Alfa Romeo 156 2.5 v6

Alfa Romeo 156 2.5 v6

Author
Discussion

Spinakerr

1,180 posts

145 months

Sunday 1st September 2019
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Great to see a V6 getting rightly enthusiast ownership - good luck sorting out all its foibles.

Integroo said:
I

Couple of small holes. Exhaust has seen better days. Excuse to fit a stainless steel system....?
Every time I go an get a quote for a stainless system something breaks on my 164 or another car and gobbles the cash. I hope you don't have the same karma formula!

RicksAlfas

13,402 posts

244 months

Friday 6th September 2019
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The advert says it should have, so hopefully they will send you another without aggro.

Cambs_Stuart

2,873 posts

84 months

Friday 6th September 2019
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Really enjoying the thread. Good to see you are using the same car buying strategy i use.
See car. Decide car is the one I want. Don't inspect car very well. Fail to haggle. Sort out issues at leisure.
It's only when I'm buying for myself my brain gets overwhelmed by the "shiny, fast" impulse. When helping other people buy cars I'm much better

Cambs_Stuart

2,873 posts

84 months

Friday 6th September 2019
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I normally put my faith in the seller. Look for a genuine enthusiast who knows about the marque and presents a big thick file of paperwork and the outcome is not normally too bad.

MiniMan64

16,930 posts

190 months

Friday 6th September 2019
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clutch said:
Miniman64 - gutted to hear about your woes. Finances are always important but "hang tough", the clutch going will mean bills but (from my experience) if it is a difficult month ahead, do it, if you can. I left Alfa ownership 4 years ago and look back with regret. If it means family needs are paramount of course you must do it.

Otherwise,and if you can ..change clutch and gearbox oil seal.

I moved to Ford and Volvo...zzzzzzzzzz.. comfortable seats and cup holders do not make up for it. Fingers crossed.

Also thanks to OP for highlighting a flawed but brilliant FWD good car
Turned out to a cheaper than expected slave cylinder although apparently the fluid was like black glue which isn’t great.

So my V6 lives to fight another day....

Oilchange

8,462 posts

260 months

Thursday 26th September 2019
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Looks like my 156 will be going to the big scrap heap in the sky, rust, rust and more rust.
Today is a sad day...

Eta, have you got that Wizard yet?

Might be able to help with the gearshift gaitor...

Edited by Oilchange on Thursday 26th September 19:35

alfabeat

1,114 posts

112 months

Friday 27th September 2019
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The 156, really is a lovely car. I've got a GTA Sport wagon which I've owned for 11 years now. Just love it to bits.

Sounds like it's had the important bits of work done recently. Keep your eye on the oil levels (mine likes a drink) and I'd get any rust seen to ASAP and treated. Having recently had my side skirts off for rust treatment and a respray, it's not a hard job and came off absolutely fine. I used tiger seal to put back in place.

Oh and get that Wizard on her ASAP!
They are works of art in their own right. I've got a full Wizard system from manifolds back. It's awesome.

Look after her!


Edited by alfabeat on Friday 27th September 05:43

Oilchange

8,462 posts

260 months

Sunday 29th September 2019
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Underside. Been welded several times and the mot man apparently condemned it...

designforlife

3,734 posts

163 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2019
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Usually cars rust from the inside out, so it's worth extra investigation...a few pokes with a screwdriver will be pretty telling as to whether it's surface rust or something worse.

Anything can be welded, it's just a case of how much money you want to throw at it, and whether it's too far gone to make financial sense. I had entirely new inner and outer sills fabricated on my old mitsubishi, it wasn't cheap but it did the job.

If I were you I would get the crusty bits properly looked at, and prioritise getting it sorted if you plan to keep the car... if fortune smiles then hopefully it's not too bad.


Oilchange

8,462 posts

260 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2019
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Bussolini said:
Hmm. When I had mine up on the ramps there is a few crusty spots but nothing too bad, was hoping nothing major ... presumably anything can be welded ... ?
Yeah, it's the fourth? time it's failed on rust. Problem lies in the 'rust proofing' on the bottom. Moisture gets between it and the metal and you can't see it. Plus the strut towers have been welded and getting access to them would be difficult and time consuming, dismantling suspension etc.

Anything is possible but I work abroad and don't have the time or money that a restorer would.

Sad, but Alfa knew this when they designed the car. All cars are designed to fail so you buy a new one!

Anyway, it's gone and I have a new office chair nuts


alfabeat

1,114 posts

112 months

Monday 21st October 2019
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And I bet the owner of the Porsche wished he owned a lovely 156 instead.

Oilchange

8,462 posts

260 months

Monday 21st October 2019
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Er, is that a Mercedes?

Gary29

4,159 posts

99 months

Monday 21st October 2019
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Oilchange said:
Er, is that a Mercedes?
I reckon so! I must admit, at first glance I thought it was a 911 too.

waynedear

2,179 posts

167 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019
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Bussolini said:
Car is in with Days & Whites near Brands Hatch to get a full inspection and to get the exhaust sorted. I think I might just stick with an OEM exhaust for now and can think about a Wizard at a later stage, as I'm thinking of buying a house so need the cash.

Feel quite nervous! Hopefully comes back with a relatively clean bill of health ...
Fingers crossed, the V6 156 I bought last year had a ‘clean’ mot, I suspect the farmer that sold it me had a very, very friendly mot man