My Alfa Romeo GTV Cup Twinspark
Discussion
Had a few days off from work and wanted to do three things:
- finish the work on the corroded brake lines => check
- remove the alternator so I could check the part number => check
- replace the sump => check
The last job was very time consuming. I ordered a replacement sump from Italy which - apart from being disgusting (looks like they never did an oil change) - was in quite good nick after a few hours of cleaning. I started by draining the oil, which was a pain due to a knackered sump plug. So instead I just removed the small sump that's at the back of the sump and drained the oil trough there. I cleaned all the bolts and threads, made sure the surface area for the sump/block was clean and installed everything.
I can only say this was a massive PITA. Never will I understand why they engineered a sump this way. I've changed the sump on cars before, but this was nuts. For those who have done this with the subframe in situ => major kudos to you.
That oil was utterly black. I didn't look this bad on the dipstick. Will most certainly flush the engine with some cheap oil once it's up and running.
Collection of bolts.
Finally, it's off.
Replacement sump ready to go in.
- finish the work on the corroded brake lines => check
- remove the alternator so I could check the part number => check
- replace the sump => check
The last job was very time consuming. I ordered a replacement sump from Italy which - apart from being disgusting (looks like they never did an oil change) - was in quite good nick after a few hours of cleaning. I started by draining the oil, which was a pain due to a knackered sump plug. So instead I just removed the small sump that's at the back of the sump and drained the oil trough there. I cleaned all the bolts and threads, made sure the surface area for the sump/block was clean and installed everything.
I can only say this was a massive PITA. Never will I understand why they engineered a sump this way. I've changed the sump on cars before, but this was nuts. For those who have done this with the subframe in situ => major kudos to you.
That oil was utterly black. I didn't look this bad on the dipstick. Will most certainly flush the engine with some cheap oil once it's up and running.
Collection of bolts.
Finally, it's off.
Replacement sump ready to go in.
thomasrs50 said:
I can only say this was a massive PITA. Never will I understand why they engineered a sump this way. I've changed the sump on cars before, but this was nuts. For those who have done this with the subframe in situ => major kudos to you.
Is the alternator difficult to access too, or that's just the Busso V6 that hides it low down at the back?carinaman said:
Is the alternator difficult to access too, or that's just the Busso V6 that hides it low down at the back?
I can only say that nothing concerning the engine and it's auxiliaries is easy on the GTV. Even with the twinspark, everything is mounted is such a way it's never easy to access. Even with the subframe removed, removing the alternator from the underside of the car wasn't straight-forward.I've read that some people remove the intake and get to the alternator from the top... which seems odd.
wal 45 said:
Great work and I agree that very little is easy in the engine bay ancillary wise on these, can really try your patience.
Did you manage to sort your sump plug in the end?
I'm sure the sump plug will be fine. I've torqued it down a few times to 18Nm's before putting the sump on the car and all was well. It's just me being overly worried about something going wrong. Did you manage to sort your sump plug in the end?
Edited by thomasrs50 on Saturday 13th April 13:30
Contitnued work on the GTV. Found the alternator that was a direct replacement for the OEM Bosch unit (Alfa used quite a few different alternator types on the GTV and even when using EPER you couldn't source the correct one).
Went for a reman Lucas. Installation went quite smoothly, so well chuffed.
Since I had better access with the alternator removed, I started by replacing the ABS sensor.
And retapped the threads from the steering rack. Thread size is 10x1,25. Will have to order two new bolts.
The sump plug had been helocoiled so I was a bit worried. But installed new plug and washer and torqued down to 17Nm and it all felt alright.
Finally found a spare teledial in good condition (they are 17x7,5 with a 30,5 offset. I know this isn't the correct colour for a Cup, but the other wheels need a refurb so that wasn't an issue.
That's it for now.
Went for a reman Lucas. Installation went quite smoothly, so well chuffed.
Since I had better access with the alternator removed, I started by replacing the ABS sensor.
And retapped the threads from the steering rack. Thread size is 10x1,25. Will have to order two new bolts.
The sump plug had been helocoiled so I was a bit worried. But installed new plug and washer and torqued down to 17Nm and it all felt alright.
Finally found a spare teledial in good condition (they are 17x7,5 with a 30,5 offset. I know this isn't the correct colour for a Cup, but the other wheels need a refurb so that wasn't an issue.
That's it for now.
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