Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Australia Forum

Technical => 160 Series (90, 75, 164 Sedans) => Topic started by: alfagtv58 on June 18, 2007, 07:26:14 PM

Title: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: alfagtv58 on June 18, 2007, 07:26:14 PM
Who hoooo ;D Got my 75 rego'd today, now lets see what its like to live with :-\

It'll be a bit of a work in progress, its not perfect (not even close!) i need to have a look at the power steering....at speed its ok but parking it is pretty heavy, but so far its fun to drive.
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Simon Bidese on June 18, 2007, 07:46:00 PM
any photo's Phil?
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: alfagtv58 on June 19, 2007, 08:38:54 AM
Quote from: Simon Bidese on June 18, 2007, 07:46:00 PM
any photo's Phil?

Not just yet, but i will take some this weekend and post 'em.
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Scott Farquharson on June 20, 2007, 04:55:56 PM
The 3.53 diff is a killer around town - It is hard to get out of second gear (100+kmh in 2nd).  And the a/c is diabolical in summer.  But the sound of the 3.0 litre makes it all worth while...
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: alfagtv58 on June 20, 2007, 05:46:06 PM
The heater is proving not to be too flash either....must look into that (and soon!).

But that noise....its infatuating, its worth buzzing around in 2nd gear just to hear that V6 work.
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Sheldon McIntosh on June 20, 2007, 05:51:37 PM
3.53!  pfft!!   That's a wuss'  ratio.  My Dad's mustang had no problem hauling round a 2.8!! 

Weird that the heater's not so good, the heater on my 90(s) just about melts your face off.  It's great for demisting, but if you put it on the cabin vents you can literally only take about 5 seconds.  Surely the 75 one is the same?
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Scott Farquharson on June 20, 2007, 11:34:52 PM
2.8 and the 2 speed auto...magic
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Sheldon McIntosh on June 21, 2007, 07:19:46 AM
No, this one was "fully optioned". :D   Four barrel carb, C4 3-speed auto and "power" brakes.  That'd be power drums all round.......They were actually very powerful brakes, as long as you only needed them only once every five minutes.

Yep, like Marilyn Monroe, she was built for comfort, not speed.
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Scott Farquharson on July 13, 2007, 03:20:23 PM
Yep, drums like empty nugget shoe polish tins...fantastic...what was the name of the holden 2 speed auto - "powerglide" or something like that....
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Sheldon McIntosh on July 13, 2007, 05:15:10 PM
No really, these brakes were incredibly powerful.  And since the car had only lapbelts, I nearly put more than one person through the windscreen in an emergency stop.  Far more bite than any disc brake, but you wouldn't want to use them around Phillip Island.

It was funny when my dad put an aftermarket sump on the car and drilled the plug just in case he ever wanted to put it on the track.  Next time it got warrant-of-fitnessed (like a RWC here but every six months in NZ) the mechanic said "drilled plug, you're not gonna take this on the track are ya?)

She was a beauty though.  Pearlescent white, powered convertible top, everything original.   My dad sold it to pay off a tax bill, and the next owner won the Peoples Choice award at the Mustang Nationals the next year having done nothing to the car.

I always thought 3 gears were adequate in my HQ!  And that was only a 186.  I once drove from Wellington to Auckland and back (about 1300km on mostly twisty roads) and only got passed by one car.  Hq's are quite wide though.
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Fast Eddie on July 13, 2007, 09:35:12 PM
I'm thinking of a 2.5 75 to bide my time when bac in Perth until i find, afford my mid 70's Spider 2000 road car.

Then i'll buy my Sprint back from Brad when he changes up to a 105 Group S car.
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Sheldon McIntosh on July 13, 2007, 10:56:09 PM
Why would you want a 75 2.5 when you could get a 90 for probably 1/3 of the price?

(Don't mention the looks)  What else?

I don't think 75's have electric seats?  Or very soft (fantastic for road use) suspension. 

Huh?

Huh?

Wanna fight about it?
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Fast Eddie on July 14, 2007, 08:44:41 AM
Cos.....
well, you said it.. dont mention looks so i wont  ;D
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Scott Farquharson on July 15, 2007, 07:40:07 PM
I'm with Sheldon, 75's are cramped inside, have the crappiest interiors known to mankind - get a 90, and you get a free briefcase too...
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: alfagtv58 on July 16, 2007, 10:23:25 AM
The first time i had to really rely on the 75, it let me down >:(

I went to Oran Park last week and took the boring but reliable 4WD to tow up the Group S car and left the 75 with my wife, she went to take it to work and it wouldnt start for her, flooded it, foulded up the plugs and drained the battery.....I'm a bad bad husband.

