Re: SPICA, then ramblings

[George Graves <gmgraves@domain.elided>]

SPICA started out making diesel injection systems for trucks and 
tractors, and modified it to work with gasoline at Alfa's request. Its 
not a 'copy' of a diesel deign, its a modification of a an existing 
diesel FI design by the same company (according to Wes Ingram). I don't 
think SPICA is even in business any more, but if one buys new Lodge 
Golden spark plugs for one's Alfa, the box has the SPICA logo on the 
box end!(???)

George Graves
'86 GTV-6



On Friday, November 22, 2002, at 01:54  AM, alfa-digest wrote:


> Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 23:05:54 -0800
> From: "Mike Nakamura" <mike_nakamura@domain.elided>
> Subject: SPICA, then ramblings
>
> Did ALFA copy a diesel injection system for SPICA?
>
> When my dad first saw my Spider engine (72), I was showing him all of
> the features and before I mentioned the injection, he said, "Oh it's 
> got
> fuel injection."
>
> I acknowledged and of course, he told me the SPICA looked like an
> injection pump he had seen on diesel engines. He thought it was good,
> not a big fancy deal, rather just like thousands of diesel engines. My
> dad got me interested in twin cam cars, he told me that the Pontiac
> inline 6 with dohc engine was cool (Cannot remember the model, sometime
> in late 60's or early 70's).
>
> So if ALFA borrowed mechanical injection technology for SPICA, did the
> Italians copy and improve? If yes, maybe the Italians even copied and
> improved before the copying and improving Japanese (they even copied
> copying and improving, rip off). On the other hand, how much was SPICA
> an improvement over existing fuel injection technology? Can you say 
> copy
> and just copy?
>
> I think mechanical injection is pretty cool, just like I prefer 
> castings
> for the sump, differential and other parts. That's one of the things I
> enjoy about ALFA's, nice cast parts. Other makes have some beautiful
> parts too, somehow I prefer Italian style. No common sense, just
> preference. Maybe if I was a programmer, I would appreciate good code
> like complex castings or machining. I'm just a dumb user. But wait, I'm
> not a foundry worker or machinist either, how come I appreciate nice
> looking mechanical parts? Guess I don't see good or bad code... And to
> make it worse, I'm not a designer, but I enjoy "nice" looking things
> like Alfetta Sedans (I owned three).
>
> It's my view that mechanical injection was over taken by electronic
> injection just as carburetors were superseded by electronic injection
> because electronic injection was cheaper to tune for the best 
> compromise
> between low emissions and drivability. During the push for emission
> control, electronic controls were incorporated into (or hacked onto)
> carburetor systems. If electronic injection was not available,
> mechanical injection may have prevailed.
>
> I wonder if US emission and mileage standards brought hi-performance
> electronic engine management systems to us faster or if there would 
> have
> been market demand for them. The computer has affected automobile to
> such an extent, it's daunting to begin thinking about the impact.
>
> Tess: Not time on my hands, just having fun (Read: Can't resist
> commenting). On second thought, making time on my hands. No Montreal to
> polish and clean. I may have told you Graduate steel wheel weigh 11
> pounds, but if I did, I was lying. I had a set of 6 X 14, 4-spoke BWA
> Sportstar wheels on the 72 Spider. They were about 12.5 pounds.
>
> Wow, that got too long. Take care, have a good ALFA day.
>
> Mike Nakamura
> Fall City WA USA
> mike_nakamura@domain.elided
> 91 Spider Veloce
> 94 164 LS
> 02 Dakota
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2002 23:05:54 -0800
> From: "Mike Nakamura" <mike_nakamura@domain.elided>
> Subject: RE: Bigger is not better
>
> Some believe many thousands of Mustangs came from the factory as scrap.
>
> Cleaning Turbinas is no fun! I prefer spoke style wheels, even when my
> 75 Alfetta GT came with them; I was not overly fond of Turbina style
> wheels.
>
> Your subject line is contrary to many sp*m emails, are you sure? After
> all, how can so much sp*m be so wrong?
>
> Mike Nakamura
> Fall City WA USA
> mike_nakamura@domain.elided
> 91 Spider Veloce
> 94 164 LS
> 02 Dakota
George Graves
'86 GTV-6
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