hamilton.mm – Page 65

October 25, 2009

69 GTV go over: creature comforts coming together

If you’ve been following this thread you know I have the dash out of the GTV and an aim to make the car somewhat pleasurable to drive in the coming cold months. In this spirit I decided to remove the heater unit and clean it up. The wires to the fan motor were disconnected so I had a fear that, like the wiper motor, a PO discovered the motor was frozen with rust and simply unplugged it.

Removing the heater is easy enough, it is held by 4 8mm nuts that thread onto studs under the dash bulkhead that also act as grounding points for the dash and heater circuits. Once these nuts are removed you have to disconnect the heater hoses and either disconnect it from or bring it out together with the heater control sliders and cables.

You can see here that I decided to bring the control cables out with the heater unit. You can also see that the foam gasket that seals the heater intake against the bulkhead is pretty rotten. I’ll replace this with some weatherstripping meant for camper shell to truck bed edge sealing. Also note the cosy nest in here.

Continue reading “69 GTV go over: creature comforts coming together”

October 22, 2009

GTV and Fiat: pleasing two mistresses…

I am making progress towards simplification, but some of these simplifying measures are turning out to be quite complex -the Fiat engine swap for example. I mentioned recently that I bought an 1800 TC out of a late 70’s 124 Spider to put in the Sedan. Last weekend I took possession of said engine after an hour and a half helping easing it out of the Spider -a tip for all you aspiring 1800 TC removalists, drop the steering centerlink so the flywheel can clear it! Suddenly I have a somewhat long, but not really very expensive list of Fiat parts to procure if I want this engine to fall into place. I think I have a package deal coming together so maybe this wont be so bad. I guess I’ll be the FIAT 124 twin cam in a pushrod car swap expert in a week or two.

Hard to believe how much engine you can get for $250. This thing sounded and ran good with no smoke, is clean and not much bigger (they basically share a block) than the pushrod motor it’s going to replace. Note fancy wrinkle finish on the belt cover. I like.

Continue reading “GTV and Fiat: pleasing two mistresses…”

October 20, 2009

Market 156: Giulia SS 380642 in Italy

Giulia Sprint Special 10121*380642. While perusing their garden of arcane delights I found this announcement on Anamera of Coys intent to auction this Padova Italy based car. Estimated selling price is 38,000 Euro’s or $56,700 of our recently depressed US dollars. I would call this near retail for a nice SS that is not really perfect but doesn’t have much in the way of wants.

It’s always tough to judge these cars because even the slightest deviation from a perfectly head on picture makes them look a little asymetric. Drivers side corner of this car looks ever so slightly lower than passenger corner and all it takes to cause this is an odd reflction. It’s all part of the hand made charm. Bright work is all present and pretty good, though I would guess the headlights are mismatched in some way -whether age or brand. Where in Italy is GR? Continue reading “Market 156: Giulia SS 380642 in Italy”

October 19, 2009

Market 155: 58 Spider Veloce

Update 10/27/09: Wow – 40 bidders drove the price of this car up to $44, 421! Very strong money for a ‘driver’ condition Spider Veloce, but a price which I think in the years to come will seem a bargain. Not a lot of short wheel base Spider Veloce’s were made.

Giulietta Spider Veloce 750F 1496*05063, 1315*31917. This Spider is on eBay right now out of Washington. It’s not perfect, but it is not pretending to be and all in all it looks like a pretty great car to “take to the next level” if you are in the market for an early Spider Veloce. It’s got a little more than 3 days left to the auction and is at $25K.

Looks good. I like a car that has an honest description of the condition that actually matches what is seen. Everything I usually point out is present and in good shape. Borrani steels are considered correct for Veloce’s but the parts book indicates it’s an either or deal. Popular belief (I”ve heard stories of Fergats breaking int he track) is that Borrani’s are stronger than Fergat’s so maybe the Veloce’s unofficially always had them.

Continue reading “Market 155: 58 Spider Veloce”

October 15, 2009

69 GTV go over: trying to make the wipers work…

I had a kind of disagreement with the Mrs recently. It rained like crazy on Tuesday and Wednesday and I had to use our modern car (BMW, aka: her car) to get to work, which leaves her asking a friend for a ride, because the Sprint doesn’t have working wipers, the GTV doesn’t have working wipers (or reg), the Fiat isn’t running, the SS is in a million pieces and, well, you get the idea. I promised that the highest priority for me would be getting a car together to drive to work that was appropriate for all weather. I’d rather not drive the Sprint in the rain anyway, so the GTV is the logical choice for this sort of daily duty.

What I figured would be a blown fuse has morphed in to a full restoration project. Sigh.

The wiper motor lives under this cowl. They say it’s a good idea to remove these occasionally to clear leaves out. I wonder what I’ll find?

