Alfa Romeo 90 Gold Cloverleaf
Discussion
Rafeabrook said:
Top work fella.
I had the grandson of this beast (166 3.0) for a brief period a few years ago but alas it was a duffer with an oil leak that required an engine out fix, which cost more than the value of the car to sort.
By the time I'd spent £3k on it and very little time driving it (as it lived at Autolusso most weeks) I had had enough.
I may return to Alfa but as a wedding photographer and I can't have a car let me down mid job!
Props to you for saving this rare beast and running it as a daily though!
Thanks and guys.I had the grandson of this beast (166 3.0) for a brief period a few years ago but alas it was a duffer with an oil leak that required an engine out fix, which cost more than the value of the car to sort.
By the time I'd spent £3k on it and very little time driving it (as it lived at Autolusso most weeks) I had had enough.
I may return to Alfa but as a wedding photographer and I can't have a car let me down mid job!
Props to you for saving this rare beast and running it as a daily though!
With your issue regarding how much you spent on her, you used Autolusso which are quite well known for certain 'issues' which need addressing but it's fine
Another update time!
As you guys are fully aware, is that I have quite a bit of bodywork to get sorted due to rust. Now admittedly the rust is not terminal as it's just surface rust. I phoned around and also popped into a few places for quotes which has been quite interesting as what I've been quoted and what they will do.
1st quote is from an Alfa specialist which I've used previously for paint on my old GTA, which did look pretty good! I've been quoted £600 cash if I prep the panels and fit them myself (which I can do).
2nd is the company that my work place uses to get cars repaired for whatever reason, I've seen their work and it really is top notch! Unfortunately their quote is a bit more than what I could happily afford which is £3000+.
The 3rd place sadly wouldn't quote me until they had done the work, so they knew how long it took etc. I kindly declined them.
Also in May I'll be having the new gearbox fitted by the previous owner, myself and some Alfa buddies which we both know. We'll also be fitting new discs/pads on the rear, a whole new exhaust which I'll explain in a moment and also lower the car roughly by 30mm. But everything which will be done will be reversible if I ever need to sell her.
Now the exhaust, as everyone who may know me throughout the Alfa cumminity will know that I've always done my own thing when coming to tinkering and modifying the cars, after some advice from the previous owner I decided on two possible routes to go with the exhaust. The 1st would be a side exit on each side of the car, but after checking clearances and remembering how after having a side exit on the 75 was a pain, I abandoned that idea. The 2nd is to get the guy who made the exhaust for the GTA to build me anothe cat back system but just without the back box, which I'm waiting on a quote for
Also on another note, because of where I work and what I do, I get to drive new cars essentially every day of the week. I was thinking about writing up something on here detailing my viewpoint on each car without a biased view.
As you guys are fully aware, is that I have quite a bit of bodywork to get sorted due to rust. Now admittedly the rust is not terminal as it's just surface rust. I phoned around and also popped into a few places for quotes which has been quite interesting as what I've been quoted and what they will do.
1st quote is from an Alfa specialist which I've used previously for paint on my old GTA, which did look pretty good! I've been quoted £600 cash if I prep the panels and fit them myself (which I can do).
2nd is the company that my work place uses to get cars repaired for whatever reason, I've seen their work and it really is top notch! Unfortunately their quote is a bit more than what I could happily afford which is £3000+.
The 3rd place sadly wouldn't quote me until they had done the work, so they knew how long it took etc. I kindly declined them.
Also in May I'll be having the new gearbox fitted by the previous owner, myself and some Alfa buddies which we both know. We'll also be fitting new discs/pads on the rear, a whole new exhaust which I'll explain in a moment and also lower the car roughly by 30mm. But everything which will be done will be reversible if I ever need to sell her.
Now the exhaust, as everyone who may know me throughout the Alfa cumminity will know that I've always done my own thing when coming to tinkering and modifying the cars, after some advice from the previous owner I decided on two possible routes to go with the exhaust. The 1st would be a side exit on each side of the car, but after checking clearances and remembering how after having a side exit on the 75 was a pain, I abandoned that idea. The 2nd is to get the guy who made the exhaust for the GTA to build me anothe cat back system but just without the back box, which I'm waiting on a quote for
Also on another note, because of where I work and what I do, I get to drive new cars essentially every day of the week. I was thinking about writing up something on here detailing my viewpoint on each car without a biased view.
Vitorio said:
So just a straight pipe? does a 90 even have a cat?
Should sound mental/metal
It does indeed have a cat, I'll be keeping the cat for the moment because I've ran cars with no cat (when I was younger) and tbh it caused more problems that it's worth.Should sound mental/metal
I'll still have silencing in the exhaust system, the cat should help a bit with back pressure and if it's too loud then I'll get a small box fitted
Update for you guys.
