2 weeks of GTA ownership

As you may know I bought a '03 GTA from Franko, beautiful Rosso Miro, 55k miles, spotless inside & outside, & OMG the sound form the Ragazzon S/Steel exhaust is a joy to hear.

The GTA was due a service so:
> Air Filter replaced
> Oil & Filter replaced

I have done a few small jobs since buying it. this thread is not meant as any bad reflection on its ownership by Frank or previous owners who maybe AO'er. 'New eyes see's new issues'

These items were fixed 10 days ago:

> Thermostat replaced, original was only working at 70 Degs on the open road.
> One of the 2 'low speed' resistors for a Coolant fan was burnt out, now replaced.
> Following the central display module been replaced the Alarm Led had fallen down, took me 20 min's to fish it back up
> Pass seat heater Led had fallen down, took about 3 min's sort
> Cover over the positive pole terminal was cracked, now replaced
> Protective panel in boot replaced with one in better condition
> Fitted a better Black boot carpet, the original was gone floppy, they are really bad quailty

Today I did these jobs
> Petrol Gauge, once the tank is over half full it displays full. Replaced the Temp/Clock/Fuel gauge.
> Driver side upper wishbones was creaking like a hoor, turned out it was a spurious part & that the bushes were falling out of it. Now fitted with a TRW unit.
> Drives side door strap replaced, was creaking.
> Driver side inner CV boot, torn to shreads, will be replacing this afternoon.

[Mufasa]

Pat, you're a real perfectionist!
Great to see!!!

I've been called worse. Admittedly I'm looking at the GTA as been a show/'future collectors' car. So all those fine details that might not normally get looked at [ such as battery cover ] are getting my attention.

I've even spoted a few screws that I'm not happy with The 2 offending Screws that held in the LHS grill section are now replaced

[bat_lezerby]

My dream car right there. That colour as well. One day!

It's not a Ragazzon Pat it's a replica of the Unicorse exhaust Just so you know Great car that, I remember when Frank bought as I was there looking over it, it was and still is a very clean car.

I got carried away with myself today.

Having replaced the two front upper wishbones & Inner RHS drive boot I decided to turn the car around & check out the rear end for worn suspension parts.

2 hub bushes were very worn, I suspected as much as the car's arse was very skittish in wet roads, the two rear transverse arms were starting to show signs of wear at the their outter bushes.

Rear:
> 2 Rear Tranverse Arms
> 2 hub bushes
> 4 new pads


Have arranged for 4 wheel alignment tomorrow at 10.00AM

Damien, I thought Frank told me it was Ragazzon, must have not been listening

Lol, you were probably deafend or else knowing him he forgot what the exhaust was a rep of. Ya, no raga sounds like that exhaust at all I was always wondering what frank was saying that the 156 was skitish the above explains why.

My 156 is planted since I fitted that suspension you got me bud and never moves unless you act the donkey in it.

Would you have any rear spare arms with decent inner bushes that you maybe throwing away?

Yes I have 2 from the GTA, the outter bushes are spinning. I'll be heading to Cork Friday or Saturday I can drop them to Pauls place, if that suits.

Yeah, I consider myself a decent enough driver but the GTA on the wet road scared me last Thursday night. I knew the tail end needed tracking BUT I was kinda surprised that the hub bushes were gone so bad. Good job I keep a stock of them

I also had to drop the rear sub-frame to free up the 2 adjuster bolts, typical Alfa ...... dirt, grit & stones gets into the U shaped sub-frame & therefore prevents the bolts form turning freely. it take approx 1/2 hour to drop the frame & clear out the channel around the adjuster bolts, the tracking guy love when I do this, makes their life much easier.

So today I spent 2.5 hours at the front & another 3 at the rear of the GTA , 5.5 hours well spent, imho

Originally Posted by Damien_C

It's not a Ragazzon Pat it's a replica of the Unicorse exhaust Just so you know Great car that, I remember when Frank bought as I was there looking over it, it was and still is a very clean car.

Where would that exhaust have been supplied from? Wizard?

Originally Posted by Lacken156

Yes I have 2 from the GTA, the outter bushes are spinning. I'll be heading to Cork Friday or Saturday I can drop them to Pauls place, if that suits.

Yeah, I consider myself a decent enough driver but the GTA on the wet road scared me last Thursday night. I knew the tail end needed tracking BUT I was kinda surprised that the hub bushes were gone so bad. Good job I keep a stock of them

I also had to drop the rear sub-frame to free up the 2 adjuster bolts, typical Alfa ...... dirt, grit & stones gets into the U shaped sub-frame & therefore prevents the bolts form turning freely. it take approx 1/2 hour to drop the frame & clear out the channel around the adjuster bolts, the tracking guy love when I do this, makes their life much easier.

So today I spent 2.5 hours at the front & another 3 at the rear of the GTA , 5.5 hours well spent, imho

Nice work, would you drop them up to himself if that's ok as mine are FUBARed on the 156 and I need them to pass the NCT at the end of the year so may aswell get em sorted, you don't have any lambda sensors that are decent?

Yeh, I was the same from driving the old mans 156 quite hard before and finding nice and predictable compared to the 147 which would be more lairy that Frank found the GTA so skittish.

Originally Posted by Lacken156

Where would that exhaust have been supplied from? Wizard?

Yeh, the same lad that did my exhaust. The man is one of the best welders I have ever seen and a gent to deal with to be honest.

The welding is amazing quality

I'll bring the arms with me, perhaps we can meet somewhere Saturday around 16.30ish

4 wheel 'Laser' alignment done. Feels very good on the road now

My 1st ever wash of a GTA

Took an hour to pre-wash, wash & rinse the car & alloys.

Took 2 hours to polish all exterior panels, around the 4 doors, the door openings, glass & alloys

The result, its just amazing in real life, the orange hue thro the red is .....cccooooororrrrrrrrrrr

[Pud237]

Originally Posted by Lacken156

The result, its just amazing in real life, the orange hue thro the red is .....cccooooororrrrrrrrrrr

And to think you were considering buying a silver one....

I didn't realise this was Franko's old car, if it was I could've told you already what exhaust it had on it.

Any pics of those polished tailpipes?

Exhaust tip:

Pat, you need to get yourself to Cleancar in New Ross bud he's got some proper cleaning gear there and cheap enough to make that GTA sparkle even more

[LJ_GTA]

Can't beat a clean GTA that looks great in that colour

[Paddy1982]

Originally Posted by Pud237

And to think you were considering buying a silver one....

I didn't realise this was Franko's old car, if it was I could've told you already what exhaust it had on it.

Any pics of those polished tailpipes?

Here here nothing wrong with my silver one!

realising its not a Subaru form but I thought this was worth taking a picture of

[Dermo]

Wait till it gets to your number 666!

[Mufasa]

Originally Posted by Dermo

Wait till it gets to your number 666!

Will he turn crazy like you?

[Dermo]

No I'm just a bit devilish

[Mufasa]

Originally Posted by Dermo

No I'm just a bit devilish

Only a bit???

THIS happened last night
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

[GTV Gav]

Originally Posted by Lacken156

THIS happened last night
.

Your speedo is on upside down, you better get that sorted!!