jetboy

turn it around!

i am thinking its got to be in the mechanical side of things, - but if you already replaced the switch and it still does it? if you just reach in with your hand and pull the switch out and in do the lights work? maybe your brake lever and the switch are mis-aligned, so it gets caught- but if you use the brakes enough it frees up?? the electrical side should actually work better when its cold....but its possible that you have a bad ground, that when it sits gets coroded and crap, and loses contact, but when you drive it gets bounced and vibrated enough it "cleans" itself and makes contact again- finaly pushing some juice through all the rust etc thats holding it back. sorry for the lame advice-- thats a tough one.

my bro got a 70 for a 100 bucks, rusty, was not running and under a tarp for some years! took him about 3 hours to get her on the road and drive her 12 miles to home-- a lot less than you have to go, but the outer appearance can be decieving-- Id ask your aunt to go out and just push around under the car with a screwdriver - if its all soft and rust falls all over the place... then your screwed. if it goes: clunk clunk - then your golden! my advice - dont drive it back-- get ist shipped down and really make sure its road worthy before you drive that far. unless you want to visit your aunt for a week while you get her fixed up up there!

parts are not so hard to get if you live in the SF bay area(maybe other metro areas are the same?). there are 2 full oem parts stores in the east bay, and an alfa salvage place out in Tracy. plus there is centerline and international for online shopping outside the area- and the aflabb. plus various alfa only shops pound for pound its going to be more expensive, but you can get almost everything you need. some parts may have to be made depending upon the model. If you like the 74 GTV, id also check out a JT Junior, a Giulia Sprint, and if you have just won the lottery, a GTA. I like the JT Junior for looks, its a step nose, without the dual headlights - smaller engine stock but upgradable- and you can still find some around sometimes! or import from australia or italy.. http://www.craigslist.org/sfc/car/144407454.html http://www.craigslist.org/sfc/car/145575979.html or get a Lancia! then you will really be cool! http://www.craigslist.org/sfc/car/145243180.html fix that up and you will be golden! i wish i could --

i have to admit: I have had 2 spiders and a GTV that went the way of the rust-- i got it when it was too far gone and I failed to bring her back. teh two spiders are still clean and running well. an alfa is a great machine, and once I get my 02 clean and happy, I may just have to sell her and get another gtv - this time after I learned my rust lesson! but don't get a 74, if possible try and find a 69 - that is the coolest looking inside and out of all the years - plus has the 1750 engine and often original dual webbers!

pics: the distance between the (furthest edge) of each lever is 9-3/8" it fits just where you see in the pic above, attached by the same bolts that hold the intake manifold to the head. then you have to go buy a generic throttle cable and attach it-- something ive yet to do! hopefully i can get to it tomorrow.. but ive been working on my 71 bus project trying to get it ready to sell, so ive been slow to get the 02 running--- need the money from the van!

don't suppose you are near SF? you could just come and take a look! but ill post the pics anyway.

the guy who sold me the carbs made that linkage himself- (the linkage between the carbs is original, but the throttle linkage is custum) its not actually all conntected yet, just laying where its supposed to go. I coudl take it off and get you some close ups if you want.

if that works on an 02, then im in! anyone in the bay area want to combine some shipping? maybe they will give us a deal.

i dont think he means for free! hehe.

Uni seems to be the way, I am watching the german ebay, a REALLY nice arbox is up , but still has 3 days so i am waiting to see how it goes. I guess anything under 200 dollars is a decent enough deal-- I still have some work to do on my set up, here is what she looks like currently--

i drove my 76 across the country trice, and once i drove her through the "blizzard of 96", where if I ever stopped going forward, I would never move again. the 02 is a terribly reliable car - she won't let you down.. and you can top 100 easy out there in the middle of the US! nice!

http://www.unifilter.com/online%20catalog/automotive.html you are thinking the weber stack type? the certianly look the business.

i can't seem to find it on ebay- maybe its gone already! I can't afford ebay prices usually anyway-- thanks for the tip tho, if you see another one anywhere.. but thats really off topic, i need to post in parts - good advice on the stacks, I will probably keep them on. to tell you the truth I am leaning toward the alfa method of just mesh with oil. its not that dusty around here.. and man does it sound cool. just wondering if I am goign to ruin my carbs doign that.

