Rather you than me Taylor but best of luck with the Alfa. Lovely sounding car but even my Italian friends all say to get rid of an Alfa before it's warranty runs out.

I would love an Alfa, but I don't have any skills that I can bring to the table, so not worth it. You, however, appear to have enough to give it a good go, so fair play  

 

Love the motor. Enjoy!

Ah and this explains why you've been quiet recently :P

 

Can't say I like that model so much aesthetically but each to their own. Hope it doesn't live up to the expectations/stereotypes and is actually a reliable motor :P

The leather seats look in brilliant condition. Looks a nice car all in all and certainly sounds like you've done your homework. All the best with it mate, will certainly be following your progress!

sent from my Galaxy Note 4

Cheers Guys

 

Did the first little job tonight, while driving there is alot of wind noise, also some damp/mould in the head lineing, i believe this is because of the fact the windows were not sealing correctly, a basic bit of yearly maintenance.

 

Strip the door car down and then there are 4 bolts, two adjust the In/Out at the top, and the other two adjust the angle.

 

There is a knack to it and the first one didnt quite work out so will be stripped down again (the whole process is a trial and error TBH)

 

 

Door Stripped down:

 

 

 

Old window position, you can see the top of the glass doesnt sit in the seal, it was worse on the drivers side but i didnt get a picture.

 

 

Im going to strip it down again and fettle the regulator just to get it perfect, but will keep the rain out for now.

 

 

Cambelt parts are about to be ordered:

 

Cambelt Kit (Belt, Tensioner and 2x Idlers)

Long Idler Bolt

Short Idler Bolt

Water Pump

Two Water Pump gaskets

Water Pump channel O-Rings (6 in total)

2 Rocker cover Gaskets

6 Spark plug Seals

6 Spark Plugs

Aux Belt

 

That lot totals £397 Inc Vat,

 

The Aux belt has 2 Idlers and 1 Tensioner which tend to be pretty bullet proof so ill only change them if they need it. Also Thinking of getting a set of new Water Pump screws (12 in total).

 

Once i get them on order, and my Tools turn up ill actually be ready to start the Cambelt.

 

 

Im a bit reluctant to pull the entire engine/gearbox out to do the clutch as its a very long and time consuming job, and i have some more reading up to do. Its also not really practical right now doing it on the driveway and not having a two post lift.

fantastic love alfas (never been brave enough to own one... I did have a lancia thema turbo though!)

 

and that V6 engine has to be one of the best in the world! Hope to see this in the flesh

Cheers Dave,

 

Right well time to play the waiting game!

 

Parts ordered from AutoLusso, cant fault them, The great thing about the Alfa specialists, they are all willing to help you work on your own car, or take it to them for repair.

 

Its very much "for the best of the car" community. After talking to a chap called Dan, im very confident with the jobs im about to do, and also with a price discount as compared to quotes from other specialists and Alfa Main dealers!

Stunning car and to you for having the balls ! Well done

Today ive been looking over a few things on the car, started off taking a quick peek at the cambelt, 3 screws and the inspection cover comes off easily.

 

 

Changing the belt insitu introduces a few issues as the gap is quite small (3 fingers width at the top, closer at the bottom, but is still tighter than half of the girls in Medway)

 

 

Also checked the fitment of my 41mm Crank Nut Socket, the max OD is 55mm mine was 55.7 so i had it turned down at work, good to know it fits

 

 

Then decided to check the exhaust over, since Friday ive found a resonance/vibration at 3300-4500rpm, turned out one of my centre flexi joins is blowing (as Pete, Group1RS thought)

 

http://s264.photobucket.com/user/Warlord_1011/media/Cars/Alfa%20GTV%20T530%20BFC/20150321_125418_zpstdxkzqkk.mp4.html

 

The shorter (rear bank) was replaced a few months ago, but the longer (front bank) looks OEM so will be a challenge getting it out in one bit, If i cant get it loose and cut/replace the flexi i may end up just buying a stainless and replace it.

 

 

 

 

I have also found the actual cause of the oil leak, I thought it was a bad/loose jubilee clip fitted onto the Oil return line on the Oil cooler, while it was the OEM cooler, a pipe had been replaced and was weeping oil. But it turns out this is the real problem :

 

 

Looks like a failed rear main seal. Unfortunately the seal is also at a silicone sealant join between two sections in the cylinder block, this means that often even after the seal has been replaced you will still have an oil leak. :( Ok so i was planning on changing the Flywheel and clutch, so it can be done at the same time. but its still a while off! 

 

Also right now im having a problem with the clutch pedal, a click, 4 hours to remove the pedal assembly, cuts and grazes all over and after putting it all back together its still doing it! Grrrr!