Probably not helped by it currently running soooo rich, getting an astounding 20L per 100km at the moment :o  Time to send it in for a tune me thinks!!
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Robert. Dale on August 01, 2007, 11:32:29 PM
While you have all been talkin about 75 Dailly Drivers.

Mine has just come back from it's third Six Hour Relay (with 2 Drivers). I drove it to work on Friday before taking it home to load on Phills Trailer. (Thanks again Phill) The Car was used by Alan and Myself and was on the track for 2Hrs 24 Minutes

After we got back on monday night we changed the Wheels and tyres, front Brake Pads and removed the Brake Ducts so that I could drive it to work yesterday.

This year with the Modified Brakes we only used one set of front and rear Pads and didn't have any Brake problems during the Race. We feel that now the Front Brakes are struggling and we might change the Calipers to Volve four spots.

Not  bad effort for a nineteen year old Car that has done 244000Klms all that has been done to the motor is a Std Head Re-build by Vin and new rings and bearings with the motor in the Car by some dodgy mechanic. (Me)

It amazes me that some people think that Alfas are unreliable.

Not a bad effort for a dailly driver
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Fast Eddie on August 02, 2007, 09:46:53 AM
You and the car did very well indeed Dale.

Nice reminder that you dont have to always spend big bucks to make a decent competition car that is also a daily driver.
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: alfagtv58 on August 02, 2007, 11:42:30 AM
A great effort indeed Rob, it may be a 19 year old car but it's the preperation that counts.....which you guys do very well.
Volvo calipers is probably a good idea given the 75's reputation for a spongy pedal.

BTW, my fuel consumption, fouling plugs issue has been solved....after some good advise/information from the Bidese boys I checked for air leaks around the spaghetti like rubber hoses for the fuel injection....not exactly sure what I tightened or put back into place, but all of a sudden I am achieving a more respectable 12.5 Litres/100km and not fouling plugs, the car is running great and starting OK.  I think somehow the air flow meter was getting the wrong signal and dumping in waaaay too much fuel.
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: scott.venables on August 04, 2007, 12:40:14 AM
That's better economy than I average in my 2.5!  Could it have been your 75 I saw in Wattletree road a couple of Fridays ago? It was red with (I think) 5 spoke wheels. 

Did you get my PM?
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Sheldon McIntosh on August 04, 2007, 02:14:03 PM
Yeah that's not too bad Rob, fairly impressive effort.  If you'd actually driven the car to Adelaide and back as well, now that would be really impressive!
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Victor Lee on August 04, 2007, 05:16:50 PM
As far as I can remember, only three people have driven their cars to Mallala, competed in the Six Hour and driven home again: this year John Floyd in the Guiletta, and in 2005 Graeme Peake in his GTV6  and Damien Crea in his 105.  All pretty gutsy moves!

Cheers

Victor
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Ray Pignataro on August 04, 2007, 06:51:44 PM
Victor those teams finished 3rd 2nd then 1st. clearly we need to drive our cars over there to win.mmmmm worth thinking about or not.
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Victor Lee on August 04, 2007, 11:38:19 PM
Haw haw haw!  I would like to see that!  Ray, Sue (and Ben) in a ROAD REGISTERED black Sud to Adelaide!

I get deaf just driving the yello car to Winton!  (that's from the lack of internal sound insulation, not the muffler or engine for those law enforcement types reading this!).  So our's, Kevin's and Tony's car are road registered; so Ray ... over to you .... it's your idea!   ;D   Actually, the more I think about it, I rather not!  I value my hearing and not getting a numb bum when I arrive!

Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Ray Pignataro on August 05, 2007, 09:08:30 AM
Yeah your right Victor. I like you, value my hearing to much, so when my wife says, Are you listening to me?  or are you deaf? I have no whereto go.mmmm alittle hearing loss cant be all bad
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Robert. Dale on August 06, 2007, 09:09:32 PM
Sorry Sheldon,
                      Alan an I did consider driving the 75 over to Adelaide but we decided to tow it for two reasons.
Firstly, we couldn't fit all our tools, spare parts and some ten wheels & tyres into the 75 with the two of us and secondly as John Floyd was driving his car we decided that towing was a better option in case either Car broke down.

As my Daughter owns a dedicated Gas Falcon Ute and Phill kindly offered us the use of his Trailer we decided that towing was the way to go and it probably worked out the cheaper option.

We did however drive the Car last years Winton 6 Hr.

Rob Dale
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Sheldon McIntosh on August 06, 2007, 09:19:10 PM
Yep, pretty gutsy effort driving the racecar there I reckon.  Hope you're taking the trailer next year then, as my car may need a lift home!
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Robert. Dale on August 08, 2007, 01:26:20 AM
Hey Sheldon.
                   While we are speaking about 75 Daily Drivers I can't wait until Alan hits the track with the new Mega 75.

