SPRINT RESURRECTION

[alfadave]

Bought 20 fags when I was 14.
Smoked the lot one evening.

Turned the colour of AOG's Sprint.

Never smoked anything since!

Good way to put a young potential smoker off.

[LooLooSud33Spider]

I agree with Tim you’ve done such a splendid job on the car so far IMHO the later “Wrong” seats will really spoil it and again IMHO the original seats when refreshed are actually much more comfortable than the later ones

[Alfaoldgit]

Thanks a lot, another challenge

Given the car is green, I'm guessing the seats should be either brown (camel) or that yellowish colour. I think I can forget the early check pattern. Anyone other than John got any? Happy to do a barter deal, the material to recover the GC seats wasn't cheap!

AOG

[Alfaoldgit]

In other news, here is a picture of the crankshaft & the rear main journal. Two of the pistons are scored on one side as per picture, might be useable with new rings. The Gudgeon pins are an interference fit in the pistons & I can't see any wear.

The conrod little ends are allegedly slightly worn, but I don't know what that means. Before I scrap these items, they are free to a good home. Collection preferred esp the crank due weight. I'll also list in the parts for sale section.

[Alfaoldgit]

Just seeing if it's possible to post.

AOG

[Alfaoldgit]

Hi folks,

I've obtained a set of the correct model year seats, but they need recovering. They are sporting the "old gold" yellowish covering (aka Beige?). As this car was originally white, the door cards are dark brown (think Bournville chocolate) so I'm guessing the long gone original seats were the same colour, but the inside won't look right with a green exterior. Too dark & gloomy. The yellow/beige will be fine. However......where to get material? Antonio Ruggi are out of stock, so another hunt!

[Alfaoldgit]

If anyone is watching, I'm hoping to restart this project after Christmas. Seats have gone away for refurb & I've nearly finished sorting out the wiring which previous owners have modified & for which obviously I have no info.

[looloosud1984]

I have original dealer wiring diagrams but will have to check for sprint variant but Tbh I don’t remember the sprint loom being too different from TI’s

[looloosud1984]

These may help

[Alfaoldgit]

Thanks for that. I haven't identified relay 28 yet. Doesn't help that the relay cases are corroded, so the only thing to do is pop the back off the fuse box & find it by wire colours. There are two "bonus" relays, one installed at import for the rear fog lamps, the other a lash up by someone, function unclear as the switching supply is off another relay in the fusebox. No extra switch on the dash for driving lights etc. They earthed it on the washer pump with 2mm red cable!

[alfadave]

You have a choice.
Keep original and suffer ongoing and repeat problems.

Or change to a new blade type fusebox and relays.

The choice is yours!

[Alfaoldgit]

I'm keeping the original fuse box, but replacing all the terminals & polishing the pesky fuseholders with a fibreglass pencil. Don't want to ruin the ownership experience by putting a reliable modern fusebox in!

[Alfaoldgit]

Hello folks,
Moving forwards now various legal disputes have been resolved. Two connectors to replace on the wiring, then the body cable assembly is done. I have installed a couple of inline fuses on the two red cables from the battery as they are unprotected all the way to the stalk switches & onward to the fuse box. The headlight power is now relay controlled from the stalk switches, not direct from the switches. All the relays are on previously unused slots on the fusebox. New relays with black plastic covers throughout, but I could replace the covers with replated metal covers salvaged from old relays for the genuine old time look..........
Pics to follow.

In the meantime, the very first part of the engine rebuild - installation of the oil fill pipe in the rear cover. Used the oven while domestic management was out. 200C and a few light taps with a hammer. Oil px switch adapter fitted too. Hate RTV, used thread tape to seal it. Pictures rotated for some reason

[Alfaoldgit]

Pics of engine as received from AMS for those interested in such things

[Gary Orchard]

Looks nice
Make sure that the head location dowels go back into the block before the heads go back on

[Alfaoldgit]

The dowels are in a plastic bag next to the engine. Annoyingly I discovered this today after pulling the hoses off

[Alfaoldgit]

My usual parts sources are nil stock. I located a new one in Spain. Alfaclassic.es , they have many obsolete parts.

[alfadave]

Good job you replaced the coolant casting.
Tell alfaclassic how to spell Alfa!

[Alfaoldgit]

Not the same company Dave! Alfaclassic.es know how to spell Alfa. Ex main dealer from 1980 with inventory of 22,000 parts!

[alfadave]

Select English and look at Alfa 33 !

[Alfaoldgit]

didnt look at 33 listing. 75 is wrong too

[Alfaoldgit]

Engine progressing. Timing is spot on, belts tensioned. Couldn't find my valve adjustment tool (well I last used it 41 years ago & moved house since) so I bought a mini set of keys from Halfords for a fiver and "modified" the 5mm one. In the meantime here's yet another picture turned on its side

[Alfaoldgit]

If I can get the engine built for reinstalling, my car will be on a trade stand at Goodwood Revival so I've been incentivised to get a move on.

[Alfaoldgit]

Progress. I sourced some Romabloc clips from Germany, the larger sizes I couldn't find anywhere so the old ones are being recycled.

[justsuds]

Romabloc clips ? - are they the hose clips ?
Cheers, John.

[Alfaoldgit]

Hi John
Yes, the original hose clips. I didnt want to use Jubilee clips or T bolt. Romabloc clips are hard to find (go on, tell me you've got hundreds of them). There's an Italian guy on eBay selling a limited selection at stupid prices. I tracked down a guy in Germany who has most sizes up to 30mm & sends them with 48 hour delivery. The clips are no longer manufactured so once they are gone that's it. Same used on similar era Ferraris, I didn't search any Ferrari parts suppliers for obvious reasons. The engine is awaiting the return of the replated clips for the rad hoses, then it's going to the bodyshop for installation.

[Alfaoldgit]

Engine & gearbox awaiting installation, after wiring has been installed.

[justsuds]

Engine and 'box look great Chris, your attention to detail is great, as ever, - I like all the replated steel parts. Unfortunately I don't have any new Romabloc clips, but I do keep all the used ones, I'll get the best ones replated.
Cheers, John.

[Alfaoldgit]

Thanks John, I'm trying my best to make the Sprint worthy of the money spent on it. I'm waiting on two clips from another supplier in Germany. On ebay as Del Priore, ridiculous prices, glad I only ordered two. The other supplier was Jens Putzier, but you have to email for a quote as UK not listed as a delivery country on his website.