Synchros

[n6wmff@mail.nstate.net]

When I was with Sr. Luigi Fusi in 1978 on the Andiamo Italia Tour with
Fred Di Matteo...I found out some interesting facts regarding the
6c2500's. Seems that Dr. Porsche had approached Alfa Romeo regarding a
design......Alfa was interested in a design swap. If you look at the
rear axle of a 6c2500 its a "swing axle" that is similiar to VW but uses
torsion bars. The front suspension is also similiar to a VW front
suspension. I think that there has been an ongoing swap of technical
information between companies for some time. With the sychro's just
being another trade.
    The early 4 speed boxes had no problems...as the 2nd gear was
lighter in mass. In the improvement to the 5 speed there was a heftier
gear for 2nd. This extra mass was not compensated for in a larger sychro
ring. Thereby making it more prone to wear, and being that we use 2nd
and 3rd for most of our driving...that synchro is going ot take a
beating. One of the Alfa Owners in the 70's gave some drawings on how to
lighten a 2nd gear to match the mass of an earlier 4 speed box by
drilling it. The biggest problem is the hardening of the surface of the
gear itself, making it a bugger to drill. A good machine shop could do
the work for you if you have the time. Thanks to Tom Sahines comments it
sounds like a good thing to do.
    Alfa Ricambi had at one time some lightened 2nd gears in stock.
I have always double clutched since I bought my Spider Veloce as I had
to rebuild the gear box and didn't want to do it again. its the best way
to save on clutches and gears. Now its a habit that I have a hard time
telling people how I do it.
    I would say maybe my facts aren't right..and would appreciate a kind
comment or so on getting me on the right track.
Christopher Boles
1300/1600 Spider Veloce and SS web site.
http://www.nstate.net/user/n6wmff/Open1.htm

1965 1600 Spider Veloce
1971 1750 GTV
1976 Alfetta Sedan