My 75's

[75nut]

Realised I had not posted in the 75 section so heres some pic's

Owned this one 3 years or so, shes in good nick with poly bushes,blistens and Alfaholics handling pack, CSC full exhaust, 3.0 V6 Cloverleaf -
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/IMGP3361.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/IMGP3360.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/IMGP3357.jpg

Just got this one, 3.0 V6 with Koni's, unknown lowering springs, full tubular sports exhaust, LHD. Bought cheap for spares, but now looks to good so will do up.
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/DSCF1841.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...t/DSCF1843.jpg

Plan is , one track on road!

[75 milano]

Hi,I like the red 75,just needs some 15 inch revolutions.

[Alfa155 TS]

black suits the 75 better than red me thinks, especially with the ronal wheels

[giordano92]

Much of a muchness between red and black, like all Alfa's. Took me two months to decide which colour for my 159 as for the 75 i guess red is a little more traditional.

Saluti, Giordano.

[K.Levyn]

The red one looks mighty fine! kudos for such excellent upkeep.

[75nut]

Cheers guys! Red one is undergoing alot of work at more, new donuts on prop, new anti roll bar bushes, new rear engine bush, new gearbox bush and new torsion bar bushes, and then I want to sway the Konis in from the black 75 as they will suit the Alfaholics kits and the poly bush set up better. The blistens are softer and will suit the more stnadard spec of the black one.
Trying to do the work myself as you can see in the tech bit as the bill mount quick (over £1500 wanted for the work listed here and thats if no snags are found!), Ive already dropped about 4k in the red one no so its time I learnt some stuff and save some cash!

[giordano92]

Do you think you'll get the value back after all is performed though? Im about to hand over the cash on a 1987 2.5 V6 which needs a little attention, nothing major. However I'm starting to calculate if it will be worth it or not. I mean nobody really likes loosing money, but i must say your red one looks mighty fine

Saluti, Giordano.

[75nut]

Originally Posted by giordano92

Do you think you'll get the value back after all is performed though? Im about to hand over the cash on a 1987 2.5 V6 which needs a little attention, nothing major. However I'm starting to calculate if it will be worth it or not. I mean nobody really likes loosing money, but i must say your red one looks mighty fine

Saluti, Giordano.

Lol NO I will never make it back!!

But I have had plenty of brand new cars over the years and always lost a ton (worst was 10k in 2yrs on a RX8).

If I sold now I would prop get 2k for it or 2500 on a good day, but if I hang on to it for 10years, who knows it may get it proper position as a bonified classic alfa and go the way of 105's.

How many people ,whatever they drive can say if they sold it right now they would make the money back?

I bought the black one for £300 and it needs new alipers,arches and fuel pipe. So Im looking a spending another £1k prop to get it to a good example (not mint!). SO when you can buy a mint one for 3k these days your money is probably better in that than a do er uper!

One big tip I would say is always buy a used 75, not one thats been sat! Better ot have a tatty runner as they do NOT like to stand! Everything siezes or rots, and rear calipers are a pig to change and cost £200 exchange.

This i why I hav enot taken to doing the work myself and previosly I did spend a fortune with people like Alex Jupe and I can respect why, the time taken is the cost. Plus I want to learn this stuff and know how the car works!

But anytime the sun is out and the 75 is working you forgive it all when you get into that first set of bends with the V6 wailing!

(oh and th eonly car I never los tmoney on was a used Honda CRV, and suffice to say the same sunny day and bendy road did not generate the same feelings lol!!)

[giordano92]

Yes i totally agree with you, however this topic was actually discussed in another thread if it will eventually be a classic. Do you believe that it will? It may reach the exclusivity of a Giulia Berlina one day?

Ive agreed terms with the owner for $900 AU. which is around £605


Saluti, Giordano.

[75nut]

On looks alone it looks worth the money all day long!

As a general rule a sportier Alfa will gain a better classic status ,meaning 2 door, but yes I think we will be all saying in 10 yrs time, "you used to be able to buy them for a few hundred".

[giordano92]

Yeh i hope so, i mean with the busso under the hood, RWD and that perfect weight distribution, i don't see why not.

Saluti, Giordano.

[75nut]

Defo!

[75nut]

Well I've done it!

My first complete Transaxle and Gearbox removal!

I was under the car again today trying to work out again how to get these bushes out (rear engine and gearbox mounting). As I cracked my elbow on the exhaust and got my hand wedged between the clapipers and the body for the hundreth time while trying to squeeze out the anti roll bar, I decided , sod it time to do it the proper way and set about undoing and removing everthing!

So being my first time had a look about to see what fixtures I might miss etc. First being the clutch slave cylinder, Id missed it,. My first wrong move was to try and disconnect it where the pipe joins the flexy which ended in the seized nut allowing he pipe to twist and break! Great so now need a new clutch fluid pipe!

