Re: Vic discovers 116 Gearbox

[Vic Wolyncevic <vwolynce@domain.elided>]

From: "Bill Magoffin" <billm@domain.elided>

Bill,

Thanks for the advice. I will be joining AROCA (Qld) ASAP.

I will talk to Avanti tomorrow and get the ball rolling on having the
suspension and gearbox looked at.

As for double shuffling I thought I was a veteran with this, owning Fiats
and Alfas all my driving life except for a brief interlude with a Ford
Falcon (Yecchhh!) but this Alfa is certainly the most challenging, so maybe
I need to brush up on my double declutching skills further <g>. 

Regards,

Vic 



>Vic,
>
>Welcome to the 116.
>
>Firstly, if you have not done so already...join AROCA (Qld) immediately! For
>servoice --support club members and mag advertisers.
>
>Suspension mods should be done in as a complete system. It is unlikely that
>a change to rear springs in isolation will make the car handle better...most
>likely worse. It is not common for the rear 116 springs to sag. If they do
>they are best placed with ones similar to OEM. Unless you want to go stiffer
>and lower all round .. in which case the torsion bars should be done too. At
>this point in it's life, the single most beneficial thing you can do to your
>car is have any worn suspension bushes replaced (check- caster rod bushes,
>lower control arm bushes) and ball joinmts/tie rod ends. Get a decent wheel
>alignment which includes setting of Caster and checking of Camber. 116's
>require TOE OUT. Then get a decent set of shocks all round...Koni's on the
>rear, Bilstein or Spax on the front.
>
>As far as the gearbox goes...the design has some inbuilt shift dynamic
>limitations...however correctly adjusted and lubricated shift mechanisms
>operate quite acceptably. Have a specialist check out the shift linkages for
>adjustment and bushing wear...service as necessary. Cold shifting will
>improve considerably by use of Synthetic gearbox oil. The AGIP stuff (which
>Ferrari does use) will work well...expect to pay $20 a litre for the (just
>over) 2L you will need. Once the box is hot you will notice little
>difference thn with a good mineral oil. A good practice with the 116 is to
>learn how to double shuffle...!!
>
>Regds
>
>Bill
>

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Vic Wolyncevic (Brisbane - Australia)
ACTUAL Computer Solutions Pty. Ltd.

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