Re: [alfa] SPICA Fuel System another opinion

["Korolyshyn, Dan Mr. DAC DPW ENGR RESOURCE MGMT BR" <Dan.Korolyshyn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

FWIW, My Spider came with Spica when it was new in 1979 and it needed
at least a yearly checkup by an EXPERT US Alfa mechanic to make sure
that it was set up right; it ran great.  When the car was but two 
years old I got a job in Germany and took the car with me.  After
about a year, the car needed its yearly maintenance and the SPICA needed
an adjustment.  I took the car to an Alfa mechanic and asked him if he
could work on SPICA cars, he said no problem.  After a week the guy had
the pump out of the car and disassembled and said that he was working on
it but that it would be okay.  After a month he told me that the pump was
KAPUT and that it need either a new pump or carbs.  By now I understood that
in Europe they did not use or know SPICA.  I decided to switch since I was 
going to be in Europe another three years.  I installed Dellortos and to
my delight and surprise they need NO ADJUSTMENT once they are set up, for
years, not months.  Twenty years after I made the change I have just 
removed and "overhauled" the carbs, only needed a disassembly, good cleaning

and replacing the gaskets, I also replaced the floats and needle valves just

for good measure.  I am sure that they will work for another 20 YEARS
without 
any major overhauls or problems. 
Just my two centavos.

Dan K. 

P.S. I also installed a set of Alfa Veloce Racing Cams without a problem,
something that you can not do if you keep your SPICA.  

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2003 10:37:55 -0500
From: "Jason Hagen" <hagen_jason1@domain.elided>
Subject: Re: [alfa] SPICA Fuel System

I have a 30 year old SPICA pump on my '73 Spider.  Still works perfect.  Car

runs great.  OK, so the cold start solenoid went out and I now need to pull 
the pump to replace it, but would would NEVER replace the SPICA system.  It 
is certainly worth a rebuilt pump if yours go bad.  And, if it it set up 
right, it may last you 30 more years!

I remember being quite ignorant when I first bought the car.  At that point 
I toyed with replacing the unit with carbs since I didn't understand it yet.

  Once you gain a little more knowledge of the cars and Alfa, you realize 
staying with SPICA is the way to go.  I would have regretted going to carbs.

  You need to pick and choose what you change from original on these cars.  
This is an area I choose to leave alone...

- -Jason Hagen
'73 Spider
'95 164Q
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