Alfa Pages

[Ian M]

Heidi I've just found out what the black and blue dress thing is all about....






It's white and gold by the way.....





No argument
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Presntly own
Red Abarth 500c

[paulhide]

I am so sorry Ian, but I have to agree.
The dress was actually black and blue, BUT the photo is white and gold, proven by magnifying the photo to just focus on one colour.

TAUPE, indeed
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Owner's Club 33 Registrar. Now from P4 & S2 1.7 QV
http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5188

[RFlower]

TAUPE is French for MOLE



The colour of the mole is obviously the same as the Alfa pictured earlier, and shows how fashion-conscious Alfa was in introducing this colour years ahead of anyone else, besides which it concealed rust quite well

Anyway, it's a better name for the colour than others I've heard, and I don't mean mushroom
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Dick Flower, Nr. Carcassonne. '94 Trofeo 1.4 ie (F), '93 Imola 1.3/1.4 ie (now for parts) (F), '91 1.7 ie (GB)(spare car), '86 Sprint 1.5 QV (F). '87 VW Syncro camper (F), '96 Audi Avant 1.8T (F)

[paulhide]

This mole is brown. My car is grey
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Owner's Club 33 Registrar. Now from P4 & S2 1.7 QV
http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5188

[lee16v]

I totally missed that you had bought Ian's brown 33, Paul.

[paulhide]

And what colour is the internet dress, Lee
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Owner's Club 33 Registrar. Now from P4 & S2 1.7 QV
http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5188

[Ian M]

Lees favourite colour is pink cos he's the only gay in the suppository factory (welsh accent)
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Presntly own
Red Abarth 500c

[Ian M]

Right!
Now I've got your attention it's Ian's 60th birthday this coming June so we need to organise a little get together.

All suggestions involving beer are welcome
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Presntly own
Red Abarth 500c

[lee16v]

[lee16v]

[paulhide]

[Johnpm1967]

It's gun metal grey. Got a shell of one in my Mum's garage. Which leads me to the numbers on the road. My son has one on the road and the other grey one is on sorn and is unlikely ever to return to the road but has been a donor.

Looking at the numbers my son had better not write another off.

[Ian M]

We've got another non believer Heidi
Perhaps we should explain one day
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Presntly own
Red Abarth 500c

[paulhide]

It takes all sorts Ian, doesn't it.
_________________
Owner's Club 33 Registrar. Now from P4 & S2 1.7 QV
http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5188

[westmeath 33]

Last few weeks I have put about 2000 kms(1200 miles.)on my wonderful little 33.Highlight was a few days in beautiful Waterford and lovely country roads.The car is pure pleasure so much nicer than the GT I normally drive on everything except motorway.Only disadvantage I could see were brakes not great and a horrible second gear change.But an absolute joy and also huge levels of curiosity about the little Alfa

[RFlower]

That's more than we've put on the Trofeo in the last two years! It's really only used by my wife for local shopping now.

But the brakes are much better since I replaced the front dics, callipers, and pads a couple of months ago.

I had a look at the pistons before pushing them back when replacing the pads, and found the outside of them quite rusted, so decided to fit new front assemblies while they were still available.

Callipers with pistons were only available on exchange, but I forfeited the return value and kept the old ones. I have bought new pistons and seals etc. and will clean up and hone the cylinders and store them for the next time.
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Dick Flower, Nr. Carcassonne. '94 Trofeo 1.4 ie (F), '93 Imola 1.3/1.4 ie (now for parts) (F), '91 1.7 ie (GB)(spare car), '86 Sprint 1.5 QV (F). '87 VW Syncro camper (F), '96 Audi Avant 1.8T (F)

[westmeath 33]

I hope to go to Belfast about 180 kms each way this weekend and will give it a well earned rest after that. I am going to replace rear cylinders and renew brake fluid on return. Tell me more about the Trofeo if you have time.

[RFlower]

Not a lot to say really. I bought the car in March 2010 with 81,000 km on the clock and service history since 2007. Since then I have changed the oil, Helix HX5 15W40, and filter every 10,000 km. I replaced the timing belts (complete kits) immediately after I bought it, and in 2016, after a further 26,000 km.

I have had very few problems, none serious. The engine was running cold when I got it, solved by immediately flushing the cooling system, replacing the thermostat, and changing the muddy coolant for a decent antifreeze mix. I bought 2 spare t’stats, as have had to replace them on the other Alfas, but they are still on the shelf. I'm pretty sure this is due to using a very good “permanent" (VW) antifreeze mix, currently G13, diluted 2 parts to 3 of water, which I use in all our vehicles. The water pump has not been replaced since 2007, but also seems OK.

I found the heater matrix totally blocked with rust in 2016, which must have been built up before I flushed the system, cured by flushing it, and the engine block separately several times both ways with a hose, then circulating a solution of washing soda for a couple of hours through the complete system, using a submersible pump in a large plastic baby bath, so that the rubbish settled to the bottom.

A new clutch slave was fitted in 2007, a master cylinder from the spares car in 2010, and the complete clutch plus new master and slave in 2016. There has always been a persistent rattle from the gearbox at idle, which disappears when the clutch pedal is depressed, which I’m pretty sure is a gearbox bearing, probably on the layshaft. It has not changed in all the years, so is left alone.

Brakes: I have changed the fluid every 2-3 years since I began doing so periodically in 2014, replaced the rear cylinders and shoes in 2014, new drums and overhaul of the rear brake compensation valve in 2016, and discs, calipers and pads as mentioned above.

As far as I can tell from my records, the only other parts used in the 9 years we have had the car are new steering gaiters and an exhaust bend in 2016, and a new battery in 2013, but it has only done 30,000 km since we bought it.

Unfortunately the car has been kept outside since we moved house in 2012. The paint is fading differently on various panels and the acrylic clear top coat is beginning to blister extensively in the strong sunlight we have here. There are a few dings and scratches collected over the years, so a complete repaint will be in order when it gets too scruffy, using panels from the Imola, which is also red, and stored inside, as necessary.

This is how it looked when we bought it in 2010


[/img]
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Dick Flower, Nr. Carcassonne. '94 Trofeo 1.4 ie (F), '93 Imola 1.3/1.4 ie (now for parts) (F), '91 1.7 ie (GB)(spare car), '86 Sprint 1.5 QV (F). '87 VW Syncro camper (F), '96 Audi Avant 1.8T (F)

[westmeath 33]

Thank you very much.Its great to hear your car has been so reliable.Like you I bought my car and changed every rubber part I could timing belt,fan belt,tyres etc.I think I need to completely renew the coolant/ antifreeze. I am delighted to learn you are using g 13 as I thought as the car is 94 a g12 would have sufficed.The car is in terrific condition and I want to keep it that way so your advice and knowledge are much appreciated

[BigAl]

I will be, in my new to me 33
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1993 ser 3 silver 16v

[RFlower]