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I CAN understand why every second car is not an Alfa Romeo

53348 Views 683 Replies 31 Participants Last post by  alfettaparts2, 
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We drove our 156 v6 from Tauranga to Hamilton yesterday to show my parents and to have dinner. Yes I put the old thermostat back in ... and yes she ran cold ...

But what an awesome car. So much torque. Doesn't really need a gearbox. How the heck did they do that? Man they must breathe so well.

Went up the Kaimai ranges in top gear without me having to accelerate more than a few millimetres and never dropped below 95km/h. Okay on the way home I dropped down a couple of gears because the corners are tighter.

Quiet, handles bumps well, corners instinctively (this sort of driving you can't tell that is is FWD), didn't use much petrol, aircon worked well, radio worked all the way (major concern with the kids as our old Honda Odyssey looses the station) and very easy to keep to the speed limit. I did though hit the rev limiter in 2nd near the end of the trip home when I was playing ... she revs so fast!

I honestly cannot understand why so many buy other brands! What a car, and strangely reminds me of my GTV in being such a solid and relaxed cruiser/mile eater.
Pete
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It seems you can still buy "plastic" impeller water pumps as I`ve purchased a new V6 water pump recently and knowing the potential risk with the "plastic" units I sought a unit with metal impeller. Most are "plastic" unfortunately however there are metal impeller units available and this is specified in the description to distinguish them from the other choices so you need to read the description and not be tempted by purchasing the cheapest advertised.
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alfavirusnz said:
It seems you can still buy "plastic" impeller water pumps as I`ve purchased a new V6 water pump recently and knowing the potential risk with the "plastic" units I sought a unit with metal impeller. Most are "plastic" unfortunately however there are metal impeller units available and this is specified in the description to distinguish them from the other choices so you need to read the description and not be tempted by purchasing the cheapest advertised.
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Surprised you can still buy plastic impeller pumps. I bought a skf pump from ebay for 200 dollars. Everything else for the cambelt I purchased from a local supplier as their stock is good quality and well priced. I like to support locals if I can.
Prices for these GTA's have gone up so much I am having second thoughts about doing anymore club days in it. Might clean it up and sell it, get me a mobile and 🎣🎣🎣
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What is it about fishing that so many people like it?

I just don't get it. Stinks, feels horrible, can't swim and enjoy yourself, poor fish, tangles, slow use of a thing with a motor ... rather sit on the beach or in the boat staring out at the ocean, and I'd rather eat a steak
Pete
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PSk said:
What is it about fishing that so many people like it?

I just don't get it. Stinks, feels horrible, can't swim and enjoy yourself, poor fish, tangles, slow use of a thing with a motor ... rather sit on the beach or in the boat staring out at the ocean, and I'd rather eat a steak
Pete
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When I say mobile I was being a little abstract, I am referring to a motor home, not a motor boat.
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Got it. My wife would love one
Pete
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Took the mito down the great ocean road today. If I had to choose a place to spend the rest of my days it would be down this way somewhere.
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So the trip computer has a timer since last fuel stop. The engine has been running for ten hours, traveled 450 k and averaged 7 lt / 100 k. Made lots of stops over the weekend and just left the car running due to the weather. Surprised it added up to ten hours running time.
Good little car. Everything just works and it’s comfortable. Chased up the coast by a great rainbow.

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7 lt/100 is pretty good

Pete
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Aggie57
Fabulous piece of road, one of the worlds great driving experiences. And fabulous piece of history as well, built after the Great War by returned servicemen.

en.wikipedia.org

Great Ocean Road - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
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I have been going down to Apollo bay for years. Usually go the inland route because of the time it saves. The inland route is a great drive as well. Long flat sections through farmland and then up over the Otway ranges.
We went along the great ocean road to see if we could spot any whales as they are on the move this time of the year. No international tourist so the road was very quiet. Alas didn’t see any 🐳
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Sunday, thought I would go to the factory and start refitting my suspension, then begin changing the water pump and cambelt. Suspension went back together, no problem. Started the cambelt service and within a few hours I am left with broken water pump bolts and a stripped bolt head on the top idler bearing. Nothing I haven't encountered before but this time I don't have a full workshop of equipment to fall back on. Sunday I was ready to burn the car to the ground, the only thing that saved me was reflecting how glad I don't have to do this **** for a living anymore. This weekend I have an RDO so I am going down the great ocean road again. Might get to the car the week after......maybe. I actually wish I had some of the motivation for cars I had when younger, alas I have none.
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Understood :(

