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alpha romeo spider veloce

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philman

philman

Jedi Knight
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i just picked up a spider veloce for my brother. in pieces. is there a forum for alphas that is as good as this one is for lbc's?
 
Unfortunately I don't know of any, but I have driven alfas for lo these many years (1966!) so I can point you in some directions that can help.
What year is it, and does it have inezione (that is FI for the non-pastafarians) or carbs? Why it is disassembled
would be of interest too.

Cheers!
Dave G.
 
it's a '79 with inezione (california emissions). the previous owner took the interior out to refresh but had a series of health problems (he's better now) and gave up sold his gtv-6 also. I think that all the pieces are there. somebody offered him $400 for the wheels for some reason.

right now it turns over but won't start and not many of the auxillaries work. some times the wipers, blower motor, hazard or turn signals lamps work but no dash lamps or indicators and i can't figure out how to turn on the headlamps. when i wiggle the fuses in the fuse block things seem to happen so i am going to clean the fuse contacts tomorrow.

i guess what i really need is a wiring diagram, but i seem to be having a hard time finding a shop manual for that generation spider. it sure is a nice looking car though. not british, but clean lines.
 
I used to know of one...if you google "alfa romeo spyder" you'll find it - if Kenny comes up, he knows it
 
I think it's time you call the Doctor..........Dr. E that is!
 
OK, you are in fairly good shape (maybe) the headlights turn on by rotating the stalk on the left hand side of the wheel. rotate it one 'notch' for parking lights two for headlights, pull it back to dip, it rotates towards the front of the car IIRC.
Centerline Alfa is very hip to these cars and I have had good luck with them over the years, fairly reasonably priced parts too.
Somewhere I have an '80 spider wiring diagram but a meaningful scan will be too big to post here so if you have an address to send it, let me know and I will try to ferret it out tomorrow.
When you turn on the ignition you should hear a whirring from the fuel pump, it should buzz for a few seconds, then sound like it has taken up a load, if this happens then you have fuel pressure!(and this system takes a LOT, like the BMW Tii Kugelfisher) If so, floor it, and spin the engine briefly, then return to the idle position and crank - it should sputter pop or something. If it just spins look to the spark. You MIGHT have Marelli pointless ign, but might be Bosch.
Once you get these cars right they are (contrary to CW) pretty bullet proof (as Italian cars go);-).

Cheers!
Dave G.
 
https://www.alfabb.com/
https://spiderfaq.home.att.net/
https://www.conservatory.com/vw/manuals_nyx/L-Jetronic.html
https://www.international-auto.com/index.cfm/sc/8190
https://www.centerlinealfa.com/home.html
https://www.vickauto.com/
https://www.jims-spider-page.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=3
https://www.reoriginals.com/
https://www.worlduph.com/primo.htm
https://www.74spider.com/links/index.php

Those are all the sites in my favorites lists pertaining to Alfa Romeos. I frequent the AlfaBB.com one - it has several forums, and many people who are very knowledgable about Alfas. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Show some pictures! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Also, there's a guy on Alfabb.com that does very nice color coded wiring diagrams in pdf form. Papajam is his screenname.
 
See, told ya Kenny would know!
 
I think the 81 has the Spica injection (and an odd version of it that was only made in 80 and 81) - there's alot more to it than just injectors.

1k is a pretty good price though if the body is in good knick.
 
KP is right, I have never seen the injectors fail on a Spica equipped Alfa, but I have seen the pump fail. If you can get away with putting carbs on it (state laws) then 1K for a solid car is pretty good.

Cheers!
Dave G.
 
[ QUOTE ]
1k is a pretty good price though if the body is in good knick.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, its grand theft auto!
 
Funny, Tony!

SPICA pump is what it had when it was built. Only problem with that is the pistons have a VERY close tolerance and can (over time) wear the bore to the point where the steel lines will heat-sink and vapour lock. My '78 has been "fixed" with a 1750cc and Weber's to feed it. No more Inezione here. You might try a 17mm wrench on the fuel lines at the injectors, crack 'em all loose and spin the thing (keeping in mind there's a distributor there!!!) and see if you've got fuel pressure at the injectors. The intermittant electrics are VERY likely the fuse contacts. Very common. ScotchBrite pad and some fussing to clean the fuseblock should straighten that out. New fuses help too. The lads at Centerline are the BEST crew you could find for the parts, IMO. Been doing business with them for decades. I too have been Alfisti for a looong time, BTW.

Hope some of this helps... and stick around here; just 'cause it's primarily an LBC outfit don't mean we're unaware of Alfa's ins-and-outs. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

The "buttons" in the top right corner will run you thru the pages:

some Alfa engine photos.
 
i got most of the electrics to work by cleaning the fuse panel. still won't start and no tail/instrument lamps. it uses dual point ignition, but I don't have the tool to remove the distributor weights to get at the points.
 
Check the connections on the back of the fuse box too... they plug in with spade type connectors, and can be loose or corroded too.
 
Does the electric fuel pump run when you turn on the key? Also your car may have 2 pumps one in the tank, and a Bosch or Spica just forward of the tank. If the pump is working it will make quite a bit of noise.

Cheers!
Dave G.
 
The elctric fuel pump on mine only runs when the motor is turning over (from the starter - or while running)... But mine is a stock bosch L-jetronic FI system. If his is a true 1981 setup (and not a late 1981/82 bosch FI), then it is a SPICA - very similar to a deisel mechanical fuel pump/injection system. That year (80-81) had that model (based on the 2 years before injection system), but it had one large throttle body (one butterfly valve) instead of 4 butterfly valves like the previous incarnations of the Spica FI system. If it's a realy late built '81 (december or maybe a bit earlier), then it may have the Bosche L-Jetronic fuel injection (which makes it just exactly like mine). In which case, I've still provided good links to the cures for it's ills. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
I may be confused. I was responding about the '79, If it has not been changed it will be Spica of some sort. In the Spica cars the pump starts as soon as the ignition switch goes to the 'ON' position, there is a fuel pressure warning lite on the dash that will/should go out after about 1 or 2 seconds. Then you can crank the car and the mechanical Spica pump will deliver fuel to the injectors under quite a bit of pressure. I think a '79 is likely to have 3 pumps, two electric (one in the tank) and one mechanical driven by a toothed belt off the crank, it is on the lower right side of the block towards the front of the engine.

Cheers!
Dave G.
 
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