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BigAl
P4
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Location: U.K Surrey
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 Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:35 am Post subject: strutbrace on ser 3 |
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following on from this thread
http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=30370#30370
Can anyone who has fitted one to a ser 3 please post their experience, thank you.
The reason i ask is because i have fitted 2 strutbraces to ser 2's, one for a ser 2 and the other for a ser 3, which also fits ser 2. I had no problems and was confused when i heard people say that they had problems fitting theirs but i didnt know to which series of 33.
When i went to fit mine, one that fits both ser 3 and 2, the holes didn't match up and the brace didn't fit flat, due to part of the bodywork sticking up. To get them to fit i was thinking of making a template when the struts are not done up and cutting a "c" section of the edge of the brace"
Anyone else experienced this?
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33bits
16 Valve
Joined: 23 May 2009
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Location: Clevedon. North Somerset
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| Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 8:57 am Post subject: |
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I fitted 1 to a mates s2 a while ago and i remember the brake fluid reservoir cap being in the way, so i guess the fitment has to be correct or problems can happen.
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155 sportpack
33 16v Sportwagon
33 Permanent 4
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BigAl
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lee16v
16 Valve
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 1429
Location: Devon, UK
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| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 10:55 am Post subject: |
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| Do they make that much difference? I've always thought the way the 33 is built that it would be quite stiff anyway with the fire wall between the two strut towers |
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Oggie
Green Cloverleaf
Joined: 06 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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I think your right Al, because of the bulkhead its pretty taught, after adding a brace a year or so ago I have not noticed anything different in handling but then again there must be a correct way of adjusting it to help stop body roll.
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BigAl
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Location: U.K Surrey
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| Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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O.K guys, I did what I said I was going to do and made some templates, I then put them on the car, with the strut nuts taken off.
My bodywork guy said that the top of the turrets are not very strong and go out of shape and need to be made flat by means of a block of wood and a hammer.
After getting the top of the bodywork fairly flat I put a nut on each of the strut bolts and using the template I made from the strut brace I tapped the bolts to line up.
Then I pressed on the templates and marked with a pen what needs to be cut out.
I then marked the strut brace top and bottom and started cutting out the excess with a dremel.
More Pics to follow.
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bobbber
P4
Joined: 14 May 2003
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Location: The Greatest Town on Earth - Swadlincote, UK
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| Posted: Sat May 22, 2010 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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| BigAl wrote: |
| O.K guys, I did what I said I was going to do and made some templates, I then put them on the car, with the strut nuts taken off. |
The struts nuts??? 
Twin bulkheads on the 33 negate the requirement for a strut brace IMO Al. In fact, due to the square section used there, I'd say it was already better than having a brace.
Just my tuppence.
B
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BigAl
P4
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| Posted: Sat May 22, 2010 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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I noticed a big difference on my ser 2, this debate always comes up from people who have never fitted one and tested before and after.
Regarding the ser 3, I will find out, as it has strengthening from bulk head down to near front cross member, every little helps.
The dremil came out again but i used 2 disks and have no more  Using another head that is taking ages
Just getting it mocked up ready to be powder coated, dont think I will fit it until I get new top mounts, as mine are fooked. Then have to get used to it with new rubers before fitting brace.
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Alfa Racer
Alfasud
Joined: 25 May 2010
Posts: 68
Location: Buckinghamshire
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| Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 8:46 am Post subject: |
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Sorry to bump your thread a little bit here, but since you're discussing strut braces and the number of strut bolts, I thought I'd dive in and ask a question.
I thought Series 3 (with exception of Imola) had 4 bolts mine seems to have 3, it's a 94 1.7ie 8v. Any ideas?
The car (mostly the interior) has been prepped for racing so I too was considering a strut brace, but the series 3 braces I've found so far seem to be for 4 bolt 16v cars, and maybe that's the difference the 8v cars are 3 bolt & the 16v four bolt?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50536272@N03/4641665942/
Last edited by Alfa Racer on Wed May 26, 2010 10:48 am; edited 2 times in total |
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bobbber
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| Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 9:04 am Post subject: |
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Hi Alfa Racer. Series III 33s have four bolts at the strut tops between 1990 and 1992, and 3 bolts 1993-1994.