Continue reading “69 GTV go over: trying to make the wipers work…”

October 14, 2009

Market 119: Cheap Giulietta Spider Racer

Update 10/20/09: 28 bidders resulted in a seling price of $13,500. This is very low for this car. A competitive 1300 engine alone is close to $10K to build. I wish I wasn’t paring down myself or I would have jumped in! Another Giulietta heads for Germany.

Update 10/14/09: This car is back on eBay. Previous buyer and now seller has a pretty comprehensive description and you now know exactly what you are getting. If nothing else, the auction is worth a visit to see some vintage pictures of it in action. I wonder what has been done to the engine? Cams? Big valves? Look for a solid end price this time.

Looks like fun. These cars look good with no grill trims at all.

It’s hard to put a price on proven track time. This car seems to have it. I want a race car!

Giulietta Spider Race Car 10103 1495*11341. This car was on eBay briefly last week and ended BUY IT NOW on 5/22/09 for $12,000. Someone got an amazing deal or ripped off and I suspect the latter. If you know this car drop me a line.

Good color, great panel fit, very nice trim condition.

Continue reading “Market 119: Cheap Giulietta Spider Racer”

October 13, 2009

Fiat Fresh-up part 3: path of least resistance…

Sometimes I am reminded of how always in the Odyssey Athena with the frequently flashing eyes is giving help, good omens and occasional back rubs. Last Saturday (as in three days ago) I was at the ARA All Italian day in Alameda and what should I spy but a Fiat Spider with a note on the windshield saying something along the lines of “1800 Engine for sale, hear it run!” Well, the owner was on hand, I heard it run, monies to the tune of $250 were required to take ownership of said engine, with certain parts removal caveats of course, and I blinked twice, summoned my check book and bought it. Athena never showed, with flashing eyes, to have her maidens give me a rub down with finest oil, but things were definitely right in my pagan world.

What led me to such extremes? Why the change of heart from a polish and go with a few new parts on the 1438? Please find herewith pictures of what I found when the Fiat’s humble engine was opened up.

This had been staring me in the face since early May. Pretty grimy, but then again it is an oil and water cooled engine that gets really hot. Note how clean the outside of this engine is compared to the inside.

Continue reading “Fiat Fresh-up part 3: path of least resistance…”

October 13, 2009

Market 153: 750D Spider roller project

Update 10/20/09: 8 bids drove this car to $5451.45, a nice round number. Decent money and probably right at that point where the buyer and seller are happy. Another Giulietta off to foreign shores?

Giulietta Spider 1495*06230, 1315*05817. This roller of a project Spider is on eBay right now out of Huntington Beach california. Car was made 3/9/1959 and is a short wheelbase interim car. Looks fairly complete but in need of a lot of help. Engine is not original. Opening bid is $5000, less than the aggregate parts value and very reasonable for a project this complete.

Nose is a little busted up but not horribly. Hood does what it was designed for. These cars look tough without a windshield.

Continue reading “Market 153: 750D Spider roller project”

October 7, 2009

SS 00121 Engine #2: Clean up and assembly

After 9 months in gestation, this baby is going back together. I have been stumbling over parts to this engine (main caps here, front cover there, toe stubbed on crank under rag) while treadng the circuitous detour paths paved by the Sprint, Berlina, TI, Fiat, Multipla, and GTV and it is time to get it together before any of it’s parts disappear.

I’ve been throwing in one part for this rebuild with every Centerline order and, with a few exceptions, I think I have everything required to get this thing together.

This engine had been sitting in the corner until the Sprint engine came off the stand, at which point it went back on. Refreshing the 2 liter for the TI meant it came back off. A couple of weeks ago in a fit of working against entropy, I got it back on the stand, gathered up all the parts I had stumbled over in the last 9 months and made the practical decision to put it together soon. Practical becasue a: it’s hard to loose engine parts that are assembled with foot pounds and sealer/glue to a very large heavy object and b: if I have nice shiny three thousand dollar engine waiting to go in the SS I might be more motivated. Continue reading “SS 00121 Engine #2: Clean up and assembly”

October 5, 2009

Market 151: Nice Red Spider

Update 10/12/09: No takers at $34,500 which is a surprise, usually cars that have had this much work lavished on them sell because there is a whole segment of buyers who know you get a lot for free when you buy a restored car. Isn’t the saying that you buy the restoration and get the car for free? Has a few faults but is as good as or better than cars that have sold for more. If I were the seller I’d do some light detail work under the hood and relist it next March when everyone has convertible fever.

Giulietta Spider 10103*170689. This car is on eBay right now out of Southern California. Car looks great in the pictures but for the $34,500 buy it now asking price, there are a few details that should be a little better, especially if the claimed outlay of cash is genuine. It does look great though!

Very nice angle on the iconic Giulietta Spider. I agree with the seller that the front is a little cleaner without the grill ‘tusks’. Stance looks good and if it handles like it promises then it will be sweet.

Continue reading “Market 151: Nice Red Spider”