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Autolusso 159 1750 TB in from South France

5K views 41 replies 13 participants last post by  hdvp 
#1 · (Edited)
Today we have a 159 in for South France for a load of work, it is incredible the condition of it compared to the UK cars, there is absolutely no rust on it whatsoever

Jobs list

Eibach Pre Street S (Novertec)
Eibach roll bars
Powerflex lower arm bushes
Hybrid turbo
Quaife ATB limited slip diff
Performance Friction Pads
New front tyres
Wheel refurb
Service

More pictures to follow

Ned
 

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#2 ·
Nice warm weather with low humidity and salt levels makes miracles. You should see the cars in Scandinavia. The salty roads kills everything. Still we think in our stupidity that a Swedish sold car is always better then a south European sold car.

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#3 ·
Mines the same. I don't drive it when the salt is laid down on the roads and when it buckets down with rain in less than 10 degree weather It stays garaged until dry weather arrives even if that means days.

Best of using the puplic transport network with an Alfa your asking for it otherwise
 
#6 ·
you havent mention ecu mod, but i guess one is also on job list since new turbo is fitted. what is estimated power/torque with new hybrid turbo? will m32/clutch/flywheel need some upgrades, or torque will be limitted to keep happy standard set? any upgrades to IC or other engine parts(e. g. injectors) needed ?
could you post dyno charts once you finish with the car, please.
 
#8 ·
Yes it will be going to the hub dyno for mapping once all the other work has been done and yes we will post the results

The only modification we are doing to the drive train is the Quaife diff it will have to be driven with a bit of mechanical sympathy

Ned
 
#7 ·
Rear end all done and well on with the front, arms off and diff out to be replaced with the Quaife ATB differential

It is amazing the difference between this and a UK car, all the bolts are coming out nice and easily

Ned
 

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#12 ·
I think I when on a bus once :hehe:

Not really a lot to see but hybrid turbo is on and front suspension is all on, Powerflex lower arm bushes, shocks, springs, roll bars

Going to try and get the car on the dyno, waiting for wheels back though

Ned
 

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#13 ·
Alfa people don't take buses, well I certainly don't!
I avoid public transport like the plague, full of the great unwashed. No ta.

Cars need to be used, not left standing. Alfas need to be seen and shown off.
Exception being if they're going into full hibernation mode for months or years on end.
 
#15 ·
Haha! Buses have changed a lot now. No slashed seat with if you want a Bj call 0161xxx xxxx on the wooden back. They have free wifi and are clean and warn in 2016.
Most classic Alfa's stay tucked up until they have a chance to get out of a garage, just ask anyone that owns an 8c.
How may has Ned had in Autolusso with well used mileage on the clock. Or better still has anyone on AO ever seen one on the move without looking on YouTube that is? Not saying when 8c owner don't use their class Alfa Romeo they don't use public transport. Tube, perhaps?
 
#20 ·
Most classic Alfa's stay tucked up until they have a chance to get out of a garage, just ask anyone that owns an 8c.
How may has Ned had in Autolusso with well used mileage on the clock. Or better still has anyone on AO ever seen one on the move without looking on YouTube that is? Not saying when 8c owner don't use their class Alfa Romeo they don't use public transport. Tube, perhaps?
Most people will never see an 8C - only 41 coupes and 35 Spiders came to the UK.
And they'll all probably be serviced at Maserati agents.
 
#17 ·
The problem is I'd still have to walk to the bus stop in the rain, get splashed by passing cars as I waited and then walk in the rain again at the other end. Add all the waiting time and my commuting time would double. I'd arrive at work wet, dirty, late and fed up just to stop my car getting wet and dirty??

I quite like my Brera but I won't let it make me its b*tch!
 
#21 ·
Only ever seen 1 4C myself, to me those are rare. Unless you absolutely had to or where rolling in money, why would you ever drive it in populated urban areas anyways where you could only pootle about, you'd want to be thrashing it for its intended purpose - hence I'm guessing why not many have been spotted.
 
#24 ·
Alfa-people-done-good.
Or an Alfa-loving lottery winner.
Otherwise they'd follow the sheep to the Ferrari/Lambo/et al showroom.

The 8C will always be my dream car, despite LHD.
 
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#31 ·
I think something may have not gone to plan. I wouldn't trust that M32 gearbox with anymore extra torque than what the TBI engine already puts out.

Not sure if the new diff will help the box from exploding though. The box is certified for 320NM of torque, which the TBI produces already.

I could be wrong, but it's a thought that could happen from that extra power. If it was mine I'd be worried ever time I put my foot down anyway
 
#32 ·
Yes something did go wrong but nothing to do with the gearbox, we took 2 x 159 1750 TB's and the standard one (a regular customers borrowed car) performed better mapped than the 159 with the hybrid turbo. We just could not get the 159 with the hybrid turbo to work properly so abandoned they dyno testing and took the cars back to the workshop a bit deflated. After checking the car over thoroughly we found the cam timing was out and that the 5 year old car had never had a cam belt replaced. Belt and pump being done today and take it from there

Not sure I am going to have time to get it back on the dyno

Ned
 
#36 ·
Had a chance to get the car back on the dyno yesterday, dyno graph shows 3 runs, standard, mapped and hybrid turbo so from 200 BHP, 220 BHP & 260 BHP

Not bad for a little 1,750 cc engine

Ned
 

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#38 ·
320lbft or 430Nm for M32 gearbox? seems quite a lot. doesn't clutch slip? wont gearbox or dual mass flywheel say good bye very soon?
i was thinking about say stage 2 mods of my tbi, but i assumed that after changing to new turbo, ecu mod would need to be done keeping torque at say 380,maybe max 400Nm (right now i have 370Nm on standard turbo) , just all benefit of new turbo would be above say 4k rpm where i would keep the torque, and the cutoff point on torque curve will be at higher rpm (say 5k)

whats your thoughts/plan on all that?

i have also other question. im considering quaife lsd for my car. main reason for behaviour on wet and snow conditions (e.g i have steep enough access road to my house covered with snow, as well as i often visit nearby mountains for snowboarding where roads are just white). would you say quaife diff would make real positive difference to me, or is it rather thing for guys who want to gain on cornering speeds?
 
#41 ·
Hi there Epsonix

Sorry for the late reply. Yes the gearbox is a concern to me, Ned at Autolusso says that with a bit of mechanical sympathy and regular oil change that it should be ok. I've not had clutch slip (yet) and I never do fast starts or race the car. It's great to know that the performance is there. My concern is that in this state of tune, the car just wants to boost all the time! It is like a dog on the lead wanting to run! Again, Ned spoke to me about re-tuning the ecu, to tone it down, which in the fulness of time I may do, this may help the fuel economy which is 16-23mpg or so. The car was re-mapped after the hybrid was installed. Last of all, the Quaife counts for little in the snow with summer tyres, I drove out of Verbier and had to put the snow-socks on, winter tyres as far as I can see cannot be fitted to the 19inch 159 Ti wheels, can't advise if snow tyres plus a Quaife will help in the winter months . I do however like the Quaife, keeps the understeer in check and underbraking also. Regards.
 
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