Alfa Pages

[Dr A. 33 1.5IE]

Dear all,

I have recently serviced (heavily) my 33 including changing the cam belts, reconditioning my starter motor, changing the engine block taps (copper taps under and over the block) and so on .... and happily after a couple of days of wait and around 500 euros, I can really say that my Alfa runs better and smoother since I first drove it almost 3 years ago.

During the engine "excavation" though my mechanic found that the right hand side cam shaft seal was leaking badly soaking the right hand side arm. Of course the seals were changed on both cam shafts and a close inspection of the front suspension "bridge" (I hope you understand which part I mean) showed that the bushes due to the oil´leak have slipped out from their place (causing it to rattle a bit over bad road surface).

Now everything is back i order but my question is how often those cam shaft seals fail (after so many miles, years etc)?

Thanks in advance
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1994 Alfa 33 1.5 IE Cat. 220.000Kms and still going strong!!! (Από την Αθήνα και τώρα στην Λευκωσία)

[stedee]

i have recently took a 1700 engine apart and the camholder nearest the oilseal (right next to it infact) had been smeared with silicon seal before putting the seal on so i think maybe this is a common problem.
i wouldnt worry about it unless is starts p***ing out.
steve
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brum brum

[gritsop]

Hi,

This reminds the case with my 33. The right side seal was leaking and oil was tranferred via the cambelts to the crank pulley and then making an oily mess in the underside of the hood.

The cam seals were replaced along with the cambelts. Also this oil dripping in the crossmember housing of the front suspension arm caused the rubber bush to deteriorate and play was inneviatable.

I think these seals are part of the normal wear and they should be replaced whenever cambelts are due. Their cost are no more that 30 € both.

Seems that a 500 € bill is quite a good bargain for a heavy maintenance plan including cambelts, seals, suspension bushes and reconditioning of the starter motor.

Glad to hear people carefully servicing their Alfas.

Best regards,
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Thanassis Gritsopoulos
1991 Alfa 33 1.4 IE
2001 Alfa 147 1.6 Distinctive

http://www.alfa-restoration.co.uk
Parts Shop: www.alfa-restoration.co.uk/shop

[Dr A. 33 1.5IE]

Thanks guys for your replies,

Next things need to be done are replacement of the rear wheel bearings, the gearstick bush and according to my mechanic some brackets are needed under the front bumber to hold properly the aircon hoses and so on.

Gritsop by the way I tried contacting Bobbber regarding the restoration site. There I could find the manual for the rear wheel bearings (very good work). The problem though is that there is only mentioned the outer wheel bearing. What about the inner bearing, the grease seal and of course the greasing that is required? If you could give me a few info more about it (as well as the parts numbers if you know them) I would be really grateful.

The good thing with my 33 is that it will go hopefully trouble free for another 60.000 Kms so the odometer will get well into the 250.000 before another renovation will be required!!!

Thanks for your time guys
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1994 Alfa 33 1.5 IE Cat. 220.000Kms and still going strong!!! (Από την Αθήνα και τώρα στην Λευκωσία)

[bobbber]

Hiya! Thanks for the Email!

When you get the rear drum off - the inner bearing is inside. The grease seal can be removed (carefully) with a large screwdriver and the inner bearing is inside.

Generally - you get a "kit" of the parts required for the job, which includes the rear hub nuts, the two bearings AND a small pack of the correct grease for the job.

Does that answer your question, or have I missed the point?

Bob
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Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

[bobbber]

Right then :



5 and 9 are the bearings.

According to this part 5 is no longer available - but like I said you can order the complete kit from a motor factors.

Hope that helps!

Bob
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Fiat Bravo 165 Sport

[Dr A. 33 1.5IE]

Bob,

Thanks for your reply and the info you provide. That would be of great help. Now I am a bit more puzzled though. First of all do I need to change both bearings? It appears that changing both especially the inner bearing looks like a heavy job probably including brake pipe bleading, rear brake drum deassembly and so on.

Do you think that it can be done and if so what should I be careful of?

Thanks!!!
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1994 Alfa 33 1.5 IE Cat. 220.000Kms and still going strong!!! (Από την Αθήνα και τώρα στην Λευκωσία)

[gritsop]

Hi,

You don't need to do brake line bleeding asboth bearings are located on the drum. If your brake cylinders are in poor shape or never replaced or signs of leaks are obvious then this is a different story.

You don't need to worry as far as bearings are conserned. The story changes if the brakes are worn out or leakages of brake fluid are found.

When was the last time you had work done on the rear brakes?