 

I cant wait to properly getting into the mechanical bits but working within the constraints of delicate interior trim panels is bloody annoying. The though of stripping it out for the ultimate "Track Day Bro" appeal did pop into my head. but The leather is too good!

 

A demotivating day and the thought of getting it ready for Combe in April is worrying but i can only try!

It wouldn't be an Alfa if it didn't break! hope to have a ride in it at how fast good luck!

Today ive been looking over a few things on the car, started off taking a quick peek at the cambelt, 3 screws and the inspection cover comes off easily.

 

 

Changing the belt insitu introduces a few issues as the gap is quite small (3 fingers width at the top, closer at the bottom, but is still tighter than half of the girls in Medway)

 

 

Also checked the fitment of my 41mm Crank Nut Socket, the max OD is 55mm mine was 55.7 so i had it turned down at work, good to know it fits

 

 

Then decided to check the exhaust over, since Friday ive found a resonance/vibration at 3300-4500rpm, turned out one of my centre flexi joins is blowing (as Pete, Group1RS thought)

 

http://s264.photobucket.com/user/Warlord_1011/media/Cars/Alfa%20GTV%20T530%20BFC/20150321_125418_zpstdxkzqkk.mp4.html

 

The shorter (rear bank) was replaced a few months ago, but the longer (front bank) looks OEM so will be a challenge getting it out in one bit, If i cant get it loose and cut/replace the flexi i may end up just buying a stainless and replace it.

 

 

 

 

I have also found the actual cause of the oil leak, I thought it was a bad/loose jubilee clip fitted onto the Oil return line on the Oil cooler, while it was the OEM cooler, a pipe had been replaced and was weeping oil. But it turns out this is the real problem :

 

 

Looks like a failed rear main seal. Unfortunately the seal is also at a silicone sealant join between two sections in the cylinder block, this means that often even after the seal has been replaced you will still have an oil leak. :( Ok so i was planning on changing the Flywheel and clutch, so it can be done at the same time. but its still a while off! 

 

Also right now im having a problem with the clutch pedal, a click, 4 hours to remove the pedal assembly, cuts and grazes all over and after putting it all back together its still doing it! Grrrr!

 

I cant wait to properly getting into the mechanical bits but working within the constraints of delicate interior trim panels is bloody annoying. The though of stripping it out for the ultimate "Track Day Bro" appeal did pop into my head. but The leather is too good!

 

A demotivating day and the thought of getting it ready for Combe in April is worrying but i can only try!

Let me and chris know if you need a hand

Replacement Front Downpipe to Cat pipe ordered, £52 inc Vat & Delivery to the door, Its going to be fun and games to get the old one off, I feel my angle grinder will be making an appearance. 

 

New Cambelt Kit and parts, and Oil Cooler Kit is due to be dispatched in a few days and the Cambelt Tooling should have been dispatched last week but ive heard nothing of them as of yet.

 

 

Rear main seals do tend to be a higher mileage failure, however its not leaking, its not even a minor drip, so me as well as 90% of most V6 owners just drive it as it is and keep an eye on it. 

 

And booked two weeks off in April to make a start on it. That should be enough time to get it done, as well as wiring of a certain FGF too

Downpipe turned up today, didnt get a picture of the new one, but take this one, and image its all new n shiny

 

 

Removing the old one included:

 

2 Nuts at Manifold

1 Lambda Sensor (PITA)

2 Nuts at a mid support

3 Nuts at the CAT

 

Well the two at the Manfiold came off very easily, very nice start, then the trouble started, the Lambda sensor wouldnt budge! Took the mid support out, and found the bush is knackered but to change it involved removing the engine mount (see the two chunky bolts)

 

So a quick phone call to an alfa specialist enlightened me to the fact that no one every really bothers with this mount as the cat and Down pipe are more than strong enough to support the weight,

 

Then after some pulling, this came off

 

 

Removing the Lambda sensor was next, for a short while i panicked as i thought i had sheered off the outer nut, i mean this thing was well and truely tight! Scaffold pole over a 22mm spanner tight! luckily i didnt. so it eventually came off with enough working, although i will see how it goes, i have already budgeted for a replacement just in case,

 

 

but then the 3 nuts at the Cat were truely rounded then rusted over, so out came the dremel, cut them off, pulled the end of the pipe off of the cat, then punched out the remnants of the bolts. Here i was going to call it a night as it was getting dark, until i remembered that i bought a few bags of M8 nuts bolts and washers when i had my old fiesta.... quick nip inside i found them, 3 bolts left tided up the surface, bit of exhaust sealant, then bolted it back on. 

 

Finally on and tightened.

 

 

 

And its now leak free

 

Here are the left overs from the old exhaust, Not too bad for a 17 year old exhaust i guess

 

 

While also under there i took the flywheel cover plate off to take a look at the oil leak

 

 

Not looking great, although i now know its got a Valeo Flywheel.