Alan has purchased a 3 Ltr 75 without a motor and has had Benincas fit the drive train from his 24 Valve Racecar complete with similar suspension to my 75 but with bigger brakes.

The Car is road registered and according to Alan is scary fast to drive on the road.

For its track debut I feel that we must arrange a four door shootout with Alan, Robin Doherty in the 90 and Jim Neilson in the famed Custard Tart.

We could almost charge admission to see that run.

Rob Dale
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Sheldon McIntosh on August 08, 2007, 06:48:28 AM
Everyone knows four-doors go faster.
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: a sharp on August 08, 2007, 05:12:58 PM
Folks plaese remember 2 doors race car, 4 doors taxi!
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: alfagtv58 on November 26, 2007, 10:08:01 AM
I am going to try and get this thread back on topic!!

I have still been getting bad fuel economy combined with fouling plugs and running rough.  But the problem is it has been intermittent.  My suspicion was air flow meter, so I popped in to see Hugh at Monza on Saturday and he was good enough to lend me a spare air flow meter to throw on when the car started to run bad again.

I went to Phillip Island yesterday to watch the Sports Car race and it started running rough as I got to about San Remo.  I parked it at Turn 1 and left it for a while, when I went back to start it she didn't want to go and being so far from home and without tools to change plugs I didn't want to risk it so I threw on the spare air flow meter and she fired up straight away.

When I had a look at the old one, the 'flap' seemed to be difficult to get off its shut position....I am wondering if the servo that operates it didn't have enough grunt to get the flap started and this is why it was using too much fuel and fouling plugs etc???  Dunno, time will tell.
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Sheldon McIntosh on November 26, 2007, 04:51:33 PM
Interesting you bring this up.  After my 'issues' with non-starting last week, Ironsides started up just fine on Saturday, and got us around to do the weekend chores all afternoon.  I parked her for an hour and then was heading out again.  Got 100m up the road and she stopped.  She would occasionally fire again, and then just stop.  I spent hours looking through the AlfaBB looking for ideas, (one of then was contamination in the AFM), then I came across a link to this great site

http://www.hiperformancestore.com/Ljetronic.htm (http://www.hiperformancestore.com/Ljetronic.htm)

This is basically a diagnostic/tune-up page for the injection system.  He described my symptoms perfectly, and suggests that 90% of the time it is due to either air leaks or grounding problems.  Check it out, it's quite interesting, and most of the stuff looks pretty easy to check.  Don't tell anyone though, cos' he reckons you can possibly gain 5 horsepower if you go right through the checks!
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: alfagtv58 on November 26, 2007, 05:03:32 PM
Thats the same site where I found the blurb from the double de-clutch thread!!  Many thanks to Simon Bidese for giving me the link in the first place.

I have printed it out and it's on the to-do list.
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: mutters on March 17, 2008, 12:51:59 PM
Quote from: Sheldon Mcintosh on November 26, 2007, 04:51:33 PM
Interesting you bring this up.  After my 'issues' with non-starting last week, Ironsides started up just fine on Saturday, and got us around to do the weekend chores all afternoon.  I parked her for an hour and then was heading out again.  Got 100m up the road and she stopped.  She would occasionally fire again, and then just stop. 

Sheldon

Hope you found the problem, but if not, my experience with the same symptoms may help.
After at least 4 sporadic cut outs in a week (2.5 75 ), and desperate juggling of under bonnet leads, I finally found the time to investigate the problem.
It turned out to be the connecter that runs from the distributor to the ECU. The spade connecters must lose their grip over the years. After a bit of tweaking the problem has gone.

Hope this helps.

mutters
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: Sheldon McIntosh on March 19, 2008, 07:38:58 PM
Thanks for that, one more thing to try, I appreciate it.  I've given up driving her in hot weather.  So haven't been anywhere for a week obviously.
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: John Toomath on March 19, 2008, 11:10:38 PM
Sheldon,

I'd also suggest you check this connection. It stranded my 2.5 75 at 5am within a few k's of home going to the Winton driver training >:( . The RACV guy stumbled across it poking around a couple of days later.  Luckily I was able to take the 24V GTV instead.  Oh the hardship ! and the squealing, melting Pirellis.  Looking forward to RWD and R types on the 30th  ;D
Title: Re: 75 Daily Driver
Post by: mutters on July 12, 2008, 08:02:25 PM
There's another thread on this under Jetronic Relay.

I've posted there to see if his solution has worked and asked if he could keep us updated.

mutters