Re: okp Milano driveshaft

[Mark Denovich <mark@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Fltrplntman@domain.elided wrote:
> I have been thinking of opening up to work on Alfas and the like. A lot of 
> people on the digest complain that some of the tasks needed to maintain an 
> Alfa are very difficult. When it comes time for me to pull maintenance on 
> mine, its actually easier to work on than most American cars. Then again, it 
> wouldn't be so easy if the digest wasn't here. 
I agree with you that Alfas in general are very easy to work on. 
Compared to anything else I've worked on, most items are fairly easy to 
access/remove/repair.   The Digest is a fabulous diagnostic tool and 
handy for hints when you need to improvise.

However:

>It only to about 4 hours to do the job. ( thats not including
>the 2 hours of screwing around with the exhaust system...)

It's not fair to discount the "messing around" time.  With my Milano the 
actual repair is easy... It usually consists of bolting in a nice clean 
part.   The bitch is dealing with corroded fasteners that break off, 
round off, or strip.  And then finding a half dozen other items that I 
need to fix while I'm down there...  then I'm stuck waiting for more 
replacement parts to come in.

I don't envy the Alfa mechanics job.  I think for the most part they 
make a very honest buck.   I currently make about $40 an hour at work... 
 If I was smart I'd work more, and pay someone to keep my Alfas in top 
shape (or buy nice ones to start with.)  But then how could I justify 
buying so many tools?

	--Mark
	The Alfa Wiki: http://alfa.denovich.org
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