164 'Restoration'

[VeeSix]

Congratulations, you could do a lot worse than a 164 for a first car, both of them look generally good condition, always good to have a spare 164 handy, it's actually good you are starting so young, you will learn and have the skills, just always remember safety first when working on and around cars, especially if laying underneath to do work, if unsure, ask, great work so far, keep us updated 

[V AR 164]

Thanks guys,

The old oil actually wasn't that bad. I used Penrite 15W-40 mineral oil.

Yeah the other 164 is in decent nick, funny story, when we bought the car off the previous owner, the guy said 'just remember to put some led additive in the fuel when you fill it up every once in a while' Despite a HUGE sticker on the inside of the fuel filler door saying 'UNLEADED FUEL ONLY'
That makes sense!

Thanks, Andrew.

[stustustu123]

Good work & great pics. Love seeing people showing old 164s some love, they are getting rarer quite quick because they cost a bit to fix, but still don't fetch much when selling. They are a bit of an unloved car by many because of the front wheel drive and transverse engine but a nicely running 164 is just such a lovely car to drive, especially on the highway when you have a lot of kms to cover.

The torque steer on the older cars is certainly noticable when you plant it from the lights, but that is not really what the car is for anyway, it's more a high speed cruiser and feels super planted at (sadly) more-than-legal speeds.

Anyway, you are doing a great job & sounds like the 164 bug has bitten you too. Keep posting pics as often as you can, always love seeing what others are doing with their cars.

Oh yeah - get in and do that timing belt asap if it is 20 years old. On the 12v cars it's not as hard as it sounds - first time around you might want to take it slow and clean/reco everything you find whilst in there, so it may take a couple of days to do belt, tensioner, water pump. For peace of mind though get in and do it before something lets go.  While you are doing this be sure to check fuel hoses - the ones on the top of the engine are easy but there are two short ones down the back that get forgotten about and if they go will spray fuel all down the back of the engine (not good!). Do a search for the timing belt cam timing template on AlfaBB to help you keep the cam pulleys in the right position when you take the timing belt off - you'll want to pull the cam covers off first time you do a belt change to check pulley timing marks are correct.

[V AR 164]

Thanks for the kind words stustu,

Regarding the timing belt, I am getting our friend who is the mechanic to do it for me, as he has worked on alfas before. I'm not confident enough, I fear if I replace the belt and one of the cams is not perfectly alligned.... Crunch....

Thanks, Andrew.

P.S: the 164 bug has certainly bitten me, may be going to see another 164 to buy later today!

[Joe Garra]

Get a Q if you can :-)  had mine since I saw it in the showroom at Alfa Melbourne in 1992!! It was on NSW plates (an Alfa demo)

[V AR 164]

Actually the one I am looking at is a q! I particularly like this one because the q skirts have been removed and the standard ones fitted (sorry but I hate the q skirts). It's a 91 model with some paint fading on the roof but apparently it is straight and never been resprayed.

Wow, I wish I can find a completly original one in perfect condition with one owner (like yours) 😃

Thanks, Andrew

[Joe Garra]

It may not be an official Q, it may be a private manual import from Hong Kong with a spoiler attached :-)  There were only 40 odd official Australian delivered Qs. Not sure how many are left, my guess would be less than 20. 

[Evan Bottcher]

Great work! Keep the reports coming in...

I still miss our 164, that v6 was so deliciously smooth and torquey and a very comfortable car. We did some good long trips in that car and always got out fresh at the other end. I didn't even mind the auto.

[V AR 164]

I believe it is a genuine one. It has the stiching on the dashboard and has the colour coded mirrors. It also has a cloverleaf on the rear bootlid and on the side fenders with a spoiler attached. Also on the dash it has the controls for the 'comfort' and 'sport' suspension settings.
Anyway it is in nice condition so I'm not really fussed.

Also I believe there were only 4 black Q's sold in Australia?

I agree Evan, on the way back from Sydney, despite being in a sauna, it just ate up the kilometres! And only really used 1 and a bit tanks of fuel so pretty economical for a v6.

Thanks, Andrew.

[Joe Garra]

I was told 13 black Qs by David Wright

[stustustu123]

P.S: the 164 bug has certainly bitten me, may be going to see another 164 to buy later today!

Haha, good work. You can never have enough 164s IMHO (despite what my wife claims).

[V AR 164]

Hahaha!
I'm going to see it tonight! Can't wait 😃

[V AR 164]

Hey Joe,

Just discovered something, my dad recognised your car in your profile picture. Turns out he used to pick up specimens at your practice in old princess highway in Werribee and always admired your car!

Small world haha.

Thanks, Andrew.

[310]

I was told 13 black Qs by David writ
well looks like me and Joe must have the last Two black 164q

[310]

hey Stu
did you get your 164 back and how is the progress?