1.  You have a problem.

2.   Fix the problem rather than come up with a variety of ways to work around it 

I'd begin by cleaning out the tank.  I suspect you have a buildup of crud in the tank, and the fuel cleaner has probably made it worse by dislodging years of buildup.   Or there may be a bit of plastic or something loose inside the tank that only blockes the pickup with low fuel.  BTW, the metho trick will only remove so much water.  Above a certain concentration the alcohol won't mix with any more water so you will still get free water in the tank.

I suspect the real issue is a tired fuel pump.  The fuel pipe in the tank is actually a standpipe and the pump has to draw fuel up the pipe.  With a fuller tank it's easy, but with a low tank the pump may be struggling.  Check it out now so you don't end up stranded (with a full tank  )

I think you'll have to cut it out and have it rewelded (the mount that is).

I normally use Castrol antiboil/antifreeze at 50%.  Don't go any stronger than this as it can actually induce corrosion.

I ran one 4 cyl on Alfloc 2000 for about 4 nyears with no probs, but this is only an anti corrosion fluid, not an anti boil.

Glycol antifreezes actually reduce the heat transfer-ability of your cooling system, compared to 100% water (ie:  the engine runs hotter).  However this is countered by the fact that they raise the boiling point by a bit more.

You can now buy water based anti-corrosion fluids which should keep things a couple of degrees cooler, raise the boil point, and reduce corrosion !!  I'd look into these for competition work.

There is a red '78 GTV for sale @ $900 on the Trading Post website.  Car is in SA.

I've also received these:

http://www.digest.net/alfa/FAQ/164/forum2/DCForumID2/4758.html
http://www.digest.net/alfa/FAQ/164/forum2/DCForumID2/4634.html

 and:

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/164-168-1991-1995/31913-alfa-164-automatic-transmission-repair-16-01-a.html

Thanks Doug,

I'll give it a go.

The tranny in my relatively new (to me) 164 seems to change just a tad too smoothly and I suspect it may be a warning that it's not the best.  The car has 177thousandish KMs and seems to have been well serviced its whole life.  The tranny also seems to be a little slow getting drive when transiting from reverse into forward gears.

The 'problems' are very subtle and I have no other 164 experience against which to judge the transmission operation, so maybe they are all like this ?

Otherwise, it changes well under hard acceleration and changes down nicely when slowing.

Any comments or recommendations gladly accepted.  What's a good fluid to service the transmission with ?

Thanks,

A TS can be a wonderful car.  Certainly one of Alfas best engines.

Drivetrain and mechanicals are more expensive than Aussie stuff, but a good car shouldn't cause too many problems.  You need to be fully conversant with standard Alfetta/75 driveline issues though (rubber donuts etc)

My biggest problem with this series of Alfa is the crappy electrics/switchgear.  Find a car with all the switches in good condition, and no funny business from the ARC computer, and you will have a great car.

The TS also provides pretty good fuel economy.

It's quite surprising the number of differences in allowances between GpSc sportscars and GpNc touring cars.

OK, what about interior and trim.  I've looked at the CAMS manual but its not speciific.  I assume a GpS car requires:

-Headlining,

-Rear and passenger seating

-Console if originally fitted

-Operating gauges  ?

What about door rubbers, kick panels, exterior trim (eg: window surrounds on a 116) ?

While all the correspondence to date relates to Alfettas I'm wondering what the go is if one chooses a 105 coupe for GpS ?

My main query is do you need to stick rigidly to the chassis/engine/interior combo applicable to the specific year model ?  For example, could you run a Giulia Sprint or a Jnr with a 2L engine and say 1750 dash/interior ?

Chassis code yes....body code no.

According to David Wright-Alfa Romeo Down Under PtII - the body codes (for Oz) are:
77-81    116.37   2000GTV
81-83    116.60   GTV 2.0 (Nuova)
83-on    113.18   GTV 2.0 ED (Nuova)

The 1.8GT is chassis code 116.11 and has the same body designation.  This may be a misprint though as one would think the 'cassis' are identical, and the chassis code appears to be missing a digit..

Sounds pretty normal to me !!!  VicRoads staff often aren't aware of their own regulations.  I've had to sit at their computer around the 'wrong' side of the counter to show them the info off their own website !

Jason,

Ring me.

Beatle
'66 Siuper
SALE, Vic
0408 858 953 mob
03-5143 21544 home

Rob, is it still availableb ?  I'd appreciate any pics you have and a ballpark price you think is fair.

You can respond off line to dabaylys@bigpond.net.au