Alfetta clutch job

["pi" <pi@domain.elided>]

It was only about a week ago that I noticed the clutch on the Alfetta would
release after only the slightest push on the pedal. I thought - "I'm going
to have to start babying this and milk as much life out of it as I can, no
more unnecessary downshifts or gear changes, conservative driving etc, at
least it's not slipping..."

Well, yesterday it went T/U if you get my drift. It was a short, level drive
to home but had there been hills between where I was and here I wouldn't
have made it.

It was the morning of my first day off and I had no plans other than just
relaxing but I have unfortunately gotten myself into a position where I
depend on this 32 year old Alfa Romeo to get me back and forth to work every
day with no backup available. So I pulled out the manual, gave the clutch
chapter a quick once over, put her up on jackstands and started ripping and
tearing. I was really surprised because you normally think of a clutch
replacement as one of the most gawd-awful jobs that you can end up having to
do on a car but this wasn't so bad.

Basically you just disconnect the rear driveshaft coupling and shift
linkage, undo the bolts that hold the front crossmember of the De-Dion and
undo it from the trans-axle. Then there are 4 17 mm housing bolts, slide the
clutch/flywheel assy off and the rest is a bench job. I had the whole thing
apart and cleaned up in about 2 hours and listen folks, I'm not exactly a
"go getter" or a "self starter" if you know what I mean I'm basically more
of a "slaggard". I don't think I could ever do that tele-commute thing -
hell, I'd never get out of my pajamas!

But all kidding aside, It was about 3 pm and a trip to Alfa Parts in
Berkeley could have easily taken me 4 hours or more at that time of day so I
cranked the top off of a cold Full Sail IPA and planned on a parts run for
10 am the next morning (the optimum time). This morning I cruised to
Berkeley and back in about 2 hours, the traffic was unbelievably light.
Where the heck was everyone today?

The reassembly took about 2 1/2 hours (I had to replace the rear donut) and
then another 3 hours to bleed the system (just kidding) and I went for a
short test hop - oops!, back onto the jackstands (the clutch hydraulic line
was rubbing on the driveshaft making a really interesting sound!)

Parts were about $320 for disc, plate, bearing and donut and it took about
40 minutes in the shower to get all of that crud off of me - this is one
filthy job if nothing else - but if anyone else is prospectively facing this
take heart, it's not as bad as you might imagine.

Paul Irvine  - Antioch CA
72 Spider - 79 Sprint Veloce - 82 GTV6
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Project Alfa

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