 

 

 

Took 3 hours to fix the exhaust, then tidied up followed by the complimentary blast to get the exhaust nicely sealed and up to temperature but in all Not bad for an evenings work, but still plenty to do!

Cambelt tools were attempted to be delivered yesterday (to my mums house), but no one was home, so hopefully i can collect them from Royal Mail today. Cambelt Parts should be delivered Tomorrow.

 

So its all coming together. Soon ill be stripping the V6 down

 

 

While there i want to also freshen up the Rocker covers, Intake Plenum and Coilpack cover, I may buy some Red VHT Paint to paint the Rocker Covers. The Coil Pack cover and Plenum have embossed details which i want ground back to fresh shiny Aluminium to really tart them up, but as that takes longer, and they arent so difficult to remove, i may do them later.

 

This is the kind of look im going for (This only has the Red Plenum and Coil Pack cover, the Rocker covers are standard)

 

 

The 6 Intake runners can also be removed at a seperate time for a refresh, they are just pitted and rusty but are only polished so should be able to recondition them, or worst case buy a new set.

Clutch master cylinder went, clutch pedal went to the floor. Hooked it back up with my foot, then it Sprang up too high for me to get my foot on the pedal.

only had a mile to go To get home.

New one needs to be ordered And I need to find out how to bleed the clutch system.

LOL

Bit the bullet today....

 

3.2L Clutch, Single Mass Flywheel and Rear main bearing ordered.

 

 

Ive decided to do it all in one go, pull the engine and gearbox out, do the cambelt and do the clutch, and fix the leaky rear main. Its a Big job, but does drops the cambelt time from 8-10 hours down to about 6 though.

 

Its about half a days work to remove the engine and gearbox. a day to a day and half doing the Cambelt, clutch and rear main seal. Then a day (yes it takes longer) to put it back together.

 

I am fitting the new Master Cylinder this weekend but then Easter Monday is off limits and its my 22nd on the Friday (10th) and there's an unwritten rule according to my family that i cant spend the entire time under a car. So it leaves me with Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to do all of that work...

 

I can see myself burning the midnight oil to get this done next week. 

Take your time, make sure you are methodical as you have a great task ahead, if you need to tinker on your Birthday then tinker, it is not like it is a special one, 22 is just another year.

 

 Good Luck.  

Cheers James.

 

Thing is i could cut corners and throw the old clutch back in or just drive it on the old cambelt, but it wouldnt be right. End of the day this is the most expensive car i have bought (not on finance anyway), and i should be doing it justice. its not some cheap crap box (well not to me anyway) and it makes sense to me to do it. It costs whatever it costs to get the car in a condition im happy with

 

Yes ive spent alot on parts alone so far. But if its worth doing, its worth doing Properly. 

 

Just a shame i couldn't prolong it a month or two to save up for the Alfa/Quaife Q2 Diff  completely transforms the cars handling, Would love to do it while the gearbox is out but the extra £600 to buy the diff and fitting parts is a bit much right now haha

if you are going to do , you may as well do it properly, at least then you can hoon round the track ect with resonable hope it wont break !

 

edit: get the diff in , and it could suprise some more modern stuff!

If i have time and money to get it done for Combe. I plan for it to go to Bedford, but how well it does im not sure!

200 + bhp? (250bhp? not sure what evolutiuon of that engine you have!) not too much weight in older cars? do you know the weight? a decent set of tyres and some performance pads, and you could fly!

 

I just want to go in it hear the noise

Get that diff in! You'll regret all that work and not doing so. Get a 0% credit card and (responsibly) whack it on that!

200 + bhp? (250bhp? not sure what evolutiuon of that engine you have!) not too much weight in older cars? do you know the weight? a decent set of tyres and some performance pads, and you could fly!

 

I just want to go in it hear the noise

 

220 BHP in the 3.0 Form. Kerb weight around 1400kg (heavy lump tbh) 

bit heavier than I thought, I thought It may have been about 1100kg! should still go well though

hahah nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

They essentially built it out of steel girders. So its a very stiff chassis, but it is heavy.

 

Stripping out absolute max can save about 180kg, but i like the interior too much to do that!

 

edit: the other day i did have a slight 2nd Thought. Grab an Alfa 147 (1200kg) with a 2.0L twin spark. Then get the 1.9 JTD (turbo diesel) exhaust manifold and bolt it on (thanks to FIAT for the FIRE engine platform, the diesel block is the same as the Twin spark) Garrett T28 turbo, skim pistons, balance it all, double up the head gasket, change ECU n injectors

 

bang easy 220 bhp on a very safe and reliable map. 220bhp in 1200kg..... yum