspension, steering bushes...all of them. Wheel alignment.
3. Suspension Spings/Shocks/Rollbars combo {I chose Alfaholics and transformed car}
4. Decent steering wheel...sounds stupid but throw away that tiny, thick aftermarket which is a so called 'sports' one...doesn't work on a spider 360mm min and not too thick !!
5. Decent pads
6. Good carbies, plugs, points etc....driving hard with 120BHP is still fun....specially with a Nord Alfa.

...and anything else nice you want to throw at it !!!
I added full stainless exhaust system, more as a 'want' than a need.