[clubber]

I was thinking that 166, although it had great engines, didnt make a step up compared to 164. It had almost the same range, when talking about power. I just feel that being a brilliant upmarket saloon, 166 should have been offered with a V8 engine, just to cope with 540i or A6 4.2 of the time, as it was good on everything else. Or forget the Germans, just imagine how good would it be to be able to buy a 166 V8 as a second hand in these days.

There was a nice engine back there to put it in 166 - 3.2 V8 biturbo from Maserati 3200 GT or later the 4.2 V8 unit from Maserati Coupe. No need for all the way to 370-395 bhp, I think 300-320 would be quite enough.

Compared to a 6 speed manual or Sporttronic, I think Q4 would have managed to deal with the power without problems.

I guess this would compromise the position of Quattroporte inside FIAT Group, but still, no need for 400 bhp, I think 166 could have been squized one step bellow the QPorte.

 

[TuonoV]

I agree, would have been nice.


Imagine a V8 rear wheel drive 156!

 

[Alfabaz]

I agree too. I had been hoping Alfa would make a 169 V8 with rear wheel drive, but that seems increasingly unlikely.
They are not looking after their loyal and exasperated 166 customers - what are we supposed to replace our cars with? Mine is nearly 8 yrs old and I can't think of anything to replace it with (this side of a Quattroporte). The dark side beckons, but I have resisted so far!

 

[Pud237]

Imagine a V8 rear wheel drive 156!

I would love one - but can you imagine how much of a job it would be to convert it to front-engined RWD?

 

[TuonoV]

Yup, you're probably right.


In that case, Alfa should use a modified 4x4 159 platform.

Already got the space for a drive shaft.

Just slot in a nice Maserati V8 in there, ideal to go directly head to head with the BMW M3

If it were me, I probably wouldn't make it a 4 wheel drive, though, that said, Alfa could go for a 4wd layout to target the Audi's.


Ooooh, V8 Brera! I bet the prodrive can make a seriously tasty 'R' version with that!


I am actually dreaming of such a car now!

 

[10500RPM]

But if they put a maserati V8 in an Alfa it would be competing with Maserati for sales. Even a die hard Alfa fan would choose the Maserati.

 

[David Jarrett]

But if they put a maserati V8 in an Alfa it would be competing with Maserati for sales. Even a die hard Alfa fan would choose the Maserati.

Yep, every time (and its not often) a Quattroporte goes past I want one.

But, oh my is the 166 a great car and the thought of a V8 in it....fantastic!

 

[TuonoV]

I wouldn't

I love the look of the Maserati

But I much much prefer the look of the 159 / brera.


Plus, it would be competing with the BMW M3 / S4, wheras the Maser is M5 sized.


Anyway, I know it wouldn't happen, but, imagine if it did - that would be a really really nice car!

 

[Laptop_Matt]

Stop thinking and start drinking



...petrol that is :
MASERATI-4200-SPYDER-ENGINE-4-2-LITRE





.

 

[TuonoV]

Nice find!

Reckon it will fit into a Mito?

 

[Laptop_Matt]

straight swap

 

[10500RPM]

I wouldn't

I love the look of the Maserati

But I much much prefer the look of the 159 / brera.


Plus, it would be competing with the BMW M3 / S4, wheras the Maser is M5 sized.


Anyway, I know it wouldn't happen, but, imagine if it did - that would be a really really nice car!

I agree it would be a great ar but isn't Maseratis build quaitly on a much higher level than Alfas? I only ever sat in one Maserati (a 3200 at a car show) and I though it oozed (is that a real word?) quality, the 159/ Brera interiors quality is comprable to that a Mazda 6 imo.

 

[Pud237]

Stop thinking and start drinking
...petrol that is :
MASERATI-4200-SPYDER-ENGINE-4-2-LITRE

Oh that is so tempting, if I had 2 grand..

What would you do about running gear? I reckon could use a cheap BMW E36 328i as a donor car for the gearbox, propshaft, rear axle, suspension etc. There would be a lot of fabricating to make it all fit. You might be able to get away with standard springs for the 2.4 JTD provided the engine and box were mounted so their centre of gravity was more towards the dashboard than directly over the front wheels. Would be difficult on a 156 as the front wheels are so far back.. As for steering rack, that would be a nightmare to fit in with an engine in the way.. Wish I had the funds, space, time & skills to tackle the project, and that 4200 engine would be the ideal one to start with too..

 

[clubber]

Oh that is so tempting, if I had 2 grand..

What would you do about running gear? I reckon could use a cheap BMW E36 328i as a donor car for the gearbox, propshaft, rear axle, suspension etc. There would be a lot of fabricating to make it all fit. You might be able to get away with standard springs for the 2.4 JTD provided the engine and box were mounted so their centre of gravity was more towards the dashboard than directly over the front wheels. Would be difficult on a 156 as the front wheels are so far back.. As for steering rack, that would be a nightmare to fit in with an engine in the way.. Wish I had the funds, space, time & skills to tackle the project, and that 4200 engine would be the ideal one to start with too..

How about Q4? There were Crosswagon and Sportwagon Q4 version on the continet offered in I think 2003 or 2004? I think that would be easier to fit on a regular FWD 156 and connect it to Maseratis V8. I also think tha weight distributioun would be much better. The gearbox is maybe a bit trickier, I am thinking of Sportronic, its not hard to find, as well as its cheap. Offcourse, perfect one would be a Maserati gearbox, but IMO too expensive to go for. Alfas manuals, 6speedo for instance, Im not sure is it able to cope with the torque of the V8? If it is than that is the optimal option.

 

[Pud237]

How about Q4? There were Crosswagon and Sportwagon Q4 version on the continet offered in I think 2003 or 2004? I think that would be easier to fit on a regular FWD 156 and connect it to Maseratis V8. I also think tha weight distributioun would be much better. The gearbox is maybe a bit trickier, I am thinking of Sportronic, its not hard to find, as well as its cheap. Offcourse, perfect one would be a Maserati gearbox, but IMO too expensive to go for. Alfas manuals, 6speedo for instance, Im not sure is it able to cope with the torque of the V8? If it is than that is the optimal option.

The Crosswagon was a 4-cylinder diesel mounted transversely, I can't imagine that the Maser V8 would slot in the same space that 1.9 JTD engine sat, as it would be twice as big! I think the Maser engine would just be too long and wide to fit in transversely with a gearbox to one side. Alfa had to find a smaller GM gearbox to fit to the 2.4 20v as the engine was too long to take the 6-speed Alfa box. The Maser engine is probably going to be a similar length to that, and much wider..

If you went for RWD, the engine would fit, you'd have to fabricate a bigger transmission tunnel for the back end of the gearbox to sit in though, and cut away a lot of the back end.. As for gearbox, I reckon a BMW 328i gearbox & rear diff would do it, as the 328 Sport has an LSD as standard, and the ratios would be short enough for it to be good fun and still top 150mph. Plus they are cheap, plentiful and don't have a reputation for blowing up, although taking the power from a 4.2 V8 would be a challenge for it..

See image for what I reckon would work. The wheels are totally in the wrong place though for front-engined RWD. Where would the steering rack go? Same applies to a 166 really as it is more like a scaled up version of the 156.

 

[clubber]

Nicely elaborated. I was just suggesting.

 

[Pud237]

Gutting that either 4WD or RWD V8 will probably never happen

 

[clubber]

Gutting that either 4WD or RWD V8 will probably never happen

Back in the October and November 2009 there was still a lot of articles reporting about Alfa developing a new 3.0 V8 turbo charged unit to put in its RWD 169.

But, after all the financial shaking, that is probably put on a (long) hold. If the RWD 169 does happen, I doubt the new 3.0 V8 will be produced, more likely a tweaked american V8, which isnt really apealing to me, TBH. And that is if the 169 is launched.

Another thing, with FIAT cutting costs everywhere, I dont think they are willing to compromise the position of QPorte, with RWD 169.

 

[Pud237]

I think the 166 replacement, if it happens, will be based on a RWD platform (probably Chrysler 300C). But I don't think it will get a V8 of any description. Most likely 1.8T petrol, a V6 petrol of some sorts (current 3.2, or maybe Alfa's version of the Pentastar 3.6), and a selection of diesels, 2.4 JTD and maybe the 3.0 V6 JTD they have been going on about for years..

 

[Spider Aktiv]

What about sourcing an accident damaged BMW E39 540i V8 (290BHP?) chopping off the bodywork leaving a braced floor pan and running gear and cutting out the 166 floor to be welded to the 5 series floor.

Sounds mad but my brother is doing the same to a Mitsubishi EVO 5 (650BHP) and whats left of a mk1 Escort 2 door shell. The wheel base has to be shortened and the difference in track is accomodated by a 1970,s wide arch kit (not bubble forest arches) The car is to be used for track days, and drag racing.