Re: To Carb or Not to Carb

["Dean W. Cains" <dwc@domain.elided>]

Hi AJ:

I am truly a dyed-in-the-wool Spica enthusiast, and would have nothing else 
bolted to the engine in my '74 Spider.  The question you asked is made more 
simple by the fact that your Spider is an '81.  By that year, the Spica 
system had become so compromised that it's something even a Spica fan like 
myself would gladly remove and trash, perhaps for a set of Webers or 
Dellortos, or maybe even a Spica system from an early 70's car.  The 
cheaper way to go is likely a carb conversion.  They are often available 
used for less than half the price that many Alfa parts vendors charge for 
new, and coupled with a cheap set of Euro cams, you'll see a huge 
difference in the performance of your Spider.  Don't be tempted by the type 
of conversion kit that uses adapters to mate the carbs to a Spica manifold, 
which won't work with your manifold, anyway.  Opt for an original Euro 
setup, with the proper, original intake manifold, linkage and air cleaner 
assembly.  (Don't trash the old Spica injection pump, or the main fuel 
pump, as they will have some value, but the rest of the removed parts are 
virtually worthless). If you're really in a spending kind of mood, find a 
pair of pre-'75 exhaust manifolds, too, and retrofit them and an old 
cat-free exhaust system.  If you're going to undertake such a project, with 
a mechanic doing the work for you, be sure to only trust someone that is an 
Alfa mechanic and has done such a job before.  I'm sure fellow Digesters 
can recommend someone in your area.

Regards,

Dean W. Cains
Lutz, FL
'74 Spider Veloce

At 04:29 PM 7/24/2002, you wrote:

> Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 14:33:25 -0500
> From: "AJ Lindaman" <jynx_808@domain.elided>
> Subject: To Carb or Not to Carb
>
> Hail Alfisti Gurus,
>
> After a few short months of bliss, my Spider is once again awaiting a space
> in the local garage.  While it is driveable at the moment, my Spica is
> acting up.  I'm hoping that it is just the Thermo Actuator and that a
> adjustment will repair my woes.
>
> But being the gritty realist, I am I'm thinking that it will have to be
> replaced.  So my question is:
>
> Is it more prudent to have the Spica rebuilt or say to heck with that and
> begin looking into converting to Webers?
>
> AJ Lindaman
> 81 Spider Veloce
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