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20324-1434.jpg
Seized nut
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20324-1434.jpg
Broken pipe (with a plug in the end)
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20324-1436.jpg
Busted clutch pipe :? anyone know where I can get a new one?

After having done this I did what I should have and went in and check the correct way to do it! Which was to remove the circlip adn pull the cylinder through!

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20324-1433.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20324-1434.jpg

Then removed the driveshafts (am I glad I did not use locktight when I replace the calipers and discs! Took me 2 days to heat them loose before!)

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20324-1434.jpg

Undid the Watts Linkage (again easy having just recently done bushes)

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20324-1612.jpg

Removed handbrake cable and disconnected brake pipe (oh joy I have to bleed that again now and re adjust the handbrake!)

Had check around again for anything still connected to gearbox or Watts.

Found what I pressume is the gearbox oil level sensor ?!?! So removed it

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20324-1526.jpg

So one more final look around , noticed this what is it, it was already off

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20324-1632.jpg

Using my array of jacks holding the gearbox and watts I lowered it gradually and job done!!

Now I need to move the jacks and raise the car enough to pull it all out (it was late by the time I had it dropped).

And I am going to take the time to tidy up the underside and paint the watts.

I still have the issue of removing the bushes but at least for the rear gearbox one I have more room now!

Pleased though as I have been avoiding dropping the watts completely but now I have the confidence to do the same on the black one so I can replace the fuel pipe and calipers.

But god would I like a car lift, all this on axles stands is hard work!

[arguti]

Funny enough I was at Alex Jupe's garage last Friday and looking at a transaxle car up on a lift -its a lot easier asvyoubsay BUT I still pay Alex to do the hard yards as there is always a seized bit here and there and I don't have the space or time.

I do admire you getting stuck in !

Ps almost bought that black 75 you got from Hereford -let me know if you want to sell the ronal wheels

[75nut]

Lol, I sent mine ot Alex when I first got it, and told him to do everything it need, and ended up 3.5k lighter lol! He did a good job and if funds allowed I would stick it straight in with him. But the issue is now I have got stuck in I realise 80% of the cost is simply hard work and labour so as I dont need the cars urgently for daily use I see it as a waste of cash not having a go. And of course I really enjoy it, good stress relief from work!


Well you remember when I first got the black 75 I had an issue iwth the locking wheel nuts. They had a a stupid 4 pin set up that rounded immediately I tried to loosen them.

I was banned from any major projects with the sun out today, it was "family time" but I snuck in 10 mins to have another go with a new set of rounded nut removers -

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20325-1556.jpg

Along with my fav new toy, a Cordless Impact Wrench my wife got me

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20325-1603.jpg

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20325-1557.jpg

And result!!

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20325-1556.jpg

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20325-1558.jpg

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20325-1556.jpg

Now I can ge tthe rear bumper off and cut out the arches ready to weld in the new and remove the trasaxle to change out the calipers and replace the broke fuel pipe ( but I will be putting the red one back together first lol!)

[75nut]

I took yesterday off (and ended up faffing on work at home till 5!?!?!) to crack on and get everything drawn out from under the car now its disconnected.

First job unfortunately was to cut the CSC system. It would not undo at any of the joints and it loops under and over the transaxle. So I chose the straightest section where I will either weld or claim a new joining section. Used anothe rnew tool to get as clean a cut as possible instead of hacking at it with a grinder.

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20328-1550.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20328-1551.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20328-1552.jpg

Once hat was done I jacked things up a bit and slid my creeper in under the gearbox, and then removed the wheels as I could not get it high enough to wheel it all out.

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20328-1722.jpg

I then drafted in some muscle to help drag it out

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20328-1725.jpg

She is 3 but time to learn, as I dont fancy geting back under there to refit it

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20328-1715.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20328-1719.jpg

Took it round on a wheelbarrow to the back of my how and seperated the gearbox and tiubing compeletly ready for the mother of all clean ups and paint.

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20328-1806.jpg

I may also replace the bush that goes in the front of the tubing as its a bit cracked. Where can I get new bushes for the gear linkage, as may as well do this at the same time. Are there any upgrades to do re the linkage to improve change?

[75nut]

Sneaked home early again yesterday (yes I know I done bugger all work this week lol!)

Only by a couple of hours though, as I waned to clean up the frame and gearbox a bit ready for a paint. Figure may as well pu it all back on as clean as possible, one it will be nicer not to get mud and rust in my eyes while under the car and two stop and fiture rusting.

So I assembled my rust busting tools, with the wire cup on a grinder fiting being my weapon of choice

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20329-1527.jpg

Our later it was back to solid metal

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20329-1651.jpg

THen used a random pot of Hammerite rust remover , my tip, don't its ****e and no where near a good as a good old dollop of kURUST. You have to leave it and then hose off (why would I want to put water on something I just got rust off?)

