Locating parts and advice for an alfa spider-1974
 

Hi guys - I'm new to this forum. I was given an old Alpha Spider 1974 as
a wedding present - and its sitting in a garage in Italy without a
license plate and a mechanic saying I need to change some things to get
it to pass its Italian mot.

I was told that ironically it might be cheaper to find the parts I need
in England - does anyone have any tips for me.

I need the following (and I'm hoping to preserve the integrity of the
car if I can)

- new windscreen wipers
- hi beam/low beam light switch? (devio luce in italian)
- break master hanging pedals (for alfa 105)
- clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder
- front caliper service kit and rear caliper service kit (rear 38mm)
- front and rear indicator light plastic covers
- Carburetor replacement for a Spica fuel injection system*


*Our mechanic said we should change this as its next to impossible to
get anyone to fix a Spica in the future as the skills are not around.
Apparently ours is ok at the moment (but for how long).

Does anyone have any tips or advice for me?

Tim

Locating parts and advice for an alfa spider-1974
 

In article >, says...
> Hi guys - I'm new to this forum. I was given an old Alpha Spider 1974 as
> a wedding present -

Lucky you - all we got was plates, forks, spoons, duvets and stuff like that...

--
Halmyre

This is the most powerful sigfile in the world and will probably blow your head clean off.

Locating parts and advice for an alfa spider-1974
 

TimM wrote:
> Hi guys - I'm new to this forum. I was given an old Alpha Spider 1974 as
> a wedding present - and its sitting in a garage in Italy without a
> license plate and a mechanic saying I need to change some things to get
> it to pass its Italian mot.

Lucky lucky

>
> I was told that ironically it might be cheaper to find the parts I need
> in England - does anyone have any tips for me.
>
> I need the following (and I'm hoping to preserve the integrity of the
> car if I can)
>
> - new windscreen wipers

Do you mean wiper mechanisms, or blades? IWHT the blades were pretty
much any generic item, just to get it past the test.

> - hi beam/low beam light switch? (devio luce in italian)
> - break master hanging pedals (for alfa 105)
> - clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder
> - front caliper service kit and rear caliper service kit (rear 38mm)
> - front and rear indicator light plastic covers

http://www.classicalfa.com/

Would be where I would start.

> - Carburetor replacement for a Spica fuel injection system*
>
>
> *Our mechanic said we should change this as its next to impossible to
> get anyone to fix a Spica in the future as the skills are not around.
> Apparently ours is ok at the moment (but for how long).

Sounds like a sensible call to me. I'd go Dellorto, but again I would
expect classic to help.

>
> Does anyone have any tips or advice for me?

Enjoy it. Not a *huge* amount of help, I'm afraid, but shout if you need
more assistance.

--
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Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
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Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

Locating parts and advice for an alfa spider-1974
 

TimM > wrote:

> Hi guys - I'm new to this forum. I was given an old Alpha Spider 1974 as
> a wedding present - and its sitting in a garage in Italy without a
> license plate and a mechanic saying I need to change some things to get
> it to pass its Italian mot.

Helps to search for 'Alfa', not 'Alpha'.....
--
SteveH

Locating parts and advice for an alfa spider-1974
 

SteveH wrote:
> TimM > wrote:
>
>> Hi guys - I'm new to this forum. I was given an old Alpha Spider 1974 as
>> a wedding present - and its sitting in a garage in Italy without a
>> license plate and a mechanic saying I need to change some things to get
>> it to pass its Italian mot.
>
> Helps to search for 'Alfa', not 'Alpha'.....

Indeed, that might get a better hit rate.

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 GTV TS GT 3.2 V6
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

Locating parts and advice for an alfa spider-1974
 

Catman wrote:

>> Helps to search for 'Alfa', not 'Alpha'.....

Thanks for the tips guys! And yes - you're right searching on the right
name helps a lot...

By the way - if I get the spica converted to a normal carb - is it worth
keeping the old parts?

Tim

Locating parts and advice for an alfa spider-1974
 

TimM > wrote:

> Catman wrote:
>
> >> Helps to search for 'Alfa', not 'Alpha'.....
>
> Thanks for the tips guys! And yes - you're right searching on the right
> name helps a lot...
>
> By the way - if I get the spica converted to a normal carb - is it worth
> keeping the old parts?

Yes, it probably is - or sell them on an Alfa forum.

However, AutoItalia reckon there are a number of people who understand
Spica these days, so there's no reason not to keep it.

If you do need to swap it over, I'd look at an aftermarket EFI
replacement rather than going over to a carb, though. (Something like
Megasquirt)
--
SteveH

Locating parts and advice for an alfa spider-1974
 

SteveH wrote:
> TimM > wrote:
>
>> Catman wrote:
>>
>>>> Helps to search for 'Alfa', not 'Alpha'.....
>> Thanks for the tips guys! And yes - you're right searching on the right
>> name helps a lot...
>>
>> By the way - if I get the spica converted to a normal carb - is it worth
>> keeping the old parts?
>
> Yes, it probably is - or sell them on an Alfa forum.
>
> However, AutoItalia reckon there are a number of people who understand
> Spica these days, so there's no reason not to keep it.

Cost, and convenience. It's not really that much of an improvement,
AIUI, but was only for emissions. Of course, you (and your anorak) know
way more about this than me :)
>
> If you do need to swap it over, I'd look at an aftermarket EFI
> replacement rather than going over to a carb, though. (Something like
> Megasquirt)

Not really original is it? AFAIK the Spider was available with carbs, so
you could make it sort of original with carbs. ICBW though.

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 GTV TS GT 3.2 V6
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

Locating parts and advice for an alfa spider-1974
 

Catman > wrote:

> > However, AutoItalia reckon there are a number of people who understand
> > Spica these days, so there's no reason not to keep it.
>
> Cost, and convenience. It's not really that much of an improvement,
> AIUI, but was only for emissions. Of course, you (and your anorak) know
> way more about this than me :)

Heh, yes, it was largely for emissions - but carbs can open up a whole
world of pain, IME.

I'd definitely prefer injection.

> > If you do need to swap it over, I'd look at an aftermarket EFI
> > replacement rather than going over to a carb, though. (Something like
> > Megasquirt)
>
> Not really original is it? AFAIK the Spider was available with carbs, so
> you could make it sort of original with carbs. ICBW though.

Yes, it was usually on carbs in the UK.

Not sure if the late S4 models had Bosch injection or not - that's
another option.

--
SteveH

Locating parts and advice for an alfa spider-1974
 

SteveH wrote:
> Catman > wrote:
>
>>> However, AutoItalia reckon there are a number of people who understand
>>> Spica these days, so there's no reason not to keep it.
>> Cost, and convenience. It's not really that much of an improvement,
>> AIUI, but was only for emissions. Of course, you (and your anorak) know
>> way more about this than me :)
>
> Heh, yes, it was largely for emissions - but carbs can open up a whole
> world of pain, IME.
>

Pah. Carbs are fine if you look after them.

> I'd definitely prefer injection.

Well if it's carbs or electronic injection, I'd agree, mostly.


>>> If you do need to swap it over, I'd look at an aftermarket EFI
>>> replacement rather than going over to a carb, though. (Something like
>>> Megasquirt)
>> Not really original is it? AFAIK the Spider was available with carbs, so
>> you could make it sort of original with carbs. ICBW though.
>
> Yes, it was usually on carbs in the UK.
>
> Not sure if the late S4 models had Bosch injection or not - that's
> another option.
>

Stretch 'originality' and you could put early 75 FI on the same engine....

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 GTV TS GT 3.2 V6
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk