Re: Not another bl**dy Alfa ! ... ?!!
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 5:51 pm
.
There are a few 'updates' since my last post but, unfortunately, I lost quite a few pictures recently when a laptop got stolen (I usually back up to an external hard drive every couple of days - but 'sod's law' I hadn't for a couple of weeks) ...
I had applied to DVLA for details of the previous owners &, eventually. after many weeks I received the information.
There had been a few registration number changes over the years ('personal' plates) but unfortunately DVLA told me that its original registration number was no longer on the system ... I'm still trying to retrieve this so in the meantime I applied for (& received) a suitable age-related number.
Another 'superfluous' part I had decided to remove was the sump guard - seen here in one of the previous owner's photographs:
Although it sets out to (& obviously does) protect the aluminium sump, it reduces ground clearance by approx 1in - meaning that it's more likely to ground on ramps/speed bumps etc !
Plus, being made from heavy gauge steel, it adds a fair amount of unwanted weight - & makes oil changes more awkward to carry out - so off it came.
It was then apparent that the sump had acquired some damage in the past - which is presumably why the guard was fitted.
I'm used to driving cars with limited ground clearance & the Spider has quite a 'generous' amount of clearance in my view so I preferred to ditch the sump guard.
The 105-series engines use a 2-piece aluminium sump - there is a separate finned sump 'pan' attached by 17 perimeter bolts to the main sump body.
This part on my car had suffered several scrapes & broken fins & although it wasn't split or leaking, I set out to source a replacement.
New ones were available from the usual classic Alfa parts stockists but at around £150 (+ VAT) I felt I could do better so turned to ebay.
After a quick search I found a guy advertising a selection of used Spider parts - it turned out that he also had a good sump (both upper & lower parts) for £70 - & I subsequently sold the unwanted upper part plus my original (damaged) lower parts on ebay for £40 !
- next up was the fitting of a suitable set of alloy wheels ...
.
There are a few 'updates' since my last post but, unfortunately, I lost quite a few pictures recently when a laptop got stolen (I usually back up to an external hard drive every couple of days - but 'sod's law' I hadn't for a couple of weeks) ...
I had applied to DVLA for details of the previous owners &, eventually. after many weeks I received the information.
There had been a few registration number changes over the years ('personal' plates) but unfortunately DVLA told me that its original registration number was no longer on the system ... I'm still trying to retrieve this so in the meantime I applied for (& received) a suitable age-related number.
Another 'superfluous' part I had decided to remove was the sump guard - seen here in one of the previous owner's photographs:
Although it sets out to (& obviously does) protect the aluminium sump, it reduces ground clearance by approx 1in - meaning that it's more likely to ground on ramps/speed bumps etc !
Plus, being made from heavy gauge steel, it adds a fair amount of unwanted weight - & makes oil changes more awkward to carry out - so off it came.
It was then apparent that the sump had acquired some damage in the past - which is presumably why the guard was fitted.
I'm used to driving cars with limited ground clearance & the Spider has quite a 'generous' amount of clearance in my view so I preferred to ditch the sump guard.
The 105-series engines use a 2-piece aluminium sump - there is a separate finned sump 'pan' attached by 17 perimeter bolts to the main sump body.
This part on my car had suffered several scrapes & broken fins & although it wasn't split or leaking, I set out to source a replacement.
New ones were available from the usual classic Alfa parts stockists but at around £150 (+ VAT) I felt I could do better so turned to ebay.
After a quick search I found a guy advertising a selection of used Spider parts - it turned out that he also had a good sump (both upper & lower parts) for £70 - & I subsequently sold the unwanted upper part plus my original (damaged) lower parts on ebay for £40 !
- next up was the fitting of a suitable set of alloy wheels ...
.