For the 1st time she failed to start last night, finished a 13hr shift and went to go home, and all you could hear was the relays clicking. I had 'some' power but not enough to crank her over, so I grabbed a car from work and used that. Cue this evening at work I jumped started her and all was fine
Seems the issue was my fault in that I wired the head unit wrong, so it was always drawing power doh! Plus the battery looks old, so I've ordered a new more beefier battery and wired the head unit correctly this time.
Apart from that she's been fine.
Oh and I've found someone in Belgium who's offered me essentially a whole car for €200. It's been broken already so all I need to do is hire a van from work and head to Belgium for the bits
For the 1st time she failed to start last night, finished a 13hr shift and went to go home, and all you could hear was the relays clicking. I had 'some' power but not enough to crank her over, so I grabbed a car from work and used that. Cue this evening at work I jumped started her and all was fine
Seems the issue was my fault in that I wired the head unit wrong, so it was always drawing power doh! Plus the battery looks old, so I've ordered a new more beefier battery and wired the head unit correctly this time.
Apart from that she's been fine.
Oh and I've found someone in Belgium who's offered me essentially a whole car for €200. It's been broken already so all I need to do is hire a van from work and head to Belgium for the bits
beautifulbusso said:
Update for you guys.
For the 1st time she failed to start last night, finished a 13hr shift and went to go home, and all you could hear was the relays clicking. I had 'some' power but not enough to crank her over, so I grabbed a car from work and used that. Cue this evening at work I jumped started her and all was fine
Seems the issue was my fault in that I wired the head unit wrong, so it was always drawing power doh! Plus the battery looks old, so I've ordered a new more beefier battery and wired the head unit correctly this time.
That's just a standard attention-seeking Alfa. It'll probably charge fine for the next 10 years after it gets a new battery. Does it have an awkward battery tray that limits the type? As I recall it is mounted front-nearside by the headlight, is that correct?For the 1st time she failed to start last night, finished a 13hr shift and went to go home, and all you could hear was the relays clicking. I had 'some' power but not enough to crank her over, so I grabbed a car from work and used that. Cue this evening at work I jumped started her and all was fine
Seems the issue was my fault in that I wired the head unit wrong, so it was always drawing power doh! Plus the battery looks old, so I've ordered a new more beefier battery and wired the head unit correctly this time.
beautifulbusso said:
Oh and I've found someone in Belgium who's offered me essentially a whole car for €200. It's been broken already so all I need to do is hire a van from work and head to Belgium for the bits
Hark! 'Tis the distant sound of...roadtrip!Good luck with the paint/de-rusting work. LEt me know if you ever look into undersealing - still can't get a reasonable answer or quote in London.
Spinakerr said:
beautifulbusso said:
Update for you guys.
For the 1st time she failed to start last night, finished a 13hr shift and went to go home, and all you could hear was the relays clicking. I had 'some' power but not enough to crank her over, so I grabbed a car from work and used that. Cue this evening at work I jumped started her and all was fine
Seems the issue was my fault in that I wired the head unit wrong, so it was always drawing power doh! Plus the battery looks old, so I've ordered a new more beefier battery and wired the head unit correctly this time.
That's just a standard attention-seeking Alfa. It'll probably charge fine for the next 10 years after it gets a new battery. Does it have an awkward battery tray that limits the type? As I recall it is mounted front-nearside by the headlight, is that correct?For the 1st time she failed to start last night, finished a 13hr shift and went to go home, and all you could hear was the relays clicking. I had 'some' power but not enough to crank her over, so I grabbed a car from work and used that. Cue this evening at work I jumped started her and all was fine
Seems the issue was my fault in that I wired the head unit wrong, so it was always drawing power doh! Plus the battery looks old, so I've ordered a new more beefier battery and wired the head unit correctly this time.
You are correct in where the battery tray is located, but my plan now is to move the battery into the boot because 1) the battery tray is rusting, 2) I can then fit an even bigger battery at some point and 3) it'll help even out the weight as it's not quite 50/50 just yet.
beautifulbusso said:
Oh and I've found someone in Belgium who's offered me essentially a whole car for €200. It's been broken already so all I need to do is hire a van from work and head to Belgium for the bits
Hark! 'Tis the distant sound of...roadtrip!Good luck with the paint/de-rusting work. LEt me know if you ever look into undersealing - still can't get a reasonable answer or quote in London.
As for the underseal, I was going to do it myself but if your not able to do that then give these two places a call and say you know me (scott).
Felice @ Sunnyside Garages in Chadwell Heath.
Paul @ Aforalfa in Aylesbury.
I've used both extensively and would recommend them both.
Just a small update this evening.
Well the battery played up again and went flat Sunday morning, which of course annoyed me. Cue pushing my car off the drive, pulling my fathers car off the drive and pushing mine back on, which is just what I wanted at 6:30 in the morning, but at least I weren't late for work!! So I've ordered a new more beefier battery which should be here later on this evening between 19:15 and 20:15, I did pay for next working day delivery but I'm not too happy that it's arriving so late, so unfortunately I'll be cycling to work tomorrow morning.