So, now that I have the carbs on, I need some sort of air filter! Of course I'd love to get a ti set up if some one has one laying about, but since thats probably a long term search, what should I use in the meantime? I know its cosher amoung alfa romeo types to just strap some oiled wire mesh over the intakes and call it good.. is that actually ok or am I asking for destruction?? this car gets driven on the streets of SF/oakland for the most part.

jsut adding my voice to the float/needle - make sure thats all within spec before you go buy anything new. you may just have to bend the clip a few milimeters and all your problems will go away. i had the pin that holds pulls the needle back down when the float goes up break (and disappear?? somewhere into the engine??) and i went from a nice ride to black backfires and gas pouring all over my poor engine. thats not what you got, but you could have something stuck in there, or the pin is too loose, - make sure its all ncie and slides eaassily etc etc

I am in the process of putting a set on my 70, with the ti manifold - i had to pause half way through for work, but should finish it up this weekend and see how she roars. or not. I'll keep you posted and when its all set up i can drom you a pic or too to show how it all works.. i hope!

When I lived in NY this was my favorite drive: Take this baby right into the city from upstate- fun with no cars, fun in traffic!!! the best banks and no commercial vehicles.. run the cop guantlet in packs of 3, with the lead car taking the heat, then switching... of course..that road is also one reason my feet could touch the ground from rust.. I think what sets it apart is that it is actually MORE fun to drive with traffic --

the problem is that your car is too new. go sell it and buy a 1970 bmw2002, then I can tell you exactly what wire to splice into or is this just a joke and you really didn't think this forum is about the year 2002 cars and are just pulling our legs?

adjusting the mixture a bit before worrying about changing the jets - since its less efficient, you may just have to adjust for a higher ratio. --

I suspect you are getting spark. all four wires didn't go bad after 3 months of sitting around, and the engine will start even if one goes. so before you risk turing your thumb black- do as they suggested above: go get some starter fluid, take off your air filter, and spray a short burst into your carb (air)intakes. Immediately turn over the engine and see if it rumbles to life (you will hear the difference.. even though it will probably sputter to a stop almost immediately) Dont take the time to put back on the filter etc - starter fluid evaporates super fast, so you have to be quick. if it didnt rumble to life - try once again just to make sure - and then its most likely a spark problem. I have checked the spark on plugs many times and never gotten shocked. just lay the plug so that the body is grounded.. and turn over the car-- you don't have to even hold the blug at all. just lay it or tape it down to the valve cover. of course you may need someone else to watch it while you turn the key. if its fuel, check your lines, you may have a leak or blockage. - hell, are you sure you ahve gas? if you have a slow leak it coudl have all leaked out in 3 months! or if it sat for 3 months crap in the tank may have settled in your line - get ready to stink! don't know much about electronic pumps.. but sounds like that is a good bet. your carbs might be flooding the shit out of your engine too, if the seals or floats went south. heh i got a 71 vw van that has had just about every starting problem imaginable..

more reason to dump internet explorer and use firefox or - the now free- Opera. I am getting into opera.. real nice browser! and like Z says, I see your sig every time.. using firefox.

sounds pretty suck to me- if you are concerned about ripping apart non-rusty 02s to feed your own 02 needs, seriously think about give this guy some business: http://www.alfaparts.net/bmw3.html Yes, he started fabricating alfa body parts - but has been so succesful that he is branching into bmw.

ya- I was thinking not too many French that would use "Nick" heh.

I hate anything that moves- if we have ads, then keep them simple and just links in the corner, not even pictures is best.. like craigslist has. nothing worse than all this friggin banners flickering and moving- I have refused to go to many sites due to such ads - and i plan to not go to many more!