There was a mini-revision to the design of a lot of things sometime around then, the strut bolts being one of them.
B
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BigAl
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| Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 9:34 am Post subject: |
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np alfarace
To post pics you need to past the link to your pic and surround it with "[img]" and "[/img]" you can do this by highlighting the link and then clicking on the IMG above the chat window box
eg from the link you posted to yor turret top, right click on your pic and goto properties and then copy the info that ends with ".jpg"
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4641665942_ea14b6558e.jpg
then encapulate that with the "img"
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x2 33 16v
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Last edited by BigAl on Wed May 26, 2010 10:13 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Alfa Racer
Alfasud
Joined: 25 May 2010
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Location: Buckinghamshire
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| Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 9:43 am Post subject: |
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| bobbber wrote: |
Hi Alfa Racer. Series III 33s have four bolts at the strut tops between 1990 and 1992, and 3 bolts 1993-1994.
There was a mini-revision to the design of a lot of things sometime around then, the strut bolts being one of them.
B |
Thanks Bobbber, so what are all the extra holes for? |
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Alfa Racer
Alfasud
Joined: 25 May 2010
Posts: 68
Location: Buckinghamshire
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| Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 10:50 am Post subject: |
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| BigAl wrote: |
np alfarace
To post pics you need to past the link to your pic and surround it with "[img]" and "[/img]" you can do this by highlighting the link and then clicking on the IMG above the chat window box
eg from the link you posted to yor turret top, right click on your pic and goto properties and then copy the info that ends with ".jpg"
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4641665942_ea14b6558e.jpg
then encapulate that with the "img" |
Great, thanks, now I just need to make sure I size them appropriately for insertion into posts! |
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BigAl
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| Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Alfa Racer wrote: |
| Thanks Bobbber, so what are all the extra holes for? |
I wonder if its something to do with caster, not sure what the suspension setup is like on the imola and if it can be rotated 180degrees. Maybe the other holes were original from alfa and they added caster by using the holes as it is now?
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BigAl
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| Posted: Tue Aug 31, 2010 1:01 am Post subject: |
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It is now fitted and has the same affect as I stated before http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-33-sud-and-sprint/222733-what-a-difference-a-strus-brace-makes.html#post3604860
The right turret was not flush, due to alfa using soft metal in these weak parts which should be strong and there was a gap, the gap closed as the nuts were tightened down.
The brace has bent, cracked the paint and shaped itself to be flush but I think I should remove the brace and panel beat the turrett flat and re-fit the brace before getting it powder coated silver, the same colour as my car.
I will take some pictures tomorrow with it on the car, I love using the Dremel
Should the brace be tightened by pushing out or pulling in?
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BigAl
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alfafan
Alfasud
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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BigAl
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alfafan
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| Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2010 9:24 am Post subject: |
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AL33NUT
Alfa Sprint
Joined: 23 Jun 2009
Posts: 210
Location: Woking Surrey
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 10:52 am Post subject: |
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Al, Strutbrace fitted...I'll drive it a bit and let you know what I think.
For now my mind tells me there's less roll when I push it hard. However, I'm not sure if that's not just me pushing the car harder than I would normally and finding out (for the first time) that it has much more grip than I realised .
Keep you posted... |
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BigAl
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AL33NUT
Alfa Sprint
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Location: Woking Surrey
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:50 am Post subject: |
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| Yep. Mark installed it. |
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BigAl
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AL33NUT
Alfa Sprint
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| Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 11:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Ok tested out the strutbrace today and it does make a difference in my opinion. Not something you notice immediately but you get to feel its work when you properly look out for how it performs on the twisties and over bumpy surfaces... |
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33bits
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Joined: 23 May 2009
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Location: Clevedon. North Somerset
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| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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Now got a strut brace on my sw & i guess it must stiffen up the front end simply because you are adding a piece of bar into the equation, but i cant notice anything different.
I fitted mine for the same reason 99% of others have been fitted, it looks cool 
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155 sportpack
33 16v Sportwagon
33 Permanent 4
33 16v (for sale)
156 JTS sportwagon
contact me for any 33 parts. Alex, 07896-327708
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is yours flush all the way around??