Today has been semi productive though, I've removed the old battery, cleaned up the tray and treated the rust around that area which I feel is quite good, I will be stripping away more components at a later date to treat the whole area though.
I've also been sorting out all the old paperwork, I've managed to sort through all the bits and organised them into date order as well as finding all the old MOTs and sorting those as well. I also come across a receipt from when someone bought the car at 2 years old in 1987, which I'm pretty chuffed at finding. Does anyone know how I can find more history which is missing though? As it's not complete sadly.
Photos below showing the paperwork all sorted out
Well the battery played up again and went flat Sunday morning, which of course annoyed me. Cue pushing my car off the drive, pulling my fathers car off the drive and pushing mine back on, which is just what I wanted at 6:30 in the morning, but at least I weren't late for work!! So I've ordered a new more beefier battery which should be here later on this evening between 19:15 and 20:15, I did pay for next working day delivery but I'm not too happy that it's arriving so late, so unfortunately I'll be cycling to work tomorrow morning.
Today has been semi productive though, I've removed the old battery, cleaned up the tray and treated the rust around that area which I feel is quite good, I will be stripping away more components at a later date to treat the whole area though.
I've also been sorting out all the old paperwork, I've managed to sort through all the bits and organised them into date order as well as finding all the old MOTs and sorting those as well. I also come across a receipt from when someone bought the car at 2 years old in 1987, which I'm pretty chuffed at finding. Does anyone know how I can find more history which is missing though? As it's not complete sadly.
Photos below showing the paperwork all sorted out
Spinakerr said:
Always good to sort out the history and see what others have spent/changed over the years.
Did the new battery sort out the starting issue? Did it resuscitate any of the other recalcitrant auxillaries?
Unfortunately I don't have full history, but I've got the last 6-7 years worth so that's better than nothing...but I do have every single MOT which is a huge bonus!!Did the new battery sort out the starting issue? Did it resuscitate any of the other recalcitrant auxillaries?
I did sort out the starting issue, turned out that the battery was rather f
ked and also too small. So I ended up buying the biggest battery that would fit in the battery tray, which has also sorted out all the small electrical issues I'd been having.So I've not updated this thread for a while because she's been totally fine, running fine and smooth.
But I thought I'd post up some more, better photos since its Autoitalia Brooklands this weekend, which because I'm attending I needed to give the 90 a good polish and wax...it's surprising how well a 31 year old Alfa comes up with some wax
I also popped out in her this morning, and when I returned I found another Alfa parked next to me...with most the car park empty!!
I've also been thinking about what I'm going to do once the new body panels are fitted, regarding to the paint. I'm tempted to paint all the plastics the same colour as the car, I feel that this would make the car look a bit more modern and a little different to any other 90s that I may come across. Any opinions would defiently be welcomed too.
But I thought I'd post up some more, better photos since its Autoitalia Brooklands this weekend, which because I'm attending I needed to give the 90 a good polish and wax...it's surprising how well a 31 year old Alfa comes up with some wax
I also popped out in her this morning, and when I returned I found another Alfa parked next to me...with most the car park empty!!
I've also been thinking about what I'm going to do once the new body panels are fitted, regarding to the paint. I'm tempted to paint all the plastics the same colour as the car, I feel that this would make the car look a bit more modern and a little different to any other 90s that I may come across. Any opinions would defiently be welcomed too.
rxe said:
IMO it is rare enough to not mess with the plastics. It needs to wear its eighties-ness with pride. I had the same idea on my Alfetta GTV, and I painted the bumpers (I was 21, it was a long time ago). They look rubbish now, and I wish I hadn't.
See this is also another view of mine, it's a rare car and the plastic bumpers add to the 80s look!
Here are some pics of painted bumpers found on alfabb.com:
I think it looks quite smart.
I just had a quick look for the briefcase / valise / valigetta for you. Hen's teeth! Guy from the same thread as those pics was offering one in 2008 for $500AUS. It's a long shot but he might still have it. The material is Valextra.
I think it looks quite smart.
I just had a quick look for the briefcase / valise / valigetta for you. Hen's teeth! Guy from the same thread as those pics was offering one in 2008 for $500AUS. It's a long shot but he might still have it. The material is Valextra.
castex said:
Here are some pics of painted bumpers found on alfabb.com:
I think it looks quite smart.
I just had a quick look for the briefcase / valise / valigetta for you. Hen's teeth! Guy from the same thread as those pics was offering one in 2008 for $500AUS. It's a long shot but he might still have it. The material is Valextra.
It indeed does look very smart, you've just made the decision 10x harder!I think it looks quite smart.
I just had a quick look for the briefcase / valise / valigetta for you. Hen's teeth! Guy from the same thread as those pics was offering one in 2008 for $500AUS. It's a long shot but he might still have it. The material is Valextra.
I need to get myself signed up to alfabb I think
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