Alfa Romeo 164 Twinspark Super
Discussion
Spinakerr said:
After:
Little to see but the leather is now a lot more supply and deshinified - strust me, it was worth the hour of effort front and back, especially as the back seat headrests were suffering full UV poisoning.
Which brand leather wipes did you use?Little to see but the leather is now a lot more supply and deshinified - strust me, it was worth the hour of effort front and back, especially as the back seat headrests were suffering full UV poisoning.
The Triumph IL6 or the Jaguar XK could be my favourite sounding engine. I've driven a couple of Bussos in 156 and 164 and perhaps with more time in the 164 I'd have got it. I am imagining that 2600 Alfa sounded good.
Sorry I missed this - I used the Dr Leather wipes after a few recommendations from PH members. I was skeptical but they are quick & easy, and definitely are just the job for dirty leather.
For the seriously dry items I think dedicated potions will be required, but for an 'instant lift' they work well.
The 164 has now entered official retirement outside of the dreaded ULEZ 'Iron Shower Curtian'. A friend with enough storage is kindly hosting it in a dry bubble. I can't bear to part with it, and its not really worth much; with all the jobs done it really is in the best condition I've had it, so a little bit of effort and spend to keep it for Alfa meets and Italian car days is my decision for now.
Hilariously it has been trouble free of late but threw a tantrum after I left and wouldn't start. It turned out to be a damp starter relay, and after a good talking to over the phone it fired up and has since snuggled itself into a cocoon with the battery disconnected.
I think the best solution will be to plan some decdicated trips in it - like Italy, back to its place of birth, for a holiday next spring, in order to keep it on my mind. The suspension coilovers still need a proper setup by someone that knows what they are doing, but otherwise its all in good order for the next trip!
For the seriously dry items I think dedicated potions will be required, but for an 'instant lift' they work well.
The 164 has now entered official retirement outside of the dreaded ULEZ 'Iron Shower Curtian'. A friend with enough storage is kindly hosting it in a dry bubble. I can't bear to part with it, and its not really worth much; with all the jobs done it really is in the best condition I've had it, so a little bit of effort and spend to keep it for Alfa meets and Italian car days is my decision for now.
Hilariously it has been trouble free of late but threw a tantrum after I left and wouldn't start. It turned out to be a damp starter relay, and after a good talking to over the phone it fired up and has since snuggled itself into a cocoon with the battery disconnected.
I think the best solution will be to plan some decdicated trips in it - like Italy, back to its place of birth, for a holiday next spring, in order to keep it on my mind. The suspension coilovers still need a proper setup by someone that knows what they are doing, but otherwise its all in good order for the next trip!
I went to check on the 164 yesterday - nicely preserved in a carcoon for the past 5 months.
Sitting in it again really made me smile - I made the right decision to keep it, and the extra payment each month to keep it in this environment was worth it.
The car started on the first crank after letting the fuel pump prime - some steam/smoke cleared quickly and we brought it up to temperature, moving it around the yard.
More to come in the springtime, but for now the 164 continues to enjoy a little rest. I'm aiming to be at the Auto Italia Brooklands event, and perhaps the Bicester Scramble in April if anyone is going.
Sitting in it again really made me smile - I made the right decision to keep it, and the extra payment each month to keep it in this environment was worth it.
The car started on the first crank after letting the fuel pump prime - some steam/smoke cleared quickly and we brought it up to temperature, moving it around the yard.
More to come in the springtime, but for now the 164 continues to enjoy a little rest. I'm aiming to be at the Auto Italia Brooklands event, and perhaps the Bicester Scramble in April if anyone is going.
Yes, the 164 is still very much alive - I have been less concerned about it as it had the 'premium' storage option of a carcoon and plenty of prep work before its storage, plus a turn over and short run every three months.
This year, despite the ongoing shifting life priorities, I am determined to take it back to the Festival Of The Unexceptional, in convoy wiht a few like minded individuals, and hopefully a good smattering of PH members.
Cue the Indiana Jones music...
We checked the key hoses and all seemed well. Varta batteries seem to do very well with long term storage, in my experience, and I was very happy that all necessary electricalisationisms sprung into action.
Long term ownership of a car is, as I believe a lot of us understand, a specific niche of the brain that covers an all-sensory familiarity. Not to get too misty eyed, but the sound of a door latch pretty much starts a recollection search in the dusty mind palace archives, and I am on high alert for the familiar sound of a fuel pump, a starter motor and even the correct creak of the leather...
