The Alfa won...

[kennypinkerton]

I was debating very seriously the past few days (since my wife's car died) on:
1) buying a car for her (1994 miata was tops on the list).
2) buying a car for me (same miata topped the list)
3) fixing the MGB (with as little money as possible to get her on the road again)
4) pumping some money into the Alfa Spider and getting it back into a somewhat sane condition (including new uphostery, carpet, and maybe paint - after I get it running right again).

The Alfa won. Right now I'm examining some more of the parts I need, Called the local upholstery shop, and basically for the cost of the 94 miata, I can have my Alfa back in close to excellent shape. That won. My wife can drive the Eagle Talon. I need to spend a couple hundred on new headlight assemblies for it though, but it runs great.

On to getting the Alfa running now! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[DrEntropy]

Not a bad decision. May be some learnin' involved, but it'll be "money in the bank" later. Once it's right, it'll last as long as you want to own it... or 'til the rust maggots find it.

 

[kennypinkerton]

I've got a bit-o-rust in the dog-legs... gonna order new ones to replace the panels. Poked a screwdriver through a small spot, and sand came out. Car was originally in pheonix AZ... makes sense. Interior dry-rotted, and sand in the fenders. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif I already have a new top, seats will be re-done in dark blue naughide for $275 each. There are no blue dash-pads available, so a black one is $350. Carpet is amazingly expensive a $500. Paint is out my normal door of spending budgets, but at $2k should be nice. I'm still trying to find the guy that sells a complete set of silicone vacuum hoses for the L-jet intake, for $200. and Palo Alto ain't cheap for a tachometer rebuild.

 

[coldplugs]

Kenny, you know the Mazda would have been the rational choice. But I'd go with the Alfa, too.

 

[R6MGS]

just outta curiosity; what happened to the yota?

 

[kennypinkerton]

It runs, but I've got to change the o-rings and other gaskets on the fuel injectors... been leaking fuel overnight (or anytime it sits) since I redid the headgaskets

 

[hottvr]

Hey Kenny,
Do you need headlight assemblies for the Talon or Alfa? I have 2 for an Alfa.
Rick

 

[kennypinkerton]

No, I need ones for the Talon... hateful plastic things that turn yellow and glaze over in sunlight.

 

[Banjo]

Have you tried one of those headlight restoration kits from your FLAPS?

 

[kennypinkerton]

Well... I have the distinct problem of 2 cracked light asseblies... one is way worse than the other, but both of them are broken (aside from being yellow). One has a spread-open split across the front of the lense... and actually has green stuff growing in it.

 

[Deleted member 3577]

[ QUOTE ]
Kenny, you know the Mazda would have been the rational choice. But I'd go with the Alfa, too.

[/ QUOTE ]
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
You da man Kenny....Ricehous choice. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[kennypinkerton]

I duno... the Mazda's still eatin at me, and I may own it yet.

 

[R6MGS]

Those mazda's are nice, cheap, reliable, and fun....If I had the space I'd have one in my fleet. I am not sure how much the Mazda is....but if you sold the Talon and LTD you could probably buy the Mazda and fix the Alfa /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif