RE: Alfa Romeo 156 GTA: Unsung Hero
Discussion
Matt_N said:
This one on eBay is stunning in metallic blue, seems to have all the nice bits fitted too:
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=...
You bhttp://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=...
d. That is very similar to my old one, and I miss it terribly! It had a Q2 diff, 330mm brakes and a Ragazzon cat-back which gave a muted growl at low revs, but absolutely howled above about 3000rpm. The engine really is as glorious as it is made out to be, and for all their foibles are utterly brilliant cars. I badly want another one, but the problem is it is unlikely that I would get one that drove as well as my old one without spending silly money
Limpet said:
MiniMan said:
That said with a clutch slipping, a cambelt due and the usual front suspension its either about to get very expensive or about to go.
I've done a clutch and a cambelt and water pump on a Busso 156. The belt wasn't as bad as we were expecting but needs special tools to time the cams and one of the tensioners wouldn't unbolt and had to be removed with the aid of a Dremel. But on the whole it wasn't too bad. The clutch was a total pig and not something I'd ever want to do again. One of the bellhousing bolts can't even be seen, never mind accessed, and dropping the 'box out of the engine bay is like one of those spatial awareness tests, requiring the engine to be raised and lowered on its mounts at different points.
They are generally shocking things to work on, which I suspect is why most get neglected by third and fourth owners onwards and begin a terminal slide into bangerdom.
Limpet said:
MiniMan said:
That said with a clutch slipping, a cambelt due and the usual front suspension its either about to get very expensive or about to go.
I've done a clutch and a cambelt and water pump on a Busso 156. The belt wasn't as bad as we were expecting but needs special tools to time the cams and one of the tensioners wouldn't unbolt and had to be removed with the aid of a Dremel. But on the whole it wasn't too bad. The clutch was a total pig and not something I'd ever want to do again. One of the bellhousing bolts can't even be seen, never mind accessed, and dropping the 'box out of the engine bay is like one of those spatial awareness tests, requiring the engine to be raised and lowered on its mounts at different points.
They are generally shocking things to work on, which I suspect is why most get neglected by third and fourth owners onwards and begin a terminal slide into bangerdom.
carinaman said:
I'm disappointed with myself that I only remembered the car and you from the youtube video.
Regarding your thread for your GTA, I think that Scudetto you had that wouldn't fit may have been from a GTV/916, though I am happy to be corrected if you found out that it fitted another Alfa.
I honestly forgot all about that! I'll have to go back to the thread to see if we ever got an answer. Regarding your thread for your GTA, I think that Scudetto you had that wouldn't fit may have been from a GTV/916, though I am happy to be corrected if you found out that it fitted another Alfa.
I should add I have just renewed insurance and it came to £720 - considering I'm 20 years old I am very happy with!
maxdb said:
I would love to own a GTA. The only thing putting me off is the potential rust issues and the running costs
Running costs have been fine for me (touch wood!) Has wanted for nothing except for an oil change, although the cambelt is coming up. They do like to drink fuel though. Average is 16mpg 
Mine had rust on all four arches (slight bubbling) but I got it sorted as these cars are just so worth it.
Edited by 43034 on Friday 3rd April 16:56
Ali_T said:
Can't really go wrong with the Eibach springs, though you do have to watch the sump. 156s already have low slung sumps and losing 15mm brings them even closer to the speed bumps! I'd argue that the Bilstein B6 is a better match to the Eibach Pro Street than the Koni FSD.
Interesting...My 2.5 V6 hasn't bottomed out yet, even over huge speed bumps on Eibach springs, 4 up with a full boot and tank. 
Can't think of a car I'd rather own for the money! Would love a GTA though.
43034 said:
Blimey, sounds like there's no traction at the bottom of second as well as first...156s are very pretty (apart from that stupid offset front number plate) but the stories of epic borkage put me off at the time, ended up in an E46 318i Touring, which was probably no more reliable than any Alfa but easier to work on. That was the opposite of the Alfa - great chassis spoiled by horrible engine.
https://youtu.be/El7mBJQUhkM
This is now up for sale gentlemen.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
This is now up for sale gentlemen.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
I have a GTV 3.2 V6. One of the best upgrades you can do is swap out the CF3 manifolds with catless CF2's together with custom downpipes and an exhaust upgrade. Worth about 25bhp with a remap and avoids cooking the head gasket and ecu over time. Oh, and the noise upgrade is a bit special too.
bananachips said:
https://youtu.be/El7mBJQUhkM
This is now up for sale gentlemen.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
Not a GTA so you're in the wrong thread...This is now up for sale gentlemen.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...
