RE: Shed Of The Week: Alfa Romeo 164

[JMF894]

Back in the day my dad sold Alfas for a while and as a 17/18yr old yoof I got to ride and drive in 75s and 164s with all engines/spec.

75 was fabulous with the 2.0 twin spark but the V6 3.0 suited the 164 express.

Great memories

Must actually own an Alfa before it's too late

Jimbo

[Oddball RS]

JMF894 said:

Back in the day my dad sold Alfas for a while and as a 17/18yr old yoof I got to ride and drive in 75s and 164s with all engines/spec.

75 was fabulous with the 2.0 twin spark but the V6 3.0 suited the 164 express.

Great memories

Must actually own an Alfa before it's too late

Jimbo

Jimbo, he got them while new and he always gave them back, I bought an Alfa for my other half years ago from a Nottingham dealer and at trade in time I remember the dealer saying they didn't want Alfas back as trade ins, as they already had enough.

Sadly says a lot........

[carinaman]

RicksAlfas said:

Alfa introduced an oil driven "Variator" in the early 1980s which acts on the inlet cam only.

It was used right through until the end of the Twin Sparks on the 147.

Wikipedia says the 1980 Spider 2000 was the first production car to use variable valve timing quoting a US patent number.

[HaydnW]

Great cars - heavily underrated and a lot of car for the money (especially in Cloverleaf guise). Hopefully the values will start to find their way upwards soon - they can hardly get much cheaper!

I love 'em

[MajorMantra]

Liquid Tuna said:

Must just be me then. I don't care for it really.

I'm trying to like it, but badge aside, it's just not very pretty to my eyes.

[s m]

V8 TEJ said:

s m said:

Ali_T said:

That 300kg may be from the Q4 with it's 4wd system? The normal 3.0 was only around 1300-1350kg. Same as a "lightweight" modern hot hatch.

Autocar weighed a 3.0 12v Lusso at 1365kg

A 12v 3.0 Cloverleaf came in at 1444kg

A Q4 was over 1600kg

Those will be in road trim and half a tank of fuel, ready to go, no people or luggage on board

I think there is an error in the article. I'm pretty sure my (smaller) Alfa 155 V6 that I owned was around 1350 kg so I can't see this being lighter at 1200 kg. It certainly can't be lighter than my very basic BMW E28 which is 1220 kg? Will do some research...

I'm not sure where the Pistonheads article sourced it's weight figure from.

The Alfa 164 Twin Spark Lusso that Autocar tested and weighed in 1990 weighed 1335kg ( about 30kg lighter than the V6 Lusso as per above )

[Happyjap]

This really is a not nice car, who would drive this maybe a fisherman but no one else believe now!

[mrtwisty]

Happyjap said:

This really is a not nice car, who would drive this maybe a fisherman but no one else believe now!

Thank you for your contribution - I'm sure you'll fit in very well here...

[Brompty]

Fro the ridiculous to the sublime. Great car this week.

[mrtwisty]

RicksAlfas said:

mrtwisty said:

The article mentions an early valve timing system - anyone care to enlighten me?

Alfa introduced an oil driven "Variator" in the early 1980s which acts on the inlet cam only.
It was used right through until the end of the Twin Sparks on the 147.

Interesting, I didn't know variable timing came in this early. Is it a seperate set of cams with different profiles for lift and duration, or some other system?

[Big Brown Bear]

I used to have a 3 litre V6.The electrics were....eccentric. It had electrically operated reclining rear seats, they worked on three nonconsecutive occasions over the two years I owned it. I never worked out what 50% of the buttons did, the manual was no help either. But would I buy one again? Of course I would, the sound alone was worth more than I paid for it.

[Happyjap]

mrtwisty said:

Thank you for your contribution - I'm sure you'll fit in very well here...

Hello from Japan, thank you Mr Twisty

[RicksAlfas]

mrtwisty said:

RicksAlfas said:

mrtwisty said:

The article mentions an early valve timing system - anyone care to enlighten me?

Alfa introduced an oil driven "Variator" in the early 1980s which acts on the inlet cam only.
It was used right through until the end of the Twin Sparks on the 147.

Interesting, I didn't know variable timing came in this early. Is it a seperate set of cams with different profiles for lift and duration, or some other system?

