Common Sense and Wisdom or just too **** Old?

[glemon]

So I went to look at a big Healey project with a friend last weekend, the rust repair had been done and many parts purchased. The price was not a steal, but certainly realistic for what was being offered. I was admittedly not really in the market, just with a friend, but even so, I kind of surprised myself by how disinterested I was.

When I have looked at cars like this in the past the wheels inevitably started turning in my head, how much would it cost to restore, what parts would I need, how long would it take, me. You know, that car lust that tries to take over and makes you do things that probably don't make a lot of sense from an economic or marital standpoint.

But this time I just looked at the panels and disassembled parts and thought, "wow, that looks like a lot of work, great car for some young guy who has always wanted a Healey, and has more time than money." Funny thing is that young guy was always me, until last weekend anyway......An optimist would say this is a sign of maturity and wisdom, a pessimist "man I must be getting old".

 

[kennypinkerton]

I got talked out of getting a bug eye project once by the words "that's gonna be $10,000 to restore, by an old guy I respect. I still want a bug eye and it'll probably cost way more than that to fix up now, but... that wasn't the one.

 

[DrEntropy]

Got a call just this AM from a life-long friend. He called 'cause he wanted me to talk him OUT of a project car... '66 Sprite.

I just reminded him of the time we, as a couple of 20-somethings, used a piece of angle-iron and a chain to pull the 1275 out of another pal's Midget and put it in the pal's living room for rebuild...

...and to re-enforce it, reminded him of the radiator-n-waterpump replacement he did in a Moke he sold just a few years ago.

I was successful in my appointed task. :thumbsup:

 

[pdplot]

Just got an email from my son in Florida. He's buying a------1992 Alfa Spider for $5K. He's not really a car guy but he did have a Fiat Spider (that the front suspension tore out of when a brake locked) and a Porsche 944 in Denver. I advised him to go online and read everything he can on these cars. Truth to tell, I almost bought one here myself last Spring for the same price but I chickened out. Anyone here have or had one?

 

[JPSmit]

Probably a little of all of the above - I find myself increasingly looking at "projects" and even well priced "done" cars and remember that I already have too much "stuff" in my life.

I recall a friend of my fathers who retired, bought a beautiful house with a gorgeous shop and installed a hoist and even put his Model A truck on the hoist and bought easily a dozen other cars - no two of which were the same (that part is important) and there everything ground to a halt. My dad had been dead for almost 15 years and if I go to the friend's house that Model A will still be on the hoist - with no focus and no plan, he just bought what was close and cheap and it turned out retirement plan was not restoring old cars but having a junkyard.

 

[DrEntropy]

...Anyone here have or had one?

Had (and have) Alfas since the mid-seventies. The GT coupes are favorites. A '69 GTV 1750 is my favorite `old' Alfa. Just "decommisioned" the current Spider, it will be the donor for another one tucked away at another location.

The ones we've owned with SPICA mechanical injection have all been retrofitted with Weber 40 DCOE's. I've not owned one newer than the '79 so can't personally eval them but have wrenched on a BUNCH and they seem to be fairly reliable. The older ones have been reliable as housebricks. Never had to bring one home on a hook. But YMMV.

The biggest issue with them has been rust. They were lousy at rustproofing the units. The engines seem to outlast the chassis ten-to-one!

 

[pdplot]

Thanks Doc. The one he's looking at has Bosch F.I. The SPICAs were supposed to be tricky. I did a little work on Giuliettas back in the late 1950's when two good friends were racing them. We swapped a standard rear end from a third car into a Veloce to give it more short track acceleration. Worked too. He won some races.

 

[DrEntropy]

Is your son anywhere near Tampa?

Those late '50's Alfas would have had DCO-3's on 'em. One of my pals rebuilds them for the concours crowd.

The EFI setup is reliable compared to the SPICA. I've several dead SPICA pumps lyin' around here. They make good doorstops. :smirk:

 

[pdplot]

He is in Boca Raton. He returned to the US after 10 years in China and Thailand.

 

[DrEntropy]

If he gets the car, he's got a resource down in Miami if needed. Two generation Alfisti, former dealership family.

Spent some time in Thailand, liked the people, the food and the climate.

 

[pdplot]

By chance, do you have a name I can give him? I think he's going ahead with the purchase now that Matthew has passed safely by.

 

[kennypinkerton]

Do get a picture or two. Alfas are all pretty. Even my rust bucket that's been sitting for nearly a decade. A 92 should have Bosch Motronic injection. It's a little bit better than the L-jetronic that mine has. The body is basically all one piece.. fenders don't bolt on off etc. Keep an eye out for any sign of rust, and attack it head on if you find any.

 

[DrEntropy]

By chance, do you have a name I can give him? I think he's going ahead with the purchase now that Matthew has passed safely by.

He's far enough south to make the drive down to the North Miami area, the best guys in south Florida are Auto Veloce: Phone, (305) 891-9556 · Address. 1472 NE 130th St; Miami, Florida 33161.

 

[pdplot]

Thanks. I'll pass along the word. If you want to see a picture, send me a PM with your email address and I'll pass it on to him. He bought the car. Needs new seat cushions and replacing the alcantara upholstery.