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20329-1656.jpg

Did the front support to and hen left out in sun to dry off.

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20329-1720.jpg

Im going to get some Kurust and coat them and then hammerite or similar (hopefully today!)

I then gave the top of the box a clean off with Gunk, but still ned to turn it over.
Oil seems to be seeping a bit of oil around where the drive shaft come out. I guess there are seals in there, how eay a job is that to do??

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20329-1740.jpg

[Alfa155 TS]

When I removed my 33 fuel tank I attached one of those Halfords sanding discs to a drill and sanded down all the surface rust, its a bit time taken but easy enough. There were a lot of hard to get bits so I coated the whole tank with Monoprol, seriously good stuff, it reacts with the surface rust and removes it. Then I coated with Hammerite Stonechip, you can get stonechip in an aerosol can or in a tin, I had both but used the stuff in the tin. Really nice job when its done

[75nut]

Did not get done much at weekend, naffed off as I want to crack on!

I had agreed to a lads day out (or day in pubs to be exact) on Sunday and family stuff on Saturday plus after a desperate call from a mate on Friday I got involved in this (as if I didnt already have enough cars that needed my attention

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20330-1902.jpg

It was overheating and we think we have tracked it donw to a fualtly fan, but to get to that EVERYTHING on the front had to come off!!
You can see why these car go through auction for nothing, the labour would have been half the cars value! Now I have to wait for the used one to arrive and then try and remember how to put it together again! But in our village we swap skills and bearing in mind he set my offic eup with 8 pcs and all he networking for nought its a fair deal!

So I only really had a few hours over weekend, so I got to tarting up the a frame and anti roll bar with some silver ronseal anti rust pain that I found s alot thicker than hammerite and goes on nicer. Gave it 3 coats. Sorry bout the pics I tihnk there is alot of crap on my blackberry lens!

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20331-1705.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20331-1705.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20331-1706.jpg

Also tried burning out the gearbox bush as its not playing ball a the moment, doused it in white spirtis but did not burn for long so have started using a chisel to break it up being carefull not to damage the casting. But half way through I had to go out.

Need to get these bushes out now so I can crack on and get driving in this sun, so going to hacksaw through the sleeve of the rear engine one and chisel that out too in prep. My plan this week is to try and get set to put it all back in next week

[Alfa155 TS]

paint job looking good, keep up tjhe good work

[75nut]

Little bit of progress on the bushing front.

New gearbox bush was put in freezer Tuesday, ever freezer should have one! http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20412-2024.jpg

I then set about getting the old bush out on Thursday by setting fire to it. This burnt the inside out but left the thin part of rubber between the metal sleeve and the casting. So to resolve this I hammered a very small carpentry chisel between the two and bent the sleeve of the old bush down and sprayed WD40 in there and set fire to it again. This burnt a bit away so I repeated the process of hammering the sleeve down and spray again and set fire again.
By the 4th time the majority of rubber burnt away and I was able to push the sleeve out.
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20412-1848.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20412-1857.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20412-1857.jpg

Got a bit of a result last Saturday too. Wen to a local auction for a laugh with the lads and picked up a huge box of bolts,washers,split pins,springs,etc for £20!!! I think a old boy had a motor factors and had stock piled some after shutting shop. Its all you can see on the middle shelf there is tons!

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20412-1901.jpg

Still dealing with my friends Rover 75 today , turns out its plastic thermostat which is hidden in the V of the V6 under 2 manifolds, injector rails, breathers,battery and tray and airbox, cracked! This si after we had to take the entire front end off to change a bust fan. You'd be looking at £500+ to get this done so again its no wonder they are so cheap everwhere.

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20405-1700.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20414-1444.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20414-1445.jpg


Il never complain about a Alfa 75 having little space again!

Only to get home to find my father in law needing help with a bust ride on mower! So I help him out to discover a destroyed bearing

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20414-1742.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20414-1741.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20414-1741.jpg

So I felt I was on a roll and got back onto the gearbox bush.

My plan was to heat the casting and then use a puller to push the frozen one in.
I don't have a powerfull enough blowtorch to heat ti so I came up with the idea of stuffing it with barbecue coals and set fire to it again lol!

With the bush to hand I flicked the coals out let it cool a little and put a thinck glove on and ran a bit of 240 grit around the inside to clean it up, and the new bush simply slipped in by hand with no puller needed!!!

So of course now I was worried it was too lose but after 10 mins the bush had defrosted enough already for it to be solidly fixed!

Result!

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20414-1737.jpg

[75nut]

Well I eventually got my friends Rover back together and sorted after taking apart again due to bust injection rail seals!

So I send a stolen hour of two today under the Alfa 75 again trying to swap out the rear engine mounting bush.

