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Rich B
Alfa 33
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 386
Location: Southampton
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 Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 6:33 pm Post subject: 16v engine conversion - price/work required on installation |
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Hello all
I'm upgrading my 1.7IE to a 16v and I've finally found an engine and I wondered what you all thought would be a fair price.
I've been quoted £400 for the engine, ecu, crossmember, wiring loom, cat and manifold. The car had allegedly covered 65,000 miles but I've yet to have this confirmed.
In my opinion this price seems slightly high but not extortionate.
Once I get the engine, would it be wise to change clutch, cambelts/tentioners, oil and filter, plugs and gaskets before I install it?
Thanks for your help
Rich |
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manuel164
Alfa Arna
Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 3
Location: Austria
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:42 am Post subject: Re: 16v engine conversion - price/work required on installat |
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| Rich B wrote: |
Once I get the engine, would it be wise to change clutch, cambelts/tentioners, oil and filter, plugs and gaskets before I install it?
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Hello!
Timing belt is a must when you know nothing about the cars history.
The clutch, look at the friction disk, when its not ok, then invest in a new clutch kit.
Oil and e new filter is also a must i think, particularly at the 16v.
Look at the electrodes from the plug, so you can see if you have to change them. I think new ones are not so expensive.
When there is not so much oil on the lower side of engine then dont touch the gaskets.
If you have the possibility to run the engine in the old frame, hear at the noise of the camshaft, when the engine is running approx. 5 or 10 min, it should be run not so loud if it were cold.
When its ticking or there is a strange noise, open the camshaft covers and have a look at the cam. Then you can see some damage on the surface or not.
This is my experiance
Manuel
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Alfa 33 16v preparing for Race |
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Edward
Alfa 33
Joined: 21 Sep 2003
Posts: 307
Location: Bristol
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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Richard,
Don't forget when you do get hold of all the bits to take the accelerator cable as well - as I think this is different from the 8v to 16v.
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Rich B
Alfa 33
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 386
Location: Southampton
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the advice Manuel - I'm not going to be able to see the engine running as its out of the car, so I'm taking a risk, but I'll certainly change the belts/tensioners and plugs.
Thanks for the reminder Edward, I remember when we compared our cars that the cable on the 16v goes right round the front of the car and under the induction system whereas on the 8v it comes round the back of the engine on the bulkhead side. Do you think the price I'm going to pay sounds a bit steep or do you think its reasonable considering it includes all the other bits? |
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hugh jinjin
Alfasud
Joined: 04 Sep 2004
Posts: 68
Location: Glasgow
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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| would you buy a complete 16v car that you couldn't hear running for £400? I wouldn't. |
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Edward
Alfa 33
Joined: 21 Sep 2003
Posts: 307
Location: Bristol
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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Rich,
My first thoughts were that £400 was not too bad for what was on offer - seeing as you did get pretty much all that you need. However it is a very good point that Hugh makes - as you could buy a whole car and hear the engine running for £400. I would then be easy to do the conversion over one very busy weekend and go for that first spin on Sunday night. If fact I have done it in one day before - but it is tiring!
I would perhaps ask the owner of the engine as much as he knows about it and ask him if he is willing to offer any sort of guarantee with it. Perhaps pay 3 quarters up front and the last bit once it was up and running properly. I think without some assurance I would wait until a good sounding doner 16v came up - that has probably failed its MOT on rusty cills and have a whole car. That way you can also have a full set of other spares and it generally costs nothing to have a shell collected by a 'scrappie' these days. I should know as one of the shells we had went today - just rang up and they collected.
Let me know how you get on as I would be most interested. And good luck. If I can be of any help let me know.
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Rich B
Alfa 33
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 386
Location: Southampton
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:29 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for your thoughts chaps
I agree, with you, I could get a whole car for this kind of money but the problem is finding one. I've been looking for some time now (4 months or so) and haven't come across anything feasible. It is not really an option to buy anything that isn't driveable as I don't have the means to get it home. Its particularly difficult as I need a cat equipped car, which is quite rare I thinkl - I need the wiring loom to include the lamda probe wiring and an ecu that recognises it (I know that there's something you can do with relays and stuff but thats a bit beyond me I think)
I haven't bought the engine yet, I'm going for a look on Tuesday - the place is called "Alfa City" (www.alfacity.co.uk) and its a specialist Alfa Romeo breaker in Birmingham - they sell a few things on e-bay under the name of ajalfa I think. They were advertising the 33 recaro interior, some alloys, body panels and a few other bits a couple of months ago on e-bay. They say that they think the car had covered about 65,000 miles and had a minor rear end shunt, and offer a 28 day guarantee on parts (I'll confirm this when I go). Hopefully, as this is a business, I would have some comeback if the engine is no good, although I'm not sure if I'll have time to do the conversion within the guarantee period. I'll do my best though.
Thanks for the offer of help Edward, I may need some advice when I attempt the conversion if thats ok? |
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