Regards,
_________________
Thanassis Gritsopoulos
1991 Alfa 33 1.4 IE
2001 Alfa 147 1.6 Distinctive

http://www.alfa-restoration.co.uk
Parts Shop: www.alfa-restoration.co.uk/shop

[Dr A. 33 1.5IE]

Hello again,

The rear brakes have been checked less than a year ago and they doesn´t seem to have any leaks from the brake cylinders.

In the meanwhile my 33 developed another ´charisma´!!! My exchaust somewhere in the middle part (the rear silencer is just 6 month old) has developed a whole or something. I can hear the ´funny´ sound under the rear right passenger door (behind the driver seat as my 33 is a RHD).

Has anyone else experienced something similar and if so where about does the exchaust piping usually fails in that middle part? What is the usual treatment for these symptoms?

Thanks for your time and great help once more!!!
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1994 Alfa 33 1.5 IE Cat. 220.000Kms and still going strong!!! (Από την Αθήνα και τώρα στην Λευκωσία)

[gritsop]

Hi there again,

This funky sound is probably coming from the exhaust pipe downstream the catalyst. It is an "S" type pipe from the catalyst towards the union which is located under the right rear seat.

This one had cracked many years ago and I had to replace it with a new one.

A pic is worth a thousand words...



Best regards
_________________
Thanassis Gritsopoulos
1991 Alfa 33 1.4 IE
2001 Alfa 147 1.6 Distinctive

http://www.alfa-restoration.co.uk
Parts Shop: www.alfa-restoration.co.uk/shop

[Scott Sander]

On my 1.5L had the rear box go several times, only had the front box go once.

On my 16V I have a stainless steel system from the headers back. Works a treat.
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Scott Sander
'91 Alfa 33 Boxer 16V Monza - Awesome
http://www.sanderfamily.com

[Dr A. 33 1.5IE]

Dear all,

Thanks again for your interest. Yes it seems that the problem is located somewhere in between the cat and the rear silencer.

According to your pricture Gritsop I can hear the sound coming (not checked yet though) from the far right part of the exchaust system. I have to check it and sort it out asap.

Take care!!!
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1994 Alfa 33 1.5 IE Cat. 220.000Kms and still going strong!!! (Από την Αθήνα και τώρα στην Λευκωσία)

[Dr A. 33 1.5IE]

Dear alfistas,

I have sorted out the exchaust problem... it seems that a rubber holder of the exchaust pipes just before the rear silencer has failed allowing the silencer to be tilted a bit at the front and that caused the funny noise from that spot.

Reffiting an new holder and welding the rear silelncer at the connection point with the middle part sorted out the problem.

Now that gave me the chance to have a look at the catalyst...

The specialist meassured the temps at the front and the rear side of the cat claiming that the rear part (towards the rear of the car) should have a 15% higher temp when compared to the front part (engine side). Unfortunatelly mine failed that test so I might have to replace my cat soon as I am closing to an MOT test sometime in February.

My question that arises is that how much time does the cat requires to get to its fully functioning temp? Does the above statement (15% of temp) stands as a valid test for the cat life?

Thanks again...
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1994 Alfa 33 1.5 IE Cat. 220.000Kms and still going strong!!! (Από την Αθήνα και τώρα στην Λευκωσία)

[gritsop]

Hi,

My 2 cents from the catalyst replacement experience.

I don't know about heating in the front or rear but for sure the catalyst must reach more than 300 C in order to work efficiently. This will do if you take the car for a 15 min drive in city conditions meaning 1st , 2nd gear or start - stop conditions.

In case your catalyst is the stock one then the last chamber is the silencer. The other two are actually containing the convertor material. If the catalyst is aging and particles have been deforming inside then these are pushed out of the tailpipe. Removed material means less heat and thus your mechanics words about -15 % heat.

Do the following trick. Have the motor running and block the tailpipe with a rug until the motor is ready to die; release the rug and see if any particles pop out from the excess pressure. If these have honeycomb shape then this is catalytic convertor material ....

Does the car pass the emmissions test meaning low CO, HC ?

In case you end up replacing the catalyst then for sure do replace the Lambda sensor; these two should be replaced in pairs.

More info at http://www.alfa-restoration.co.uk in the catalyst replacement article or here at the board.

Regards,
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Thanassis Gritsopoulos
1991 Alfa 33 1.4 IE
2001 Alfa 147 1.6 Distinctive

http://www.alfa-restoration.co.uk
Parts Shop: www.alfa-restoration.co.uk/shop