Alfa Romeo Engine teardown. Do they deserve the bad reputation.

[@ContentCars]

I've got a 2008 Alfa GT 1.8TS, and it's just ticked over 175,000 miles!

[@ItaliaAutos]

Awesome 👍

[@lukewarner9884]

PLEASE keep the content coming on the 155. I want to get one myself and having some in depth videos to watch like this is convincing me to get one even more 👍🏼

[@paultaylor9652]

Great to see some engine work being done, nice one Neil.

[@ItaliaAutos]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@murrayrogers]

I have a 97 GTV TS. Always had yearly oil changes and runs as sweet as a nut. Rocker cover replaced at the last service as one plug socket had oil in it. Still on it’s original clutch and variator. 87k

[@ItaliaAutos]

Awesome 👍😎

[@shadeburst]

What I hated about my Alfetta was the DOHC cylinder head. Large and heavy. In Clubmans racing I also had a lot of problems with oil surge despite spot welding baffles into the sump. What I loved about it was that it f***ed off mightily.

[@evertdevries8814]

Lol Neil! Need the hones boring! Made me chuckle🙂

[@ItaliaAutos]

yeah talking gibberish again

[@ElektronixHS]

Before I crashed my belowed 146 2.0TS about 6 years ago, engine has over 350kkm. Rumors said it has to be the worst one of the twinspark engines,but man this engine was brilliant. I gues my everyday abuse and revving it hard made it happy.

[@ItaliaAutos]

2.0 ts doesnt like running low on oil

[@155andRising]

Hi Neil , Matt here who had the very welded Sprint . I’ve now a new project on the go , a very solid 155 wide body sport pack . The plan is to pull the twin spark out and Busso swap . I’ll keep a keen eye on the progress of yours 😊

[@ItaliaAutos]

awesome.

[@graemeadeane8980]

I’ve got an ‘05 GT 3.2 with 22000km (13000 miles). I’m the second owner of 8 years. It’s still like a new car.

[@ItaliaAutos]

I bet it is.

[@damienh4357]

I think you need one of those rotating engine stands typically used in engine teardown videos. Ease of access and good viewing angels for filming.

[@ItaliaAutos]

had one never used it so binned it. lol.

[@jondiaz3475]

It amazes me how much Alfa bored out the liners in those engines. There’s hardly any metal left between the cylinders! Good video.

[@ItaliaAutos]

Thanks for watching

[@michaelfernau8493]

Beautiful car, I'm glad it's getting the love it needs. 😊

[@psircos]

Nice vid Neil, never seen a twinny out of the car

[@juhaa4152]

How would it appear in the video that the second intake cam of the 1st cylinder would be worn and one valve of the 4th cylinder would not close? The Alfas I've owned have had great engines. Alfetta 2.0, 33 1.5, 75 Turbo, 164 t.s, 166 T.S, Spider 2.0 (1988 carb), 159 2,4 and Mito 1,4QV

[@robkirkwood3497]

Great engines. Torquey and sounded great under load but you had to keep up with servicing. Wish my Mito had one 😄

[@neilmcclary]

The TS is a very underated motor having had 6 years with one in a GTV and now a 156 it always surprises me how good it is , Not had any problems with the 2 I have had keep it well serviced and its fine. Just out of intrest I am running without the balencer belt on the 156 not sure it makes a lot of difrence but the engine is just as smooth as it was before . they do like to be revved the one in my GTV had done 160k and you could rev the nuts off it all day long no problem I think they do benifit a little from having a more open exsaust overall a great little motor and better than the duratec I had in my fezza ST.Hope you better from your cold mine is still going ughh

[@ItaliaAutos]

Some engines wobble a bit , without them. I'm all better now

[@brokenik]

How TS engines could be bad if they are based on Pratola-Sera FIAT engine series. This engines are reliable if they are maintained in the right way. Regular oil changes and keeping changes of cambelts.in time makes this engine life for a very long period of miles.

[@markbowden7238]

I would be interested to know if the Alfa Romeo 155 block is compatible with the Bacci RC321 sequential transaxle and/or Ferrari F106 16V head. The D2 variant installed front-mid transverse fwd in the works 155 Superturismo, used the AlfaCorse 16V head with either a Hewland or X-Trac sequential transaxle, and is unobtainable. So if the RC321 fits the 155 block, then it would be possible to build an engine based on the generic Fiat/Lancia/Alfa 16V single spark head, 155 block and RC321 transaxle, relatively easily. Which could then be installed front-mid transverse fwd or rear-mid transverse rwd. Preferably in something very light like a Fiat X1/9.