Sounds like an Ape has been there before, and I'm being unkind to the Ape species
Pete
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I would like to communicate with the apes and say, clean or replace the water pump bolts, and please use anti seize on water pump bolts on any car. Never reuse the cheap cheese bolts alfa used on the idler bearings. Never ever, please, spend the two bucks and change them.
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Obviously you need to replace the top idler bearing. They are massive in size and I'm surprised that they ever wear out, but they obviously do. Compared to the dainty tensioner bearing ... which I'm surprised lasts a week ... :eek:
Pete
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The plastic tensioner is a disgrace. Mine has done two years and low k's, showing signs of wear on the plastic surface. The idler bearings would probably go two or three belt changes but I wouldn't recommend it. What I would say is replace the water pump every time you do the belt, it may look ok at the time but gurantee it will fail before the belt is due again.

re: the broken water pump bolt.I dropped the engine down enough to get a clear line of sight onto the broken bolt. There is a small amount protruding from the block so I am going to try and weld a nut onto it and see if I can get enough weld that I might be able to undo it.
I don't think that's going to work so next option is a center punch and try my best to start drilling it out. If I get the drill in the center I should be able to go step by step until I can easy out the broken bolt and re use the existing thread. I would rather not start to mess around with helicoils around the 11 bolts that hold the water pump on but if I need to I will.
Any suggestions appreciated

The idler bearing I am not so concerned about as I have a well proven method. Grab an old castelated nut, clean it up, hold it up to the bearing, reverse side against the bearing, weld it to the bearing, undo. Sometimes it take a few goes because they are so tight the weld breaks off. The biggest pain here is welding in the engine bay and making sure you don't burn stuff.
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Modern Alfa owners might find this interesting. It’s a universal cambelt sprocket locking kit. The one standing upright will slot in between the 24v sprockets, or a ts or jts for that matter. Also has pins for diesels and a few other bits and pieces. Was about 30-40 bucks.

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With our lock downs I only got back to the GTA this week.
So, the water pump bolt that broke off refused to budge with a nut welded to it. Sheared off flush with the block. Drilled and repaired.
2nd photo shows the cam sprocket locks.
Other photos are how I have learnt to remove the idler bearing bolts when they have rounded off.
Next weekend I'm fishing. Might get to the crapbox the week after.


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Helicoil
This has been eating at me for three weeks now. I'm wondering if its a problem that I screwed the helicoil to deep into the bolt hole. I cant see it being a problem, the hole is twice the depth of the helicoil and the bolt screws in and out no problem. For some reason Its just not sitting right in my head like I should remove it and fit another more flush with the gasket surface. Someone tell me its better the way it is LOL

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It`s not better than original with the thread being flush with the block surface but it is in my opinion no worse. It is after all just a means of clamping that part of the waterpump to the engine and because the helicoil has been installed well enough it seems, there will be sufficient threads engaged with the bolt to clamp adequately the waterpump at that particular position so as to seal the edge of the pump. There is not a high torque figure on those bolts. You also despite the larger diameter of the hole have more than enough gasket surrounding it to seal, especially if a little smear of Hylomar or similar is used to supplement.
I don`t think you have anything to worry about and certainly does not come across as a "home handyman bodge" like I`ve seen (and I`m sure you have too) in many a car.
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Thanks Richard. I did a well enough job I just forgot to set the depth of the tool you use to screw the helicoil in. I really get OCD when I am working on my own cars, kind of takes the joy away. Now I no longer work on cars 24/7 I am also losing my confidence. I will probably remove it and put another one in otherwise its going to haunt me. That brings me to another question. Can anyone suggest a fool proof method of digging out the helicoil. I have a fair idea but am always open to suggestions.
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