R C Nesbit wrote:
> Newbie here, thought I would introduce myself.

Are you? I've seen that name before. Ahh yes.

> <Waves to Catman & SteveH>
> - quiet, innit?

Very. It was moderately busy when I started it off, but usenet OTW has
dropped out if favour and alfaowner.com get more of 'our' traffic these
days.

> Anyway, Just bought a new(to me) 156JTD Sportwagon.
> '53 plate, silver, bog standard, sadly with only the 115
> motor, but almost pristine and only 38k on the clock, for
> price of 10p for every mile it's done since new.
>
> I've fancied one for a while, and the ageing Mitsubishi
> Gallant V6 was well overdue replacement, but I thought the
> 156 might be a tad impractical with 3 dogs to squeeze into
> the back, so my trip to see this example was mainly to
> convince myself that it would be to small.
>
> Then I took a test drive!
>
> My last Alfa was a 164 V6 Lusso about 9 years ago, and I
> loved that car then, and, remarkable to some, it was one of
> the most reliable motors I have done >100k in - it *never*
> broke down on me.

You get used to that. Alfas these days are, IME no more un-reliable than
any other car. And better than most.

>
> By the time I traded it in it was a wreck, mind! - I like
> to imagine there is still a 3.0l V6 Hillman Imp stomping to
> victory at grass-track events even today.
>
> Anyway, first problem! - last night the bloody handbrake
> cable snapped!

arsebiscuits.
>
> Is this a major job?
> I'll probably book it into the local garage on Monday, but
> is it likely to cost an arm and a leg?

I don't *think* so. Can't see any reason why it should but I've never
had one done, so can't really comment.
>
> Next question - is it worth looking into one of those
> tuning boxes, or an engine re-map?
> Claims I've seen reckon power up to 130 or 135bhp +
> improved mileage, is this right? and is it likely to cause
> any long-term harm to the engine?

Hoping that SWK will come along in a bit, but AIUI the diesel lumps are
utterly bullet proof. There are certainly plenty on alfaowner that have
chipped theirs to silly power.

HTH and welcome (back). It's a bit different in here


--
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 1.7 145 2.0 Cloverleaf 156 V6 2.5 S2
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk