Re: Alfa Mongrels personal examples

[Bernie & Diana Bennett <bennetts@bluebon.net>]

Rich Wagner wrote:
> 
> Brian:
> 
> Sorry it's taken me so long to reply to your email.  Too busy lately.  You
> wrote:
> 
> >i disagree.  the designer isn't the only person who can understand how
> >ride height affects a car.
> 
> I don't mean to be a bastard about this, but he is.  Let me explain.
> Reverse-engineering is a VERY difficult and error-prone task.  Why?
much deleted... 
> Again, I don't have a problem with anyone who wishes to do something to his
> own car.  How could I?  It's his car, not mine.  What I do mind, is having
> someone tell me that they "improved" their machine when they really have no
> idea what portion of their car's performance they have enhanced, and more
> importantly, what areas they have diminished.
> 
> Rich
> Manitou Springs, CO
> '82 GTV6 Balocco

Rich, Brian & all interested in the topic of modifications:

I've been fascinated and tempted to join in the discussion.  Here's a
few personal examples of engineering decisions and their success over
the years.

An Alfa Owner Documented modification to the fuse block connections to
swap high and low beam positions from the standard Italian position done
and documented in the owners manual of each of at least four 101 and 105
coupes.  Successful, functional and useful reengineering.  Thought out
and written up by the pioneers of the AROC in the '60's

Conversion / modification of generator system & brackets on Giulia
Sprint GT & Alfetta GT (and possibly 2000 Berlina) to GM (Chevrolet)
alternator system.  Bracket breakage was the biggest issue in the early
attempts but got many miles and in my small town it was much easier and
very cheap to get a Chevy alternator / regulator rebuilt.  (I did have
the old parts available to 'restore' or give the next owner to 'restore'
upon sale of the cars)

'74 (non year 2000 compliant dates used here) Berlina 2000 added
Bilstein yellow gas shocks (I believe they were supposed to be a stiffer
and I thought better) Well our return from AlfaAspen '77 was made with
the right rear shock banging against the body as the upper mount had
torn loose with fatigued welds. No appreciable degradation in ride
quality as the other rear shock was stiff enough for the rear load.  The
subsequent owner reported to me problems with other shock mounts.

'75 Alfetta GT bodywork modifications and paint job.  We removed the
bumpers and their mounts added european turn signals and really made a
beautiful car (IMHO); fixed the rust around the windshield and rear
hatch.  Who knew that the rest of the car's body was rusting and within
two years the beautiful paint job would bubble from underneath and would
perforate.  But that's not the real point.  I read a week or two ago of
a gentleman on the Digest who is storing his 'original' interior door
panels so the car could be made original!  WARNING  in the two months my
Alfetta was in the body shop, the panels shrunk so badly they could
barely be refitted by drilling new holes in the door.

'91 164L added a Pioneer 12 disc cd changer to the trunk (over the
battery box) working off the signals for the electric antenna and
playing to the FM tuner in the wonderful stock AM, FM, Cassette player. 
This mod was done with suggestions from a number of digesters Louis,
Jonathan, Ted and John as well as FredAlfa's contact Jonathan K and
people they put me in touch with as well as from BJ at Italian Motor
Service, in Austin. The actual installation was done by the car stereo
dealer and it is unobtrusive. Thanks to all.

So all in all successful experiences but some cautions.  

Bernie Bennett
Brenham TX