Heloo People!

Newbie here, thought I would introduce myself.

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

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.

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!

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?

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?

--
Rob Pearson