Right, that's enough nostaligia (for today) - pre-flight checks complete, my main concern was the 1/4 tank I swear it didn't have when I parked it! Still, the crisp 8V twincam rasped into life after a few cranks, ejecting dust and terrifying the dozen spiders that had been squatting in the vents.
After a few coughs the engine settled down - a slightly high idle was the only item of note. Letting the tyres down to their correct pressure, I mentally plotted a route to Cornwall, Colyn Bay... Turin...
Here's hoping this can last me till I can be as cool as this certain someone in my dotage....
Humming happily I checked it all over for an MOT - ah yes those dodgy rear bulbs... rectified.
Oh that one remaining original water hose...slight glycol incident...
Amazingly, the Alfa Restoration shop online had one - part numbr 60556202 - so I decided to splash out on the eye-watering delivery via DHL. I assume it will be dropped off by an 8C.
Aha this may be the cause of the high idle, as this leads directly to the idle control valve I have been battling for a decade to setup exactly right...
Setting up for the MOT this week - here's hoping all goes to plan and I can kick back with some limoncello this summer after some B road blasting.
This year, despite the ongoing shifting life priorities, I am determined to take it back to the Festival Of The Unexceptional, in convoy wiht a few like minded individuals, and hopefully a good smattering of PH members.
Cue the Indiana Jones music...
We checked the key hoses and all seemed well. Varta batteries seem to do very well with long term storage, in my experience, and I was very happy that all necessary electricalisationisms sprung into action.
Long term ownership of a car is, as I believe a lot of us understand, a specific niche of the brain that covers an all-sensory familiarity. Not to get too misty eyed, but the sound of a door latch pretty much starts a recollection search in the dusty mind palace archives, and I am on high alert for the familiar sound of a fuel pump, a starter motor and even the correct creak of the leather...
Right, that's enough nostaligia (for today) - pre-flight checks complete, my main concern was the 1/4 tank I swear it didn't have when I parked it! Still, the crisp 8V twincam rasped into life after a few cranks, ejecting dust and terrifying the dozen spiders that had been squatting in the vents.
After a few coughs the engine settled down - a slightly high idle was the only item of note. Letting the tyres down to their correct pressure, I mentally plotted a route to Cornwall, Colyn Bay... Turin...
Here's hoping this can last me till I can be as cool as this certain someone in my dotage....
Humming happily I checked it all over for an MOT - ah yes those dodgy rear bulbs... rectified.
Oh that one remaining original water hose...slight glycol incident...
Amazingly, the Alfa Restoration shop online had one - part numbr 60556202 - so I decided to splash out on the eye-watering delivery via DHL. I assume it will be dropped off by an 8C.
Aha this may be the cause of the high idle, as this leads directly to the idle control valve I have been battling for a decade to setup exactly right...
Setting up for the MOT this week - here's hoping all goes to plan and I can kick back with some limoncello this summer after some B road blasting.
ferret50 said:
Still looking very sharp!
Many years ago I was determined to buy a 164, my then current steed was an E28 520i, on two Saturday mornings I set out to view a 164 but after a few miles I turned for home, I'd fallen back in love with the BMW!
Oh I thought that was going to end with you keeping both to ensure a workign car at all times! There's still time to get one... just!Many years ago I was determined to buy a 164, my then current steed was an E28 520i, on two Saturday mornings I set out to view a 164 but after a few miles I turned for home, I'd fallen back in love with the BMW!
With the Festival of the Unexceptional approaching at the end of July, my freind volunteered to MOT the Alfa after we completed an entirely satisfactory road test and fettling at his unit.
Of course, the Alfa rejected this, deciding to renew a recalcitrant solenoid issue for the starter and missing its appointment. My friend's patience was eroded over 48 hours, when the MOT tester also pointed out there was no chassis tag with the VIN present. That was two false starts for the Alfa - it turned out the VIN plate rivets had risted through and it must have fallen off on the last slam of the bonnet, because I remember taking my mug of tea off it!
The plate was found lurking underneath the airbox, and reaffixed, the starter solenoid tapped with a spanner and ... thanks goodness... the 164 passed. Not even a squeak of a minor, which was reassuring after all these years.
Friday before FotU I jumped on a train to Southampton...
'Experienced' an Uber to Ringwood. Ugh.
Fumigated and deliced, I burned my clothes and taxed the 164, spent a good 5 minutes reaquianting myself with the Bluetooth quirks to get the Miami Vice soundtrack loaded, and set off for London.
My oldest car met the new garage...
More on that another time.
The 24th July was hot. Very hot. The M3 up had been... ok... and a good speed maintained. Setting off from Twickenham, I stupidly trusted the Maps app to guide me away from an M25 gridlock to meet a friend at Caffeine and Machine: The Bowl.
Some miles into an unending sea of London awfulness, after paying the ULEZ the car was very, very hot...
The entire coolant system had been replaced in recent years, but the fan was not kickign on. From experience on the rebuild, if there is even a tiny bubble of air it sits over the sensor and so doesn't trigger. The water level was fine but I remembered the weeping water pump hose and realised it must have an air lock.
Heating on, fan on, windows and sunroof down, I panted and perspired my way through the wastelands of NW London, the Alfa patiently tellign me it was hot but never flinching.
Finally, the parched concrete and baleful glares gave way to greenery and middle lane hoggers...
...and I unstuck myself from the black on black 164 in search of dihydrogen monoxide at Caffeine and Machine.
Sometime later, slightly more human and havign trapped 3 wasps, my friend arrived in his wonderful Audi. He had been stuck on the M25, also with no air con and overheating issues (!) so we mutely stared at array of metal on show before making the final leg to our AirBnb.
We spotted a few likely attendees en route...
...and enjoyed a slight detour around Rutland.
Our AirBnb in Greetham was above a stable on a farm, with a few excellent pubs nearby (primary selection criteria), including pies.
All set for the big day, with two perfectly functioning 90s classics. Right?
Of course, the Alfa rejected this, deciding to renew a recalcitrant solenoid issue for the starter and missing its appointment. My friend's patience was eroded over 48 hours, when the MOT tester also pointed out there was no chassis tag with the VIN present. That was two false starts for the Alfa - it turned out the VIN plate rivets had risted through and it must have fallen off on the last slam of the bonnet, because I remember taking my mug of tea off it!
The plate was found lurking underneath the airbox, and reaffixed, the starter solenoid tapped with a spanner and ... thanks goodness... the 164 passed. Not even a squeak of a minor, which was reassuring after all these years.
Friday before FotU I jumped on a train to Southampton...
'Experienced' an Uber to Ringwood. Ugh.
Fumigated and deliced, I burned my clothes and taxed the 164, spent a good 5 minutes reaquianting myself with the Bluetooth quirks to get the Miami Vice soundtrack loaded, and set off for London.
My oldest car met the new garage...
More on that another time.
The 24th July was hot. Very hot. The M3 up had been... ok... and a good speed maintained. Setting off from Twickenham, I stupidly trusted the Maps app to guide me away from an M25 gridlock to meet a friend at Caffeine and Machine: The Bowl.
Some miles into an unending sea of London awfulness, after paying the ULEZ the car was very, very hot...
The entire coolant system had been replaced in recent years, but the fan was not kickign on. From experience on the rebuild, if there is even a tiny bubble of air it sits over the sensor and so doesn't trigger. The water level was fine but I remembered the weeping water pump hose and realised it must have an air lock.
Heating on, fan on, windows and sunroof down, I panted and perspired my way through the wastelands of NW London, the Alfa patiently tellign me it was hot but never flinching.
Finally, the parched concrete and baleful glares gave way to greenery and middle lane hoggers...
...and I unstuck myself from the black on black 164 in search of dihydrogen monoxide at Caffeine and Machine.
Sometime later, slightly more human and havign trapped 3 wasps, my friend arrived in his wonderful Audi. He had been stuck on the M25, also with no air con and overheating issues (!) so we mutely stared at array of metal on show before making the final leg to our AirBnb.
We spotted a few likely attendees en route...
...and enjoyed a slight detour around Rutland.
Our AirBnb in Greetham was above a stable on a farm, with a few excellent pubs nearby (primary selection criteria), including pies.
All set for the big day, with two perfectly functioning 90s classics. Right?
Many thanks for the offer! I did try proper transport but I got the first train down and wasn't prepared to wait, plus my friend's house is much more in the countryside than walking distance from a bus stop.
We rose early on Saturday, delighted in the fact that we only had a 20 minute drive to Grimsthorpe castle, then promptly got distracted by a long cooked breakfast to list out all the quirks we were ironing out in our cars, and everything we wanted to see at FotU.
The early morning shower perfectly set the stage for the Festival, a slightly grey but jolly english day with people constantly scampering about and dithering around the 'umbrella decision'.
Parked up amongst suitable 90s metal, we stayed a full 8 hours and I took a personal challenge of finding as many Peugeot special editions as possible.
I thought I knew all the 405s, but this one was awesome:
It transpires this 'Dakar' edition was really a creation of one painter given free rein to be creative! Still, it looked plausible and I loved it.
Photo dump now follows, but I highlight a few items that really got to me.
A large contingent from the Netherlands - this show reaffirmed some of my evaporating faith in humanity, as everyone here was by and large in good humour, keen to learn and chat about pretty much every car. Great fun.
Oh look a flat front Saab 900. How lovely.
Sportwagon!
Volvo 340 interior lookign very much like a David Lynch Dune interior shot:
Still on my list, a Panda 4x4..
Some hatchbacked flip up Volvoness
Another special edition?
Er another?
The Festival was tip top - there has been a fair bit of conversation on expanding too far, on 'exceptional' cars being let in by mistake etc. - but in general these are items that can be improved upon, and importantly this time the entry and exit were seamless.
All done, and we stayed another night nearby to enjoy the full hospitality of the pubs in a perfect sunset. To be repeated!
The 164 fan didnt need to kick in on the way back, but I did note the sensor looks a bit crusty and needed investigation.
Next up - the 164 will be in the Hanger at Pistonheads on the 9th - please do say hello if you see me. Bonus points if you snort derisively and say 'oh its not the V6... shame' as a few did at the Festival of the Unexceptional. Again - Unexceptional. Made me chuckle.
We rose early on Saturday, delighted in the fact that we only had a 20 minute drive to Grimsthorpe castle, then promptly got distracted by a long cooked breakfast to list out all the quirks we were ironing out in our cars, and everything we wanted to see at FotU.
The early morning shower perfectly set the stage for the Festival, a slightly grey but jolly english day with people constantly scampering about and dithering around the 'umbrella decision'.
Parked up amongst suitable 90s metal, we stayed a full 8 hours and I took a personal challenge of finding as many Peugeot special editions as possible.
I thought I knew all the 405s, but this one was awesome:
It transpires this 'Dakar' edition was really a creation of one painter given free rein to be creative! Still, it looked plausible and I loved it.
Photo dump now follows, but I highlight a few items that really got to me.
A large contingent from the Netherlands - this show reaffirmed some of my evaporating faith in humanity, as everyone here was by and large in good humour, keen to learn and chat about pretty much every car. Great fun.
Oh look a flat front Saab 900. How lovely.
Sportwagon!
Volvo 340 interior lookign very much like a David Lynch Dune interior shot:
Still on my list, a Panda 4x4..
Some hatchbacked flip up Volvoness
Another special edition?
Er another?
The Festival was tip top - there has been a fair bit of conversation on expanding too far, on 'exceptional' cars being let in by mistake etc. - but in general these are items that can be improved upon, and importantly this time the entry and exit were seamless.
All done, and we stayed another night nearby to enjoy the full hospitality of the pubs in a perfect sunset. To be repeated!
The 164 fan didnt need to kick in on the way back, but I did note the sensor looks a bit crusty and needed investigation.
Next up - the 164 will be in the Hanger at Pistonheads on the 9th - please do say hello if you see me. Bonus points if you snort derisively and say 'oh its not the V6... shame' as a few did at the Festival of the Unexceptional. Again - Unexceptional. Made me chuckle.
Spent a rather enjoyable few hours reading this from beginning to end Spinakerr and not a moment wasted. I saw you and the 164 pulling into FOTU and then saw it parked up, sadly I missed you. The project has really turned into a labour of love for you, which is heart warming as the 164 gets sadly overlooked for other Alfas.
I'm sure I asked on one of your other threads some years ago, but do you write as a day job? You have a brilliant style.
Michael
I'm sure I asked on one of your other threads some years ago, but do you write as a day job? You have a brilliant style.
Michael
Got4wheels said:
Spent a rather enjoyable few hours reading this from beginning to end Spinakerr and not a moment wasted. I saw you and the 164 pulling into FOTU and then saw it parked up, sadly I missed you. The project has really turned into a labour of love for you, which is heart warming as the 164 gets sadly overlooked for other Alfas.
I'm sure I asked on one of your other threads some years ago, but do you write as a day job? You have a brilliant style.
Michael
Sorry to miss you - busy day wasn't it! Yes a lot of time on this one, so happy to have it out and about this year!I'm sure I asked on one of your other threads some years ago, but do you write as a day job? You have a brilliant style.
Michael
Sadly these threads on car forums are my sole creative outlet on the writing side, after a few years writing comedy sketches and (ahem) some legal work. I would bite the keyboard out of any other avenue that would enjoy these meanderings, but I think magazines have a huge choice of people from which to cherry pick.
