Advise on 155 Project car....

[munki]

I have a cunning plan......

Once my little Rufus is all paid for (in about 14 months, I want to start a project car - I want good acceleration with a reasonably high top end speed

Modification over a period is, of course, the flavour of the day.

I had considered a style-less Jap Grunt machine as a starting point

But then I had a revelation....

Why not an Alfa, particulary one I've already fallen for, the 155
Every Muppet and his Peco does Jap or Beemer, why not an Italian Thorough-bred?

So, as a starting point, which would you say has the most tuning potential for acceleration and possibly a stupid top-end speed

- the Q4 or the V6 ?

[McGuinn]

Oh yes!

Himmm.... What you are looking for is a light enough body with potential to take a large engine...??? Well the 156 2.5 V6 will apparently fit into the 145 engine bay (145 being lighter than a 146). Otherwise, if you want to go down the 'money no object' route, go for a 3.0 V6 into 145 conversion.

The 145 should be dropped, brakes upgraded, and wind resistance lowered... eh... not sure bout to how to accomplish the last one... eh... but it should also have smoked side indicators, a flash spoiler and a RAM effect intake... (first two supplied by AO, of course...).

Ah the power of Grolsch.

[munki]

cool idea

but I want to keep my kids interest in it so 4 door is the order of the day

(p.s. anyone know where you can get kid's 5 point harnesses and bucket seats? )

[McGuinn]

OK... fair point.
So let me see... how can we achieve munki's desires....

A 146!!!!! Yeah!!

4 Doors, room for a childs seat (harness).
Other half is happy.
Nice car.


Q. Are all specified prerequisites met?
A. Yes... Next question....


As ALF Tanner says... "I kill me!".
I'm off to bed now.

[munki]

Originally Posted by McGuinn

... "I kill me!".
I'm off to bed now.

Goodnight Young man

[Toad]

(p.s. anyone know where you can get kid's 5 point harnesses and bucket seats? )

Yes Recaro make them!!!

What you really need to do is fit a flat carbon fibre floor, relocate spare and fuel tank on to boot... Fit rear diffusor, Sliding side skirt's and create the first ground effect 146.

I think if you have a twin spark engine of 1.6 or bigger a Autodelta Supercharger is the best and most cost effective way to increase power. when you take in to account the hassle involved.

[RicksAlfas]

What about a Rover Vitesse 5.2 V8


Just a thought!

[ajcarter]

RWD conversion

[RicksAlfas]

3.7 V6 Alfa Romeo 75?

[munki]

oooooo!!

some interesting ideas me thinks - my mate at work has 145 Cloverleaf and although fast and Beautiful, I feel a bit cramped in it

I know someone near my missus's parent's house who's got a 146 - might just have a little nosey at it this weekend

I'm probably going to stick with the 155.....

The question is Q4 = mental after market turbo with over boost or bored-out V6 with maybe super-charger ?

I've got to stop my imagination running away with my bank balance and Credit cards !!!

Thanks for the input people

[MT]

Originally Posted by munki

I've got to stop my imagination running away with my bank balance and Credit cards !!!

When you work out how to do this can ya let us know?
A couple of members here have projects going on, one involving an overbored V6 (we think) and another involving a supercharger, might be worth waiting to see how these turn out.
Theoretically i favour a supercharger over a turbo, and with the V6 sound that would be awesome. But dunno enough about em in practice to advise.

Have a think about nitrous too tho

Oh, and i'm a 155er so agree with that choice

[McGuinn]

Originally Posted by MT

Have a think about nitrous too tho

NoX --- no!!!! Too much RICE-BOY for this forum!

[MT]

Originally Posted by McGuinn

NoX --- no!!!! Too much RICE-BOY for this forum!

I'm thinking about it meself

[munki]

Apparently super chargers take a direct drive from the engine and in theory offer increased grunt throughout the entire range

They take more power than a turbo to run put there's no waiting for turbo pressure to build

Can of worms....
can opener...
use can opener...

jump back and see what happens

[MT]

Do a quick search and you'll find this has been discussed a few times Personally i love the kick a turbo gives but hate the turbo lag (long story), if i had to choose between them on my 155 it would be a supercharger.
And nitrous.

In my mind superchargers are more reliable and drivable for everyday driving, but this is just going on what i've heard, i've not had any experience with them. I've always found cruising at a steady speed a problem with turbos, and accurately controlling the thrust on bends is tricky.
The nitrous would just be turned on when i wanted a bit more poke.

[marlon]

Sub555 has a 2.0litre 16v normally aspirated 155 pushing just short of 215bhp and he can get the needle off the speedo
He is essentially running a race engine by all accounts and the rev limiter is set to 8000rpm (instead of 7200rpm).
The mechanical stuff was done by him and his mate I think.

[Cream]

the V6 sound is pretty awsome, possibly the best sounding engine on the road... that plus a supercharger would be fanatasic... a 155 V6 can be had for 1200 quid easy... plus another 1K for a blower and some more dosh for suspension and brakes and your sorted

The Q4 is to complex and there arnt enough about to make it cheap

[richward]

If you say "155" enough times, eventually it'll soak in with the dopey lot on here...

I'd say V6 - it's got the capacity for bigger power gains, and it looks and sounds the business. I would like to do a V6 rwd conversion myself, but the only way using Alfa bits is to have a transaxle (gearbox at the back) which I don't fancy... So you'd be looking at a lot of custom or race parts, which would work out very expensive!

Depending on how much power you are after, apart from the obvious braking upgrades, you'll really need the suspension sorted, to stop that power leaking away through a non grippy front end!

Good luck, and keep us posted!

[Ralf S.]

Dudes,

This is a "Project Car" so we don't need to be toooo sensible!

I say go the Turbo route. Get a Q4 and change the Turbo for a BIGGER one. This will give more poke and also (I see this as a benefit, rather than a minus) more turbo-lag.

Get an intercooler to keep it all calm but tweak the boost valve to run as much Bar as you can get away without meltdown.

Then stick a Nitrox kit in there to give you a little shove away from the lights/through the off-boost zone.

This will give you quite a fierce and almost undriveable car but when it all hits the sweet spot... sonic boom time (or that'll be your motor self-destructing in such a way as to give Chernobyl an inferiority complex).

Ralf S.

[Toad]

Ok here's your starting point.
Alfa Romeo 75. 3.0 V6 Cloverleaf, Alfa red, e/w, c/l, showroom cond, 3yrs concours winner, documented service history, finest 75 in existence, Price: €4,500

Now you've got a perfect 75 add Supercharger and Nos. upgraded brakes.. and a few other bit's from a SZ and your going to run rings around every car, roundabout and T Junction.