April 2002
This Saturday's DT had an interesting article about Paul Hudson's Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV, and it brough back a lot of fond memories. My dad had several Alfas, including two GTVs - one 1600, and the other a 1750 (about the same vintage as Paul's, and in lovely dark green). I drove and worked on all of them.
What a lovely car the 1750 GTV was - the engine was fabulous, and the drive was exhilarating. However, in true Italian fashion, they did rot. All dad's Alfas needed metal transplants by the time they were 4 or 5 years old, but we forgave them.
The GTVs were not the easiest to work on under the bonnet, being inherently designed as left hookers. I hope for his sake that Paul Hudson never needs to change a starter motor. The offside of the narrow engine bay contained a pair of double choke Webers (on top), the steering box (somewhere underneath), and the starter motor in between. I changed one and it was an all day job - just like some modern cam belt and clutch changes you hear about.
The most horrible moment I remember was when my uncle and I had just put the cylinder head back on (I honestly can't remember why it had to come off). The fuel line and carbs neede priming and my uncle thought that the easist way was to disconnect the fuel line at the carb into a pot, and spin the engine on the starter (mechanical pump, I think). The trouble was that fuel spurted and missed the pot, and a spark from the distributor ignited the engine bay.
What a panic. I've never seen the old fellow run so fast for the extinguisher, and it worked first time - and for a dry powder jobbie that was a surprise. The shame was that the cam covers were still off and the powder went everywhere. I won't repeat what he said!
I'd love to drive another one today.
Ian
(Fishpond move completed 16.40 today) Read more
My Fiat Brava has now done about 36K.
When does the cambelt need changing on this model (brava 1.4sx - 98), and does anyone know roughly how much it should cost?
Thanks Read more
1.4SX - 1998 R reg.
any idea of the total work/cost to replace the belt & tensioner?
Friend who is just 18, is looking to buy a cheap first car (i.e less than £400)
Cany anyone make any suggestion for a cheap to run, reliable?? car
I doubt £400 will buy much! Read more
I ran a Panda many moons ago and can endorse what you say about them - they are basic, honest, cheap motoring, without frills.
Needless to say that's why they're so desperately unpopular and unfashionable in this image-obsessed country. Did you see the "Right Car, Wrong Car" where the pundits were laying into a punter's Panda with all the glee of a pair of school bullies kicking someone on the ground?
David
I had an accident where I hit a sheep in the middle of a main road, and damaged my car. I had to claim on the insurance, however I found the farmer who agreed that it was his fault. Therefore do I have to tell other insurance companies of my claim or not? It's so confusing - in an ideal world, if the sheep hadn't been there I would never have hit the thing. PS I'm not a dizzy blonde either!! Read more
I was forced to make a no fault claim, all moies recoverd, NCB not effected and excess returned from 3rd parties insurance co, however every year since insurance companys screw me over, just goes to show that NCB protection is a waste of money!! my no claims is intact but they don't care, a claim is a claim
Where is everyone? Virtual hangovers? Fed up of speed camera rants?
Incidentally, measured the fuel economy of my Audi A4 Tdi at 57.9mpg on a recent round trip to the north west of Scotland. Fully laden, crusing at 70-75mph. I used 4.55 litres to a gallon - is that right?
Why doesn't everyone drive a diesel?
Regards
Pat Read more
Pete
Did your Metro have 115bhp? Plenty of torque for safe overtaking? Did it cruise at 70mph at 2,300rpm?
NO! It had an already outdated engine (from the 1950s), agricultural drivechain and no 5th gear (no room for the extra cog in the not-so-durable gearbox).
Not all change is for the better, but this is one example where it is!
Regards
Pat
I am loking for a three year old Nissan QX 2.0 V6 automatic. Unfortunately they almost all have high mileages. Is it realistic to expect a car of this sort that already has 90,000 miles on the clock to cover a further 120,000 over the next eight years without major mechanical problems?
John Read more
Red
What is it like to drive? What is it like on the m'way and what consumption do you get?
HJ,
Is the answer on the Vectra DTi oil cunsumption yours or the sub editors?
Especially the bit about how to check the oil level? Seems at variance with what has been said before?
Just wondered, and if it is the sub editors is the DT going to get some grief. I hope so.
Yours truly,
A Desperado Esq. Read more
Brian,
Go and talk to your Newsagent....
They get paid (a paltry sum per copy) to put the 'paper together.
I hope that you refuse to pay for an incomplete 'paper.
Martin.
Hi,
I'm sure that those of us who subscribe to bangernomics find breakers a good source of parts.
Question is, I'm trying to find a breakers that deals/specialises in ex Police cars. Do such places exist and if so do you have any leads.
I'm specifically after somewhere that deals with Omegas.
In anticipation.
Robert Read more
Hi - did you get a chance to look?
In anticipation ......
Robert
We've just bought a '98 Citroen Xsara 1.9TD for my wife. This has the old
XUD turbo diesel engine which is basically the same as in my ZX.
I have read on this site that the cam belt should be changed every 50k on the ZX (and this is up on the 36k that Citroen used to recommend for the XUD).
I see from our Xsara service book that cambelts are now changed at 72k. My
local Citroen specialist tells me that the belt is still the same so what's going on
here? Can we safely leave it to 72k? Read more
as a peugeot man i would say your cam belt is good for 72000 miles or 5 years
Any one got an idea how to adjust the fuelling on a tipo diesel I don't want to take it to a garage as the cost will be high. Injectors etc all check out it just puts too much diesel into the engine. Read more
Sounds like your car is having breathing problems. Lots of black smoke indicate combustion without enough air. Is the air filter dirty? Is the turbo working alright? Why not fit a boost gauge and see what it's doing. I would advise against adjusting the fuel pump. You already have a fueling device which you operate with the right foot. That would cure the symptom but not the disease. Under what conditions do you get black smoke? Is it only under acceleration, because thats normal. Also, what brand of fuel are you using? Tesco?
Browse
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There was a GTV in the historic touring car race at Silverstone last weekend - looked and sounded absolutely gorgeous, although it couldn't keep up with the front runners (two Mk2 Jags, a Mini Cooper and a Lotus Cortina). Brilliant race, the best of the day, especially the battle for last place between a Renault Dauphine and a Sunbeam Rapier in full roadgoing trim. I think the leaders lapped those two three times in a 12 lap race, and the Dauphine left the track at least once every lap, but wasn't going fast enough to get into any trouble as a result. I quite fancy having a go in a Triumph Herald - they were quite popular in this sort of event in the early 1960s, and the handling can't be any worse than a Dauphine. But I'll have to finish some of my other projects first.