See you next year I hope!
Pistonheads Annual Service
Last weekend ticked a few milestones - not only did I park a car in an actual garage that I own for the first time, I took the 164 (the very first thread I started on PH) to the Annual Service.
I can be forgiven, I hope, for having 'just something in my eye' at 6am when I walked into the garage from my kitchen (door paint still drying), dropped into the driver's seat of the freshly polished Alfa, pressed play on 'Eminence Front' by The Who and watched the new garage door roll up to let me out.
When I bought this car in the aftermath of the Scrappage Scheme for pennies, it was parked outside various rental and flats in the street, just like 'any other car' in London, and the paintwork confirms it. Now it is my longest-owned car and enjoying a slight retirement, but has responded so well to the FotU trip and some checks that it will have to make another road trip this year. Oh yes.
I digress - back to the Hanger, I arrived in decent time to find good company.
The PH event has definitely found its groove now. This year brought further improvement on the 'flow of the event', the variety and planning, which really lifted the whole experience - a number of the Readers Cars glitterati remarked how this was the easiest one yet - Kudos to Adam, Matt and the crew.
As always, it was putting a face to the PH handle that was the highlight as much as seeing these cars in the metal - check out this roll call of inspiration:
Zero coolant issues this year:
I was hoping this would be on a raised mountain of broken alloys:
Asolutely incredible from flip up tip (settle down...) to correctly slanted tail.
Amazingly the bright blue and white Golf from last year had been modified:
Yellow Fogs Rule Club:
So many childhood memries.. in green!
Ok, enough words, here's the photo dump of some highlights that weren't on the front PH page:
Yellow. Fogs.
"Everybody's dead Dave" Lister:
A really impressive build. Built for long distance. I heard you can get to Germany and back in it:
Goodness, and the decals!
Yeah just parkign up my NSX, in green, in the fields, yeah... incredible!
UnAlpine (or 'Lakeside') version:
4.7!
A what...? An MG V8? ...As in an MGB?.. No? A Mustang engine? ... What?
We'll finish on this because it floored me, two absolute dreams and the XJ220 was my actual physical poster car after LeMans.
Top marks all round.
Great to speak to so many PHers with 164 and other Alfa memories - roll on next year!
Last weekend ticked a few milestones - not only did I park a car in an actual garage that I own for the first time, I took the 164 (the very first thread I started on PH) to the Annual Service.
I can be forgiven, I hope, for having 'just something in my eye' at 6am when I walked into the garage from my kitchen (door paint still drying), dropped into the driver's seat of the freshly polished Alfa, pressed play on 'Eminence Front' by The Who and watched the new garage door roll up to let me out.
When I bought this car in the aftermath of the Scrappage Scheme for pennies, it was parked outside various rental and flats in the street, just like 'any other car' in London, and the paintwork confirms it. Now it is my longest-owned car and enjoying a slight retirement, but has responded so well to the FotU trip and some checks that it will have to make another road trip this year. Oh yes.
I digress - back to the Hanger, I arrived in decent time to find good company.
The PH event has definitely found its groove now. This year brought further improvement on the 'flow of the event', the variety and planning, which really lifted the whole experience - a number of the Readers Cars glitterati remarked how this was the easiest one yet - Kudos to Adam, Matt and the crew.
As always, it was putting a face to the PH handle that was the highlight as much as seeing these cars in the metal - check out this roll call of inspiration:
Zero coolant issues this year:
I was hoping this would be on a raised mountain of broken alloys:
Asolutely incredible from flip up tip (settle down...) to correctly slanted tail.
Amazingly the bright blue and white Golf from last year had been modified:
Yellow Fogs Rule Club:
So many childhood memries.. in green!
Ok, enough words, here's the photo dump of some highlights that weren't on the front PH page:
Yellow. Fogs.
"Everybody's dead Dave" Lister:
A really impressive build. Built for long distance. I heard you can get to Germany and back in it:
Goodness, and the decals!
Yeah just parkign up my NSX, in green, in the fields, yeah... incredible!
UnAlpine (or 'Lakeside') version:
4.7!
A what...? An MG V8? ...As in an MGB?.. No? A Mustang engine? ... What?
We'll finish on this because it floored me, two absolute dreams and the XJ220 was my actual physical poster car after LeMans.
Top marks all round.
Great to speak to so many PHers with 164 and other Alfa memories - roll on next year!
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