[jthraen]

I finally started my Berlina today after 8 months! Yea!

Now the bad news.... After running for about two minutes, I shut it off and checked the oil. I had only put six quarts and wanted to see if I needed to put in a seventh quart. Well, the oil level was at the max on the dip stick, but it looked a little foamy. So I took the cam cover off, and sure enough, the oil is all foamy.

I have been advised to run the car at 1500 - 2000 rpm for about 45 minutes, change the oil and see if it clears up.

Does this sound like good advice?

The engine was rebuilt stock with new pistons, liners, balanced, Sperry head, etc. There is no oil in the water.

I am especially panic'd since I am planning to use this car this weekend for the Time Trials at Willow Springs!

 

[jthraen]

O.K. so I pressure tested the cooling system with the oil out as well as the drain plug. Sure enough, I have water coming out the oil pan!

Does anyone in the Los Angeles area have a spare 1750 that I can buy or borrow? I would need to pick it up on Thursday if I want to get it installed and running by Friday night!

 

[jthraen]

The Berlina is back!

The engine was built by at Sperry Valve works. Stuart is a great guy. When the engine leaked water into the oil, I had the car sent down to his shop. He pulled the engine, reinstalled the liners, reinstalled the engine, then repaired a few other items that were out of wack, tuned the Spica and got the car back to me in a week. He only charged me for the parts - no labor!

This is the first time he has ever had an engine leak at the liners and he really stood behind his work.

I drove the car home from Long Beach with no interior, no seals, no mirrors, no hood, and no turn signals!

It ran great! Can't wait to finish putting it together. I was going to go the get together at SkateLab, but the car really is not ready. Besides, I have completely ignored my wife for the past month due to the Alfas, so I guess I will have to go to dinner with her tonight!

 

[jthraen]

By the way -

Since I was not able to take the Berlina to Willow Springs, I took the GTV6 instead. Had a blast. Finished first in Group E!

 

[jthraen]

I do have an A4 for my daily driver, but my wife keeps stealing it, leaving me her Volvo wagon. I am planning to use the Berlina as my daily driver as soon as it is finished. I still have some electrical work to do, and I need to install the new interior that I bought from ReOriginals.

I also need to get some sounds installed and haven't made any decisions as to what I am going to install. Anyone have any recommendations on something that sounds great, but is invisible? I would like the interior to look close to original, or at least period correct. Now that I said that, I should probably just hack some big holes in the door panels and some Pioneer 6x9's in the rear parcel shelf, put an 8 track player in the dash! Not!