[jcorbs]

Hi All:

Took delivery of my very own '74 GTV from Per Schroeder at Classic Motorsports magazine this weekend.

I haven't owned a GTV since the '67 step nose that I owned in the early 70's. Loved that car and poured every spare cent I had into it, including putting a 1750 engine in (I can hear the groans). Finally traded it for a 2600 Sprint that had been restored and subsequently an Alfetta.

Anyway, generally very pleased with the new acquisition, but have two issues:

Per has just rebuilt the steering box and it is INCREDIBLY heavy at low speeds and has some initial slop. He included another box with the car, but I was interested if any of you have any pointers/sources for a rebuild?

The other is that I came home tonight to find that my son had driven the car today, closed the doors, and then couldn't get them open. The handles are jammed up and the driver's side one is loose in the door. Any suggestions other than to get a wire in to unlatch the door from the inside?

Thanks

John Corbs

 

[BlpltGTV]

I was wondering who was going to get that car. As for the steering, I would bet its not the steering box thats making it feel heavy, but loads of caster in the alignment settings. I bet it also has a set of nice sticky tires as well. The reason I say this is that I know they had it set up for the track. As for the doors, thats a strange one. Are they locked? It sounds like they might be locked.

Will

 

[jcorbs]

Steering & Door Locks

Thanks Will.

Yup, I am planning to check the alignment settings and it does still have the Nitto DOTs on. Per also thought that it was much heavier than the previous box, all set up the same way. I'll get it up on stands this weekend and see whether it is still tight without load. He also fitted a smaller diameter Personal wheel which is not helping either.

I managed to "break in" using a coat hanger and found that the screw from the handle is slipping over the plate in the lock and jamming. The whole door lock is not fitted properly to the door as the top flange is not engaging, allowing the whole lock and fitting to move up.

Another project for the weekend!

 

[BlpltGTV]

I would have thought that car was a little more sorted than that. The smaller steering wheel makes it a little harder, but I don't think it should make that big of a deal. On my track car, I have a 13 inch wheel and even with my full race tires, I can still drive it like I can the Alfa with the smaller tires and huge wheel. It might also be that the steering box hasn't broken in yet.

Good luck,
Will

 

[jcorbs]

Steering Box

That was my hope too.

I think that Per was caught out when the initial box broke.

I sure hope that it just needs some wearing in.

I am however troubled by the slop in the wheel before take up.

May try to get it off its wheels tonight to least see where to go next.

Thansk Will.

John Corbs

 

[BlpltGTV]

I'd bet its a tie-rod end someplace. There are a whole bunch of them (6 I think). I had to do the ones on my car last spring, the slop was bad, and getting worse. The good news is that they are fairly cheap.

Will

 

[Touringspider]

John:

Welcome to the bb!! Is this the LeMans blue GTV that has been the Classic Motorsports project Alfa documented in the last several issues of the magazine?

Arno Leskinen
AROC-USA National Concours Chair
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[jcorbs]

Le Mans Blue GTV

Hi Arno:

Thanks for the welcome!

Yes, this is The Classic Motorsports car.

John Corbs