Accidental 916 Spider TS
Discussion
RiccardoG said:
Any updates on this?
I've recently decided I need an Alfa and the Spider appeals as a classic convertible option. Therefore reading up as much as I can about these.
Stand by, caller. Not yet, it is still tucked up in the barn until we see something resembling Spring. I've recently decided I need an Alfa and the Spider appeals as a classic convertible option. Therefore reading up as much as I can about these.
Probably March or April to be liberated. Then needs tracking and desperately a new set of tyres as current ones cheap Chinese and 10+ years old. And I have also failed to repair the bolster on the drivers seat as been distracted by a Clio.
But I intend to use it as a daily or it has to go. (Must not horde!).
Alfa recovered from the barn this month. Clio R27 now sleeping in its place.
New tyres ordered, £48 each but 205/55 not 50 as there is a much wider choice and thus much cheaper. Went for Kumho Ecsta, which I’ve got on several cars now. And pretty good at a great price.
Tracking now done post the work done last autumn and noticeably more stable. Rears needed no adjustment, fronts now point in the correct direction, under £50 at my local tyre place. Possibly a deal as seem to be spending a lot of time there. The young lad said we don’t see any of these any more but he was a fan, running a 20+ year old v8 Audi!
Also done the OSR grumbly wheel bearing. There are no OEM bearings available for the early cars now so had to buy Borg & Beck alternative so will see how we get on. Easy job but had to borrow a tq wrench from the guys at my village garage as needed 200 lbs ft and mine only went to 150 lbs ft. They get a regular supply of biscuits there as are my (free) tool hire shop!
Old bearing looked a bit gone:
Grease v old and hard and could push the inner out of true due to excess play.
The next issue to appear is a squeal on start for a minute or two. When I exercise the aux belt, the tensioner feels juddery rather than smoothly adjusting the tension. So will change both tensioner and idler pulley. Ironically this may be an issue due to lack of use over the winter.
Basically more money to keep a non appreciating semi classic on the road. But then been driving it in the last few week’s sunshine and it is such a hoot around the country lanes, it would be sad to see it go.
New tyres ordered, £48 each but 205/55 not 50 as there is a much wider choice and thus much cheaper. Went for Kumho Ecsta, which I’ve got on several cars now. And pretty good at a great price.
Tracking now done post the work done last autumn and noticeably more stable. Rears needed no adjustment, fronts now point in the correct direction, under £50 at my local tyre place. Possibly a deal as seem to be spending a lot of time there. The young lad said we don’t see any of these any more but he was a fan, running a 20+ year old v8 Audi!
Also done the OSR grumbly wheel bearing. There are no OEM bearings available for the early cars now so had to buy Borg & Beck alternative so will see how we get on. Easy job but had to borrow a tq wrench from the guys at my village garage as needed 200 lbs ft and mine only went to 150 lbs ft. They get a regular supply of biscuits there as are my (free) tool hire shop!
Old bearing looked a bit gone:
Grease v old and hard and could push the inner out of true due to excess play.
The next issue to appear is a squeal on start for a minute or two. When I exercise the aux belt, the tensioner feels juddery rather than smoothly adjusting the tension. So will change both tensioner and idler pulley. Ironically this may be an issue due to lack of use over the winter.
Basically more money to keep a non appreciating semi classic on the road. But then been driving it in the last few week’s sunshine and it is such a hoot around the country lanes, it would be sad to see it go.
And latest update (otherwise known as financial outlay)
Tyres done and of all the work, this has made the most difference. Ride especially is night and day better than before. And the slight extra sidewall fills the arches better. I read that they are the same outside size as the 17”.
Also it developed an annoying squeal related to engine speed. The clutch was always low and probably needed doing so maybe release bearing. Or the alternator having done the easy fix of aux belt pulley and tensioner earlier.
Too much for a driveway mechanic so booked to the guys in the village but I sourced a LUK 3 piece clutch kit for £120, pretty reasonable as the last one cost £180 nearly 20 years ago according to the history. However on pulling it apart we found there must have been a bodge in between. Valeo clutch with loads of meat on it but a broken release bearing and absolutely fried pressure plate, with the fingers almost worn through. And then overlaying the clutch on the pressure plate, it was too big overhanging the edge. So whether someone had got an alternative part number(ish) and just bodged a new clutch, who knows.
The squeal turned out to be a tired alternator, probably one too many winters unused for a few months. £40 from ECP, result.
So for a labour bill of £400 and £160 in parts, I still have a £3k car. But it drives, rides, steers, changes gear and sounds so much better!
Tyres done and of all the work, this has made the most difference. Ride especially is night and day better than before. And the slight extra sidewall fills the arches better. I read that they are the same outside size as the 17”.
Also it developed an annoying squeal related to engine speed. The clutch was always low and probably needed doing so maybe release bearing. Or the alternator having done the easy fix of aux belt pulley and tensioner earlier.
Too much for a driveway mechanic so booked to the guys in the village but I sourced a LUK 3 piece clutch kit for £120, pretty reasonable as the last one cost £180 nearly 20 years ago according to the history. However on pulling it apart we found there must have been a bodge in between. Valeo clutch with loads of meat on it but a broken release bearing and absolutely fried pressure plate, with the fingers almost worn through. And then overlaying the clutch on the pressure plate, it was too big overhanging the edge. So whether someone had got an alternative part number(ish) and just bodged a new clutch, who knows.
The squeal turned out to be a tired alternator, probably one too many winters unused for a few months. £40 from ECP, result.
So for a labour bill of £400 and £160 in parts, I still have a £3k car. But it drives, rides, steers, changes gear and sounds so much better!
They’re breeding!
Been looking for some teledials as I like them and one of the current was slightly buckled. But the 17” ones a v expensive and ruin the shaky ride quality. These are 16” with spacers and correct longer bolts. Also my seat bolster is worn through so been trying to fix, spare seats v rare as they all wear. Even getting a passenger one to swap is expensive for the upholstery work.
So FB MP came up trumps. Whole car for a few hundred with v good condition seats, GTV not Spider, but can solve that problem. And loads of other niggly parts. New one drives v nicely but a few faults so not sure if I can be bothered to get it back on the road. May just try to sell as a project but complete car. Too nice to break really.
Been looking for some teledials as I like them and one of the current was slightly buckled. But the 17” ones a v expensive and ruin the shaky ride quality. These are 16” with spacers and correct longer bolts. Also my seat bolster is worn through so been trying to fix, spare seats v rare as they all wear. Even getting a passenger one to swap is expensive for the upholstery work.
So FB MP came up trumps. Whole car for a few hundred with v good condition seats, GTV not Spider, but can solve that problem. And loads of other niggly parts. New one drives v nicely but a few faults so not sure if I can be bothered to get it back on the road. May just try to sell as a project but complete car. Too nice to break really.
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