My Alfa Life : Lockdown
Frustration abounds with my #AlfaRomeo #916 #Spider
The last article I wrote about my Alfas was about the work that I intended to get done to my 916 Spider over the winter. This is an update on the progress and what the future appears to hold with the current lockdown.
The main update is that I still don't have my Spider back from the garage. The reasons for this are manyfold. The first is down to me not chasing too much. I moved house in January so getting the Spider back wasn't a priority as I needed to make sure that the garage was ready to accept it.
In typical Alfa fashion the problems started as I went to drop the car off I opened the passenger door and it wouldn't latch and lock when I shut it. I managed to jury rig holding the door shut with some straps and asked the garage to add fixing the lock mechanism to list of jobs.
The engine and clutch replacement went well but we had some issues getting the correct heater matrix. I did some research on the car, checked the part numbers, and ordered a heater matrix ready for the dash to be removed to replace it. Dropped it at the garage only to find, a few days later, that it was the wrong one. This is not unusual on that era Alfa Romeo. The factory fitted what they had in stock from a number of alternatives. So we had to wait for a new heater matrix ready to be fitted. Then the lockdown struck.
Luckily the garage is one of those businesses that is allowed to operate given that it does a lot of work for key workers. My Spider has therefore been able to have work done on it whilst they haven't had anything else in.
Wwork done by the garage
Last week I had a phone call, and a bill, from the garage. Everything being done at the garage has been completed. The replacement engine, new clutch and heater matrix, are fitted and the engine is running well. The only issue is that the MOT has expired and, as it was a late Feb rather than early March expiry, it doesn't qualify for the six month extension. As can be seen from the above image it does need a few things fixing in order to pass.
I've instructed the garage to change the rear pads and hopefully this will help with the handbrake performance. If not then they should be able to readjust it using the adjustment under the handbrake lever. In the meantime I decided to take advantage of the split flexi to order some braided stainless steel hoses to try and help improve the braking all around.
I know that, as mid-90's era car, the brakes are not going to compare with our other cars but any improvement has to be good.
There was also an advisory about the exhaust flexi-pipe blowing a little so I've ordered a replacement for that as well. With the new manifold and stainless steel system fitted the only original part will be the catalyst!
So there's the update on the Spider. Hopefully I'll get it back just as lockdown ends and will be able to take advantage of good weather over the summer. In the meantime I just have to content myself with a single weekly drive and keeping the cars clean on the driveway.
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Comments (2)
Should be great when you get it back! I got the timing all wrong on mine, it went in for cambelt service and MOT on the Monday they announced lockdown, they started the work so had to finish Failed the MOT on front discs but the garage had some secondhand 330 calipers so ended up spending best part £1000 for a V6 cambelt, £750 on a brake upgrade plus other bits and pieces and its sat on the drive since!!
Hopefully it will be ready when the lockdown is lifted. Possibly earlier and I can walk down and pick it up.
Still waiting for the exhaust flexi to be delivered. Once I’ve got that it’s a stroll down to drop off the parts and wait for the bill.