The next steps


or How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love Kevin Tetz

So, the Alfa is self propelled, and the clutch seems to work after a thorough bleeding session. I shifted it reverse (smooth as butter), backed it out of the drive and washed it with my adorable wife. Here's what I ended up with: Not so bad if'n you squint. But hold off on the squinting and you get the Havoc of the Tin Worm: Not to mention the typical GTV bubbling around the C pillar/window area. Although the bungee around the overflow tank adds a touch of old world charm, the engine bay could be tidied, chromed, powder coated and polished to a mirror finish. Or not. I'd settle for functional at his juncture.
Hours of crawling under the car have lead me to the conclusion that most of the rust is Alfa endemic rather than salty environmental, so no rusted through floorboards.
This is the plan:
Functioning ignition and fuel system (which may include a conversion to electronic ignition, and if the case is extreme, Webers)
Functioning suspension - the old rubber bushings are long past their "use by" date, so I see polyurethane in my future.
Halting rust in rockers and doors / paint - maybe something in the traditional GTA colors - red snout and tricolore stripe?
Or maybe a big ass green serpent on the hood? I dunno.
Or classically simple, like this one ?
Or maybe the classic ochre/steely gray bondo primer finish? (More likely).

And the Kevin Tetz reference? I dunno, I just groove to the DIY network, and he has inspired me to try to do bodywork or painting.

Posted: Tue - February 7, 2006 at 06:57 PM           |

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