GTA update

[borrani@xxxxxxx]

Hey All,

I'm past due for a good update on the car.  It's been a long winter, been doing 
a lot of planning and talking, but things are shifting into high gear.  
Most of you know I lost my 2nd motor due to the same problem I've had with the 
engine since day 1, shot peen debris in the motor from the dreaded previous 
owner.
The added twist this time was my lightened nitrided crankshaft didn't pass 
magnuflux.  The evidence of the crack may have been inconsequential but I 
couldn't use the crank in good conscience.
I strongly considered using a fully counterweighted crankshaft from a 1600 
Milano (european), but 2 things stopped me: 1) I couldn't find one and 2) for 
the short non-endurance racing I do with the car, having a lighter crank is 
more beneficial.  Alfa motors tend not to have a problem with their bottom 
ends.  So, I kind of compromised, I went with a european Alfetta 1600 
crankshaft.  It's single counterweighted, but takes a 2.0L style flywheel, and 
it's nitrided.  They are readily available in europe, so that's a bonus.
This means I have to change my clutch over to the newer style.

The biggest gratification to this project management is happening now. All this 
digest talk and planning is coming to fruition. In the last 3 days all the 
parts that I've decided to order are coming home to roost.  It's like the 
ultimate Christmastime around here at work, where I'm having it all delivered.
My '69 911S pressure plate arrived, copper faced, damned nice looking, and 
weighs 7 lbs.  My new crank just passed mag, and I had it polished two days 
ago.  Last night I removed the crank plugs, and had it tanked and cleaned 
today, just picked it up.  Last night I also removed my old ring gear from my 
old flywheel as well.  Today my new David Rugh steel flywheel arrived, and it's 
a beaut, weighing 12 lbs w/o the ring gear.  My new main and rod bearings, and 
cam chains from IAP arrived as well.  They are made by AE (Federal Mogul) which 
have grooves on all 5 main bearings, which is needed for my fully drilled block.
Let's see, my head and block have been thoroughly cleaned (again), and all 
that's left there is to address an issue with one of the pistons tapping the 
head.  Got to relieve the piston tops a bit.
So, things are starting to happen.  I don't think I'll make the next SOVREN 
race May 10-11, but it'll be together shortly thereafter, I believe.  I really 
do miss driving it.  I haven't really driven it much at all in the 2.5 years 
I've had it.  I'm not disappointed at all.  Still thrilled it's in my garage, 
and we all know the building process can sometimes be the most fun part of it 
all.  The anticipation of how all these parts will work together is really 
building.  I'm sure you can all relate.

Ciao for now,

Steve Schaeffer
Seattle, WA
'65 GTA
AR 613 169
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