Alfa Romeo GT 1600 Junior

Author
Discussion

jakeh

Original Poster:

5 posts

107 months

Saturday 18th April 2015
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Hey guys,

New to here and new to classics.
Just looking at getting a 1600 GT and went to see one the other day, however the engine seemed a little sluggish and lacking in power. It's rust free, but then engine bay is looking a little tired, and was wondering what upgrades would be sensible to do to bring it back to it's rightful beauty.

Any help would be really appreciated!

Thank you,

Jake.

arguti

1,772 posts

185 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
I have always found Richard Merrell's website a good starting point.

http://www.alfa.me.uk/assessment.html

In terms of parts supply, in UK Alfa circles, most of us refer to the "usual suspects" in no particular order.

http://www.highwoodalfa.com/
www.alfaholics.com
www.classicalfa.com
http://www.ebspares.co.uk/

I am sure the real experts will be along shortly !

Please bear in mind that the mechanicals are relatively simple and the bodywork ie rust is where most of your money will go over time.

Personally if I were looking for a 105 series car I would be speaking to Alfaholics and Classic Alfa first as they will tend to know where the good cars are and which ones may be available. seriously cheaper in the long run than taking a punt on ebay.....ask me how I know!



sunbeam alpine

6,936 posts

187 months

Monday 20th April 2015
quotequote all
Arguti ^^ has given you good advice.

You probably need to drive a few to get a feel for how they drive.

Your comment about feeling sluggish kind of depends what you're using as a comparison. Modern cars (especially diesels) have bags of low-down torque and will leave these cars behind in terms of straight acceleration.

I had a friend drive my 1750 GTV yesterday, and I really struggled to get him to change his driving technique to get anything out of the car at all. He'd only driven diesels before, and was changing up at about 2000 RPM - I don't think the car has ever travelled so slowly!

By the end of the day we'd just about got him to stay in gear up to 4000 RPM and he could just about keep up with the pack.

A GT Junior is a brilliant car - driving it after a crap day always puts a smile on my face! smile

James B

1,300 posts

243 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
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I'm also very new indeed to GTJ ownership but can concur with the advice above that there are a couple of specialists that will undoubtedly be able to offer that bit of pep you seek from the engine.

My car is currently with Alfaholics having the last of it's race and road prep and to say their knowledge of these cars is encyclopedic would be doing them a disservice!

From a driveability point of view, I've only driven mine on track but the handling is sublime. They're beautifully balanced cars with masses of feedback as to what the car is doing. A real pleasure to drive and very rewarding for the more discerning driver!

arguti

1,772 posts

185 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
Buying a 105 coupe will make you do strange things!

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news...

jakeh

Original Poster:

5 posts

107 months

Tuesday 21st April 2015
quotequote all
Thank you very much for all your advise!! Really helpful. I look forward to driving a gt soon!

corporalsparrow

403 posts

179 months

Thursday 23rd April 2015
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Hi jake,

If the car is genuinely solid and 100% rust-free then in the very first instance I wouldn't do anything.

Just live with it, get used it, see what you like and what you don't.

The list of possibilities for upgrades is limitless, and waiting a few months might save you making expensive changes that might not be necessary. It also might save you cutting up a really nice car!

You mention the sluggish performance but not ultimately what kind of car you'd like it to be. A swifter road car or a track day car for example. But, if you wait a few weeks, you'll know what you want to do and where you want to start: handling (where I'd start), brakes, engine, weight, detailing….

You can go on and on. I've got 3 105's of different sorts and at the moment I'm looking at a lightweight windscreen so beware. It's an illness.

jamieandthemagic

619 posts

191 months

Thursday 23rd April 2015
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I've a GTJ, happy to help.

Re sluggishness, you would be surprised how much of a change a visit to an old school engine tuner with a rolling road will make. Best £250 I've ever spent on it

dinkel

26,886 posts

257 months

Sunday 31st May 2015
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sunbeam alpine said:
... to stay in gear up to 4000 RPM and he could just about keep up with the pack.

A GT Junior is a brilliant car - driving it after a crap day always puts a smile on my face! smile
Agreed. Changing gear well above 3K is part of the fun, give you that soundbyte, goes well in terms of speed and is great for the engine. Especially on carbs the DOHC comes alive at 3000+ revs. The fuel injected fours are picking up wel as from 2000ish.

The modern (156 and later) ECU equipped cars offer a stronger mid-range but so lack the specific Alfa bark.

