Re: Milano Verde - Modifications

[Mark Denovich <mark@domain.elided>]

First off, check the forums at:  gtv6.org   Tons of good info, and many 
people with first hand knowledge of tweaking V6 alfas.

The first thing I'd recommend is refreshing every rubber bit on the car. 
 Castor arm pads, watts link bushes, dedion bushing, sway bar bushes, 
engine mounts, and transmission mounts.   Make sure your driveline 
donuts are in top shape too.    For many of these parts there are 
polyurethane equivalents, which I recommend.  Freshening all these bits 
will transform the feel of the car, and it's silly to get carried away 
with other modifications if you don't have a solid foundation.

http://www.performatek.com/ is a good source for polyurethane bits, and 
is a great guy to deal with.

Next upgrade/replace brake hoses.  I used SS lines which I like, but any 
thing is probably better than the original 15 year old rubber hoses that 
are probably on the car now.

Now you can start playing...

Exhaust:  The CSC headers from EBSpares are the way to go.  The best 
bolt-on power upgrade you can buy.   You will want to have them coated 
(Jet-Hot) or wrapped as they give off a ton of heat.   The flexible pipe 
section in the downpipes greatly eases installation, and improves ground 
clearance. ($700)

Shocks:  I went with Bilstiens all around.   EBSpares has specially 
valved Bilstiens which are claimed to be a bit less harsh.   I have the 
normal ones, and I'm extremely happy with them, a very dramatic 
improvement over the original worn out dampers.  ($400)

Intake/ECU/AFM/cams/pistons:  I have a hard time recommending any of 
these changes, without first completely dumping the L-Jet system.  It's 
old, it's inflexible, and it maxes out at around 200hp.   Get a good 
programmable ECU + hot-wire MAP sensor.   That solves the AFM problem, 
and gives you the flexiblity you'll need to take advantage of the other 
go-fast bits.   Zamani went with an Autronic system, and has posted some 
impressive results  ($1000+)  Sure it's a lot of dough up front, but if 
you want to do it right, it's about the only way to go.

For the rest of the stuff, you're on your own, as it's mostly a matter 
of style.


	--Mark
	1988 Milano Verde
	1991 164S
	1976 Spider
	http://denovich.com/alfa/sikand_mti/milano.html
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