Let's see your Alfa Romeos!

[dinkel]

Read all about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_V6_engine

[errek72]

I think / vaguely remember I saw an autodelta 75 (I assume) head once with 5 valves per cylinder.
Not entirely sure if that was a 4 or 6 though.

[coetzeeh]

errek72 said:

coetzeeh said:

During the early 80's the GTV6 2.5 were racing against BMW 535, Mazda RX7 and Ford Sierra XR8 among others in the local series. The GTV6 needed more power to keep up with the competition.

The Marketing Director of AR SA was visiting the factory in Italy when he spotted 3.0 engines which had been developed by Autodelta for a European series - after the engines were developed the regs for the European series had changed which meant the 3.0 engines were no longer eligible.

Engines were shipped to SA and AR built 212 GTV6 3.0 to have the cars homologated (min 200 required) - I believe all but the last 6 or 8 are have 3 twin choke Dellorto carbs.

The 3.0 engines are not the same as the later 3.0 as found in the 75 (Bore and stroke different, heads differ). The engines found in the South African 3.0 are numbered with a serial number punched on the crank pulley.

Amazing that they used to run with carbs, as the 2.5 had injection. It was early days I guess.

The challenge with injection was the change in altitude between the race track at Kyalami (near Johannesburg) at 5,550 ft at Kilarney in Cape Town at sea level.

[errek72]

coetzeeh said:

errek72 said:

coetzeeh said:

During the early 80's the GTV6 2.5 were racing against BMW 535, Mazda RX7 and Ford Sierra XR8 among others in the local series. The GTV6 needed more power to keep up with the competition.

The Marketing Director of AR SA was visiting the factory in Italy when he spotted 3.0 engines which had been developed by Autodelta for a European series - after the engines were developed the regs for the European series had changed which meant the 3.0 engines were no longer eligible.

Engines were shipped to SA and AR built 212 GTV6 3.0 to have the cars homologated (min 200 required) - I believe all but the last 6 or 8 are have 3 twin choke Dellorto carbs.

The 3.0 engines are not the same as the later 3.0 as found in the 75 (Bore and stroke different, heads differ). The engines found in the South African 3.0 are numbered with a serial number punched on the crank pulley.

Amazing that they used to run with carbs, as the 2.5 had injection. It was early days I guess.

The challenge with injection was the change in altitude between the race track at Kyalami (near Johannesburg) at 5,550 ft at Kilarney in Cape Town at sea level.

Cool info Thanks

[corporalsparrow]

Bit late with this. I've been on and around PH for quite a while and haven't yet posted in my spiritual home: the Alfa forum.

So here we are.

Hello, everyone, my name's David and my first car was an Alfa (Alfasud 1.3ti), my second car was an Alfa (Alfa Romeo 1750 Spider) and my third car was almost an Alfa (Lancia Beta Coupe 2000). After that things went in a more conventional direction, but for several years now I've been back in the fold.

Firstly, A 1750GTV with the sweetest revving engine you ever knew.



Then a year or so ago, came a lovely road legal track day Sprint GT:



Which got me into the idea of racing. So this is currently being recommissioned after several years of being in storage:



Slightly cr&pping myself about actually racing. But there's no backing out now.

Edited by corporalsparrow on Tuesday 10th February 17:59

[arguti]

Minr Coetzee not sure if you are aware but Kevin R who knows the 3.0 GTV6 backwards has relocated from SA to the UK and is currently involved with looking after some of my cars - if you contact me through PH I can put you in touch unless of course you already know him!

Where is yours being restored?

I also have a red 3.0 alongside my 75 turbo Evo and Alfetta GTV Autodelta

[coetzeeh]

arguti said:

Minr Coetzee not sure if you are aware but Kevin R who knows the 3.0 GTV6 backwards has relocated from SA to the UK and is currently involved with looking after some of my cars - if you contact me through PH I can put you in touch unless of course you already know him!

Where is yours being restored?

I also have a red 3.0 alongside my 75 turbo Evo and Alfetta GTV Autodelta

Thanks - I speak to Kevin regularly (yesterday again . He has been very generous and helping me with advice on the resto.

Car is being restored in SA - one owner car with 75k km since new.
Rgds, Henk

[arguti]

coetzeeh said:

Engines were shipped to SA......I believe all but the last 6 or 8 are have 3 twin choke Dellorto carbs. The 3.0 engines are not the same as the later 3.0 as found in the 75 (Bore and stroke different, heads differ).

PEDANT MODE ON: Technically 6 individual Dellorto FRPAs : PEDANT MODE OFF

The inlet manifolds are integrated into the cylinder heads as opposed to the later fuel injected cars.

Here is mine:







My first 4 door Alfa

Edited by arguti on Friday 13th February 15:48

[dinkel]

I bet that sounds the bits.

[arguti]

Indeed it does, Alex Jupe set the car with with his standard "recipe" of CSC manifolds with an Ansa backbox, suspension is RS Racing coilover which I believe is based on an Intrax design. This gives it zero body roll and is totally compliant even on British roads (in contrast the to the 155 and allegedly the 4C!!!)

It sounds totally different to the standard 2.5 Busso particularly above 3,500 revs where it positively howls.....best sounding Alfa I have ever driven by far and I have driven quite a few. it is by no means an everyday to work car but for special occasions, well, it is special!

[Elderly]

corporalsparrow said:

Which got me into the idea of racing. So this is currently being recommissioned after several years of being in storage:



Slightly cr&pping myself about actually racing. But there's no backing out now.

Edited by corporalsparrow on Tuesday 10th February 17:59

Nice . That looks like a very convincing GTA 'replica'.

[errek72]

arguti said:

This gives it zero body roll and is totally compliant even on British roads (in contrast the to the 155 and allegedly the 4C!!!)

Sold my GTV6 to make room for a 4C. Can't help commenting as Brit press has written an incredible amount of nonsense on that car.
Reading this review -the only UK one I find to be near the reality- begins to explain why.
http://sniffpetrol.com/2015/01/30/a-week-with-an-a...


Thanks for that pic of your engine bay btw. Amazing.

[31mph]

arguti said:

My first 4 door Alfa

Me like

[abarth130]

[robbo 2006]

Bought some Prodrive 19s and just had them treated to a new set of Uniroyals too. Here's the before and after. Still love the Ti spokes and willl get them refurbed. Still can't decide what looks better. Thoughts? The Prodrives in the flesh do look great mind.

Cheers,
Iain

[JagXJR]

The Prodrives. But only just.

[Plipton]

Tis refurbed in anthracite/black would look the dog's doodahs!

[Mound Dawg]

My 75 just hit 24 years old and 181,000 miles so we celebrated with a trackday at Donington-













Opened the bonnet once at lunchtime to check the oil level (it was fine) but that's it. Simon's GTV and the 75 must've been the only cars there that didn't have something being fiddled with during the course of the day. Passed it's MOT three days later with an advise on a tatty steering rack gaiter, now replaced for the princeley sum of £4.45.

[1750jb]

Then a year or so ago, came a lovely road legal track day Sprint GT:




I thought long and hard about buying this one a few years ago - really stunning car! lucky man, sir...

[corporalsparrow]

1750jb said:

I thought long and hard about buying this one a few years ago - really stunning car! lucky man, sir...

Yes, it's very sweet. Not the fastest, and in need of more work that first appeared, but immaculately rebuilt. Very reliable too. It's done several serious track days as a form of driver training, all of them several hours long with very few mishaps. But it does look as if it might be heading into storage until I can expand my garaging. Shame. I like having it around.