Enjoy the Alfa bug and treat her well.

jakeh

Original Poster:

5 posts

107 months

Sunday 31st May 2015
quotequote all
Thank you for the replies, just thought I'd repay you guys with a treat!
Here she is...

James B

1,300 posts

243 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2015
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Very nice indeed Jake.

Hope you get out to enjoy some good runs in it!

dinkel

26,886 posts

257 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2015
quotequote all
About the amazing 105-series: 3 types of affordable cars (berlina saloon, sporty GT coupe, relaxing Spider) produced in pretty big numbers, in 15 years (spider almost 30 years!) and with state of the art tech. RWD, 5-speed, IRS, DOHC etc. Japan picked that up in the late 80s. OK, BMW is a parallel here but in a higher price bracket.

Such a shame AR lost plot along the way. IMO the 75 was the last real AR. New Giulietta won't help the once famous brand.

Same with Lancia, which could've been positioned as a luxe FIAT where AR could've been the sporty FIAT. And Maserati which is an 'only just' more common version of a Ferrari. Precise focus could've been so much help.

Oh well, we have our ouldtmers.

velocemitch

3,795 posts

219 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2015
quotequote all
IRS?.... which ones have you looked under?.

Agree apart from that though. smile

Lovely purchase by the way Jake.

dinkel

26,886 posts

257 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2015
quotequote all
IFS, sorry. GTA and TZ came with IRS.

Elderly

3,486 posts

237 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2015
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dinkel said:
IFS, sorry. GTA and TZ came with IRS.
GTA ...... I don't think so.

fergus

6,430 posts

274 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2015
quotequote all
corporalsparrow said:
....handling (where I'd start), brakes, engine, weight, detailing….
I have a GTJ 1300, and have Alfaholics 4 pot brake upgrade kit fitted with braided hoses and Ferodo DS2500 pads in the calipers. The rear brakes are stock (although recon calipers and new discs).

I've retained the (tiny) servo and std m/c, yet the performance of the brakes isn't what I would expect given the size of the rotors and the weight of the car.

Any suggestions for avenues to explore?

velocemitch

3,795 posts

219 months

Tuesday 2nd June 2015
quotequote all
Really, I've never seen any illustrations of photos of that.

corporalsparrow

403 posts

179 months

Wednesday 3rd June 2015
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fergus said:
I have a GTJ 1300, and have Alfaholics 4 pot brake upgrade kit fitted with braided hoses and Ferodo DS2500 pads in the calipers. The rear brakes are stock (although recon calipers and new discs).

I've retained the (tiny) servo and std m/c, yet the performance of the brakes isn't what I would expect given the size of the rotors and the weight of the car.

Any suggestions for avenues to explore?
Is it set up correctly? As you say, it's not a heavy car. I have just put a similar set up on my race car: a 4 pot system (DS3000 pads, no servo) and it had it's first race outing this last weekend and I thought it was very good. Admittedly not a GIANT leap forward over the original, but still...no complaints. I'll ask about to see if someone has any suggestions and post up anything I find out.

fergus

6,430 posts

274 months

Wednesday 3rd June 2015
quotequote all
corporalsparrow said:
fergus said:
I have a GTJ 1300, and have Alfaholics 4 pot brake upgrade kit fitted with braided hoses and Ferodo DS2500 pads in the calipers. The rear brakes are stock (although recon calipers and new discs).

I've retained the (tiny) servo and std m/c, yet the performance of the brakes isn't what I would expect given the size of the rotors and the weight of the car.

Any suggestions for avenues to explore?
Is it set up correctly? As you say, it's not a heavy car. I have just put a similar set up on my race car: a 4 pot system (DS3000 pads, no servo) and it had it's first race outing this last weekend and I thought it was very good. Admittedly not a GIANT leap forward over the original, but still...no complaints. I'll ask about to see if someone has any suggestions and post up anything I find out.
Hi. Thanks for the reply. It was bolted on/setup by the Alfaholics guys, so I presume so. Are you using the std bore/ratio m/c?

Mound Dawg

1,915 posts

173 months

Wednesday 10th June 2015
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Fergus,

I mentioned this post to Max today and he said that after you'd told him the same thing at the handover he took you out in the car and practically put you through the windscreen.

Have they disappeared since then?

(Jim@alfaholics)


Edited by Mound Dawg on Wednesday 10th June 20:04