RE: alfa-digest V7 #270

["Lee, Ken" <ken.lee@xxxxxxx>]

Warren,

I think parts availability is a major issue, and it depends on where you
live, and what model you have.
I have a 69 1750GTV with Webers.  The car has been off the road since July
because I can't find rad hoses.  It seems this setup (2 lower hoses and long
bypass is rare here since it was never sold in the US, no one I checked with
has the hoses.  My local (Toronto) Alfa parts supplier has been trying to
get the hoses from Europe but so far, no luck.  The local auto supply
companies have very little choice in the size for the lower hoses, and
nothing at all that fits the bypass.

Ken
- ---------------Original Message
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------
> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 09:37:00 +1100
> From: "Reid, Warren" <Warren.Reid@domain.elided>
> Subject: 105 GTV Daily Driver
> 
> In AD V7#268 Lawrence wrote 
> 
> "Is anyone out there using an older GTV as a
> daily - rainy day, sunny day, hot day, cold day - driver?  I'm pining over
> this decision."
> 
> Lawrence. My daily driver is a 68 1750 GTV, 44 miles total to and from
> work
> just about every day. I must admit the maintanence is probably a little
> more
> than a modern car, but as far as I'm concerned its practical (and fun)
> especially considering the car is probably appreciating slightly compared
> with any other modern piece of XXXX that will halve in price over 3 years.
> 
> I hear from many people that the cars are too old to run as daily drivers,
> which I find hard to believe considering most parts (except body panels)
> are
> still readily available. One thing I have found that makes the car a lot
> more enjoyable if its driven regularly is to leave the exhaust system
> standard from the point of view of noise generation. I had the rear
> muffler
> missing (replaced with pipe) and found that the extra noise was a little
> aggravating after a while, although lots of fun when you get on those
> twisty
> bits.
> 
> The only other problem you will certainly run into as a daily driver is
> lack
> of interior cooling in summer (not helped by the black vinyl interior)
> which
> can be a bit of a pain when the temp gets up around 40 Celsius (approx
> 104F) here. Usually though I've got the Spider running (with the air
> conditioner up on the garage shelf where it belongs) when its like that.
> 
> Warren Reid
> Melbourne Australia
> 
> **************************

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