rustfarmer

I take your points and bow to your greater experience in road racing. Guess my experience is more with drag racing. Two final points, however, are unsprung weight and better handling. As to brake fade, you probably are right since discs are on everything now. I love the three shoe brakes and aluminum finned steel lined front drums on my 63 Alfa Spider, but I don't race it (would love to, but at 71 and broke it ain't gonna happen). Best to your racing success.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

No question on the unsprung weight, and you are right about those pretty drums on your Alfa. I’ve coveted an Alfa for a long time - beautiful DOHC engines although being Italian, they do have their moments (can you say Magneto Marelli electricals?) - I even repurposed/rejeted a set of 45DCOE Webers off a GTV for use on a BMW 2002. I’m too old to race now also, and racing has become SO expensive. Can you believe that racers used to actually drive their cars to the track, change tires and race? Last time I saw that was an MGB driver at VIR in the 60s.I misspent so much of my youth playing with cars and loved it, but those days are gone.

rustfarmer

My Alfa has all Bosch electrics very much like a VW, so easy peasy. It hasn't run it a while due to the front brake cylinders' pistons being so worn they would get cocked and jam. Parts weren't available way back when I parked it, and though you can buy the whole units now, they are about $100 a pop times 6, so... I hope to get working on it this Spring, but it needs both rockers so the body is a big deal too.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Good luck with the project - Alfas are worth restoring. Didn’t know Alfa used Bosch electrics - that is a good thing (in my opinion).

Cheers,
Chris

rustfarmer

Thanks. I have several. A 63 Sprint I used to want to build as a racer; another 63 Spider in two halves, a GTV 1750 and an 84 Spider, lus a few extra engines/trans.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Wow! Had no idea you were an Alfa aficionado - no wonder you love drum brakes - I retract everything negative I said about them. Kudos for keeping this classic marque alive 😸. I love the GTV, but always wanted a Duetto...

rustfarmer

:)

Marturo Loc: Western North Carolina

I have always had my tires mounted, & then later I will come back & use anti seize on the studs
& with a cheap beam type torque wrench tighten to specs.

I do carry a long Snap-On breaker bar with 6 point socket just for loosening the lug nuts
or anything else

You can talk to whoever owns the tire change shop & ask them to torque the lugs & also
put anti seize on the threads. Many times dirt & grit, rust can seize your nuts to the lugs
& cause trouble removing them. Mechanics have older family members and will try to help
you. You must ask however as a life long Master Mechanic, I do have a spot O trouble with
mind reading.

There are a lot of things, you as a non mechanic can do to save many repairs on your car.
You can check the tanks & dip sticks that alert you to low fluids that you can tend to, or let your mechanic know. A wheel system is no place to over tighten, warp or damage components that can get you killed.

Stay safe your the driver, you the drivers told me ( The Mechanic ) what was wrong so I could repair the problem. Listen & you shall hear, symptoms that point me to the problems I know about & will
repair. If your mechanic will not listen, then get one who will!

rustfarmer

Very good advice and nicely said, marturo.