It's not separate cams or profiles on the Alfa. It's a metal cylinder on the end of the cam which alters the cam timing.
When it fails (usually due to poor or infrequent oil changes) it fails and rattles horribly on startup!

Some reading here:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variator_%28variabl...

[tr7v8]

RicksAlfas said:

mrtwisty said:

RicksAlfas said:

mrtwisty said:

The article mentions an early valve timing system - anyone care to enlighten me?

Alfa introduced an oil driven "Variator" in the early 1980s which acts on the inlet cam only.
It was used right through until the end of the Twin Sparks on the 147.

Interesting, I didn't know variable timing came in this early. Is it a seperate set of cams with different profiles for lift and duration, or some other system?

It's not separate cams or profiles on the Alfa. It's a metal cylinder on the end of the cam which alters the cam timing.
When it fails (usually due to poor or infrequent oil changes) it fails and rattles horribly on startup!

Some reading here:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variator_%28variabl...

Never heard of an 8V ALfa one failing. Only the later 16V ones, but then the VANOS BMW ones fail as well.

[Martin 480 Turbo]

I am loving this. The spec is so much not boy racer. It says Italian old money, including the velour seats. Should be kept aging gracefully.

Thankfully it is rhd, otherwise I'd bee one trip and a wood rimmed wheel from a fifth car...

[Mound Dawg]

JMF894 said:

Back in the day my dad sold Alfas for a while and as a 17/18yr old yoof I got to ride and drive in 75s and 164s with all engines/spec.

75 was fabulous with the 2.0 twin spark but the V6 3.0 suited the 164 express.

Great memories

Must actually own an Alfa before it's too late

Jimbo

+1 on this engine. It may only have 148 bhp (not bad for a 2 litre engine now, let alone one with only 8 valves) but it's a proper old school bellowing arse of a thing that sounds fantastic at all speeds.

And indestructible too. Mines got 181,000+ on it, never been apart and still pulls hard in all five gears, no rattles, small amount of blue smoke on the over-run but that's it. At work, we've got these things out to 215 bhp.

Ran a 164 TS at a track day about 10 years ago which a pal had picked up for free. For the size they're heroically chuckable and I had great fun making a complete monkey out of a guy in a Clio Williams who left us on the straights then held us up in the corners as he tripodded his way round in a wobbly mass of understeer.

Recommended but go for the 75 to get the same engine in a lighter, rear wheel drive chassis with a limited slip diff and looks that only the truly smitten could love. Oh, and a st gearchange.

[Hamster69]

I loved my 88 164 3.0. Was my pride and joy back when I was in my early 20s. Lowered, big wheels, neons etc..
I know all very chavy. But as my friends where all driving modded Novas and Clios at least I stood out. I still think she was pretty to.

[PistonBroker]

soad said:

Alfa Romeo 164 three-litre V6.

As seen on TV: it's shed time
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/columnists/274...

All the more apt when you consider the other news on today's PH front page is the new MX5!

[interloper]

I've had two 164 V6s, what utterly stonking cars they were. Not sure I could live with the little 2ltr mill. It would seem like you were driving around with part of the cars character missing!

[andybu]

Shed,

You might want to reconsider your recommendation to drop a V6 in it, later on...

I got the chance to borrow one of these from my client, back in the day and it was the V6 Lusso & all the toys. Based on my (only) previous Alfa experience with a friends Alfasud, we motored briskly on to the M40/North Circular roundabout after a straight run down the M40 & as we arrived at the roundabout (no traffic lights back then) I set the helm to go from West to North & take us up the Circular. What could possibly go wrong....?

I'd done nothing excessive on the steering or throttle inputs, but, even on a dry-ish road we were suddenly understeering towards the central barrier at the start of the North Circular there in a trice. No blandishments worked; coming off the brakes, getting back on the throttle, touch of handbrake (old stage-rallying trick) - no sir.. It just kept going where it wanted to.

We missed the barrier by the proverbial coat of paint and I drove (slowly) on to the project meeting appointment. Did get to try a 2-litre later one that same year and the balance is a lot better. Any PH prospective buyers - keep that 2 litre motor where it is if you possibly can.. Your blood pressure & hypertension levels will thank you for it.