Powerflex bushes, on a 156? Thought the common wisdom was to not bother on a 156 as they make the ride much worse and the ball joints on the arms will die regardless.
Rev counter readily available on ebay or Autolusso.
Front discs are oxidised so need replacing???! Jesus mate just drive it and apply the brakes a bit!
I've had my Miro Red 156GTA Sportwagon for 12.5 years so far, and I still love it. I'm on my second set of coilovers - started with a set from Autodelta (rebadged Intrax I think) and when they started leaking swapped for a set of Eibach pro-street. Coilovers are definitely the best modification for this car. The paint hasn't been such a good story - lacquer is peeling over the entire car, and the plastic parts are a very different colour to the metal - it almost looks like they've been swapped with those from a standard red car.
I had an E61 M5 for a couple of years, and up to about 25 mph the Alfa felt more responsive. When it was time to change cars the Alfa stayed and the M5 went. Also - the M5 spent more time in the garage for unplanned work in 2 years than the Alfa has in 12.5 - by a factor of about 4.
I had an E61 M5 for a couple of years, and up to about 25 mph the Alfa felt more responsive. When it was time to change cars the Alfa stayed and the M5 went. Also - the M5 spent more time in the garage for unplanned work in 2 years than the Alfa has in 12.5 - by a factor of about 4.
s m said:
Lovely pictures Zombie
carinaman said:
They are, though I am not sure I spotted the two of the GT on his flickr stream.
I try, Thank you both. 
The GT pics are from my photo bucket feed, I made a break from PB when I discovered adobe lightroom and the joy of shooting in RAW. - Everyone says shoot in RAW but they never tell you why.
Just had Bilstien B6/Eibach springs, Eibach front and rear antiroll bars fitted last week. Just clocked up 4 years of ownership. Had the Q2 fitted about 2 years ago. Pretty much polybushed. Offside front wing definitely needing attention now.
The pick up in any gear is fab. My favourite is going into 3rd......you begin tighten them buttocks and the concentration does increase a tad! For the money and being in my 50's, it's a no-brainer. I can't imagine what I would buy next. As I own a 916 Spider too, a certain bias could be levelled at me here. Oh yeah, and the brake calipers redone with GTA rather than the Alfa Romeo logo.
The pick up in any gear is fab. My favourite is going into 3rd......you begin tighten them buttocks and the concentration does increase a tad! For the money and being in my 50's, it's a no-brainer. I can't imagine what I would buy next. As I own a 916 Spider too, a certain bias could be levelled at me here. Oh yeah, and the brake calipers redone with GTA rather than the Alfa Romeo logo.
Edited by fin on Tuesday 7th April 21:51
31mph said:
Advert in PH classifieds says now sold.
crostonian said:
Has anyone driven one of the rare Selespeed GTAs? How do they compare to the Twin Spark Selespeeds? Only ask as my old man has a dodgy left knee and remember the clutch being bloody heavy!
I've owned a 156 GTA Selespeed since I bought it new in 2004 and I've done 165,000 miles.The Selespeed in the GTA is significantly better than in the 2.0 156 and the 147. Story goes that the GTA has a Ferrari F1 processor explaining the faster changes.
Changes can get jerky if the Selespeed system is not re-calibrated every year or so, Also, it seems the clutch plate needs more frequent replacement. Not because of clutch slip just to avoid jerky changes.
It essential that the Selespeed system in the GTA is looked after by an experienced workshop. I'd recommended NJS at Pershore wholeheartedly.
Downside is that only about ten Selespeed 156 GTAs were imported into UK and no 147 GTAs. I've never seen another example.
Andy
Got any pics? You might need a tin of Birds finest plonked on top to assuage the unbelievers though.
http://www.birdscustard.co.uk/
http://www.birdscustard.co.uk/
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