Alfa Owner 1984-08.pdf - Shorey

Switch to Harder Seats
In the Letters to the Editor column of
the June 1984 issue of A/fa Owner, L.R.
Reif, Buffalo, N.Y., raised the question of
leaded vs. unleaded fuels in older Alfas.
Not being an engineer, I am reluctant to
offer technical advice in this field.
However, it seems to me that Mr. Reif does
raise an interesting question, but one that
may have a solution.
The problem, as I understand it, is
that leaded fuel is necessary as a lubricant
between valves and their valve seats. The
reason why newer cars can use unleaded
fuel and avoid the need for the lubricating
properties of leaded fuel is due to the
harder valve seats in engines designed for
unleaded fuel.
Since the valve seats of most Alfas are
replaceable, it would appear possible to
provide a replaceable valve seat(s) to be
used in older Alfas which could then use
the unleaded fuels. It would require very
little effort and would be an appropriate
solution to the problem.
For those owners of older Alfas who
would like to make the switch before such
harder seats are available, I think it would
be possible for them to buy a set of conventional
seats for their model Alfas and take
them to an induction heat treating shop
and have them treated in order to convert
them to the harder hardness. In fact, I see
this as a service one of the many Alfa
supplies might like to offer. In the case of
earlier cast iron-headed Alfas, it might be
possible to selectively heat treat the individual
valve seats. However, I am certain
that the members of AROC who are
Detroit engineers can offer advice as to
how this might be done since it is a
standard procedure on the production
lines producing cylinder heads for
American cars.
I hope these comments might be of
some value to the members of AROC who
DUCTTO 0nn Sf»VD€ft
SEAT UPHOLSTERY
• Cut and sewn as original
• Correct fit
» Easy to install
• Original colors
Headrest, carpet & convertible tops also available
8 ALFA OWNER
LETTER!
II •* Y I Ik1 I ^Tl 1 ii •>» t
are concerned with the problem.
Jim Collins
NEOAROC
Akron, Ohio
P.O. Box4857A
Thousand Oaks, CA91359
805/482-4682
Thanks, Leonard Lubline
Three cheers for the Alfa Owner
membership directory. Its usefulness was
demonstrated recently when my daughterin-law's
'73 Alfa Spider lost its go-power
on the way to Cocoa Beach, 40 miles from
home in Orlando. The accelerator cable
parted this world (and itself). My son at
home in Orlando, Fla., notified me at
home in McLean, Va., of the problem, and
I in turn consulted the membership
directory in the Alfa Owner. Lo and
behold, as bright as light, stood the entry
of Mr. Leonard Lubline who lived a short
drive from my son in Longwood (a suburb
of Orlando). On relaying the directory
information to my son, he telephoned Mr.
Leonard Lubline, who responded to the
call for help.
Now a technical tip on how to handle
this problem should it happen to you.
Should your accelerator cable ever depart
its two ends, remove the remains of the
cable from the sheath, leaving the sheath in
place. As a temporary expedient, thread
some emergency brake cable (if it fits),
picture frame wire or just a strong cord
through the sheath and jerry rig both ends.
Brake cable wire does best and will remain
in service for an extended period. Picture
frame wire results in a semi-permanent
quick-fix. A strong nylon cord will suffice
for several days or weeks. If none of these
are available, a piece of flexible bailing
wire will do the trick but will not last too
long.
I'd suggest that every owner of a fuelinjected
Alfa, for safety and'emergency
sake, carry a short piece of old emergency
brake cable or picture frame wire in your
glove compartment or trunk. Since busted
accelerator cables is a common fuelinjected
Alfa problem, you'll never know
when you or some other stranded fuelinjected
Alfa owner will need it. And you'll
be Johnny on the Spot.
Henry F. DeFrancesco
McLean, Va.
Affair of the Jewel
I have just received the June '84 issue
of Alfa Owner and can find no credits or
data given for the little "jewel" featured
on its cover.
I would venture to guess that this
"jewel" is a late '50-ish vintage Zagatto
(the "Z" below the quadrifolio and its
lines are reminiscent of my first Alfa, a late
'56 Giulietta Sprint bought in early '57).
Please advise the nature of the
"jewel" as photographed. I would like to
know, as would many of your other
readers.
David McK. Harris
Sarasota, Fla.
EDITOR'S NOTE: We are attempting
to track down more information
about this jewel, which was photographed
at a recent Pebble Beach Concours
d'Elegance.
Affair of the Heart
With great interest and apprehension,
my brother and I have been following A If a
Owner's series on restorations. It is without
any doubt that most of these projects
are undertaken under the directions and
orders of the Heart. It must be so, for
neither the Brain nor the Body proper
would invest time and effort on such a
long-shot folly. The Heart is truly a
romantic hero, snatching the Little Runt
Alfa from the jaws of ignominious death at
the edge of an abyss. For now the heroine
rests, quietly waiting in her new dry garage.
A little underdog in a very large
automotive world.
Elsewhere the battle between the
Heart and the rest of the Body rages on.
The Brain must be forced to read, learn,
memorize and coordinate the difficult task
ahead. Hands will ache, fingers will be cut
and smashed. The skin will burn, bleed and
sweat many an hour. Our quiet daily
schedules will be turned upside down.
Through it all, the Heart can only
encourage and illuminate the path to our
goal with the bright light of emotions. Will
the Little Alfa make it? Only time will tell.
Name withheld by request
to spare a broken Heart