I had got a 62mm holesaw, the outer diameter and a 80mm one for the rear of the housing.

Using a bottle jack I jacked the front of the engine to push the mounting down to allow access.

So using threaded bar I trying spannering it out, but there was not enough space for the large 80mm to go over the rear, so I cut it down to form a large washer.

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20426-1751.jpg

But it held fast even when I put enough elbow grease in to do this much bending -

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20426-1833.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20426-1833.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20426-1833.jpg

So Im still stuck! Next plans of action are to either use a hackaw blade and spend a couple of house cutting the sleeve into quarters and then chisel out the sections, or high a oxy torch to super heat the casting and try and knock the bush out with the 62mm holesaw.

[75nut]

Well on Saturday I decided the rear engine bush was coming out hell or high water!!

So after picking up the car from the pub (I love the countryside check out my walk to my local!) I got under the car again for attempt 100!
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20428-1043.jpg

So first I tried using a hacksaw blade to cut it up wih the plan to chisel it out.

First the remaining rubber need to come out as the blade just keeps getting stuck so a small fire was in order with extingusher at hand!
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20428-1232.jpg

But I found it nigh on inpossible to get the blade level enough to cut even slots and the bush casing is so thick I was going to take forever!

So I had a re think and got out my Dremmel which always gets me out of a tight spot! Using the small cutting discs but doubling them up (as they are so brittle they break a the slightest knock) I ran it round the inside of the bush ending up cutting a V. I then used a chisel to bend a tab up and then dug out a chisel and got ready for some serious hammering.

But its started to slide out immediately! Few more taps and it was out!!!

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20428-1615.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20428-1615.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20428-1615.jpg

THis is where I well and truly mucked up!!

Rather than sticking with the rule of not rushing when I was short on time, I grabbed the new bush fromt he freeze and attempted to bung it in.
I started in ok but then got wedged. Looking at the angle I was only very slightly off so I gave it a tap with a rubber hammer and it went in further, so thinking I would now level out I hit it some more, and you guessed it, it completely wedged!!

And as I had used no lube for fear of it compromising the function of the bush it would not hammer back out even with a chisel (at this point I accepted I was ordering another bush so I just wanted it out!) so IM back to square one with a bush rammed in there!

I could of happily killed a kitten!!!

The issue it to tight a fit to do without heat from what I read so the pla is to hire a blowtorch heat the casting and try and get the bent up new one out ready to try again!

:roll:

[75nut]

Still not got my ham fisted wedged bush out yet, going to hire a blowtorch and heat the casting, got a few other jobs like removing the bolts on the shafts coming out of gearbox to replace the seals that will need head and stuck solid at mo.

Tarting stuff really as it was off the car I wire brushed the exhaust, welded back together where I cut it with the gassless, kurust'd it (I know most ort comes form inside but it had alot o surface rust too) and sprayed it with silver high temp paint.

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20505-1633.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20505-1633.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20505-1700.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20505-1700.jpg

Going to take the side skirts off and clean up and paint the sills and jacking points and also touch up the areas of waxoyl that need it under the floor of boot etc.

Looks like its going to end up being a unplanned mild resto

[75nut]

Tadaaaaaaaaaaaa

IMG00688-20120519-1338.jpg picture by 75nut - Photobucket

Done it at last! New bellhousing bush in!

Taking all the great advice on here etc (many thanks all!) I grabbed my little gassless welder and got under the car and welded around the very outside of the bush that is metal from the inside of the housing where it was sitting half way in.

A few taps with a chisel and a hammer and it slid right out!!

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20519-1230.jpg
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20519-1230.jpg

Result! But I now had to get the new one in without balls it up again!

Its now I realised my schoolboy error fromt he first time! I had not removed the two metal plates that fit on the mounting brackets either side. One these are off they give a recess that allow you to line the bush up straight!

I had already frozen the new bush so set about heating the ali bell housing with a handhled blowtorch, which I did not thing would be powerfull enough, but it was and the new bush slid right in!

About 30 seconds later it had expanded in the head of the housing and was rock solid, only to get better as it completely thawed.

http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20519-1337.jpg

Easy when you know how eh!

As I had done well I though quit while the going is good and went of to play with my little girl. But not before having a little look around to see what else needs doing before it all goes back in.

I have ordered a new handbrake cable as the old one is tired and I cannot see a easier time for me to do it. Also I need a new clutch pipe made up.

I noticed a crack in the linkage mounting point on one side so as the welder was out I quickly zapped it
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20519-1455.jpg

I am goign to wire brush the areas of flaky underseal and kurust and re seal before it all goes back in as well.

One thing tho I noticed was this wire and Im not sure I remember remvoing it
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20519-1437.jpg
Goes into here
http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/a...20519-1437.jpg

Anybody know?

Bloody gutted its not up and running with the sun out and clear roads!