[@trevizese]

I think the early 16v ts where good (after they got rid of the exploding plastic cam belt tensioner) but they got worse with each iteration. The 2001< cf3 was rubbish with the leaky low friction piston rings.

[@ItaliaAutos]

They need good and regular oil changes.

[@trevizese]

​@@ItaliaAutos Yes. I used to have a 2l 147 that had been a bit neglected before I got it. At 130kkm it burned crazy amounts of oil, even with 10w60.

[@DarthTrotter]

Did 220000 miles on my 145 before the TS went pop.

[@ItaliaAutos]

They all do well if looked after.

[@petelattimer6808]

engines were always GREAT in alfas. the problems that gave them a bad reputation were their unmatched ability to rot away, and their TERRIBLE electrics. cant say ive ever known a bad engine in one.

[@R1Zig]

Must be so uncomfortable to sit and work like that Neil? Why don't you lift/hoist the engine onto a table? Thanks for the content. Always enjoy your videos.

[@ItaliaAutos]

It was on the forklift while I was working on it,

[@-Barracuda-426]

Beautiful! Bravissimo 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@ItaliaAutos]

Thanks 👍

[@aslandama]

Hi Neil, I just noticed this didn't have a balancer belt fitted, was it running without one? I have found it very difficult to get the correct tension on mine, it will run ok for a while then the tensioner will start hitting and clicking. It's very difficult to be sure the tensioner is in the correct position as you can't look directly at it because of where it's positioned. I did buy a tool to set it correctly but it wouldn't fit into position between the chassis leg and the tensioner as it was too long. I've since had the tensioner tool shortened and re welded but haven't tried it yet. I have to get my 145 finished this year as I'm hoping to move to Wales.

[@ItaliaAutos]

It did have one fitted just taken off before filming. The tool is a tight fit to tention it but it is needed for the balance belt

[@seantreen4317]

I run mine without the balance belt. I has a similar issue and my local specialist recommended removing it as if it fails it can take you cam belt out. Apparently it was a common mod especially in racing circles.

[@richardshaw1968]

I had one of the inlet valves snap on a 2.0.l wrote the engine off. It was my first Alfa and I'd only had it 3 weeks... now on my 5th...

[@ItaliaAutos]

Yes its common to remove them

[@ItaliaAutos]

I've seen 1 do it over 20 years

[@philzvids3577]

Having owned a couple of Alfas, I think the engines are pretty reliable. It's the floor pans and sometimes the gearboxes that are the problem. But both my Alfas were far more reliable than my Audi TT, which says a lot.

[@batocchietto27]

I confirm everything, as an Italian and an Alfa owner, the engine is always the least of the problems... Often they are small things that bother you, but nothing really serious

[@155stw]

Isn't the problem with the TS16V engines are just variator and mains/rods bearings? Haven't heard about it having too much of problems.

[@RMB1706]

There is hope for me little 145 1.6, it’s not turned a wheel in over 12years I have a teardown to look forward too. 🫡

[@stevebayross7248]

Do you ever run these without the balance belt attached..

[@ItaliaAutos]

Not personally but you can.

[@fatwalletboy2]

Neil why did you bring the crank round to TDC before removing the head if you wasnt worried about re timing her up?

[@ItaliaAutos]

Habbit. Lol

[@ro63rto]

Neil, have you ever had a 2.0TS measured for NOx levels ? The London ULEZ demands 0.08g / km or less. Will a MY2000 156 2.0TS pass this ?

[@ItaliaAutos]

I haven't

[@seany8787]

Lol imagine living in London

[@a11csc]

😊😊👍👍❤❤

[@stephenparker5272]

Sorry to be o/t, but i'm looking at a 2.2 td stelvio, 2018 53000m any advice/ what to look for and your and any subscribers opinions gratefully received. Thank you.

[@ItaliaAutos]

Good engines just an evolution of the 2.0 diesel. Just make sure it's been serviced well

[@tedburnard841]

Geez Neil! Those eyebags mate! You getting enough sleep?

[@ItaliaAutos]

Getting old mate.

[@tedburnard841]

@ nahhh, you’re still a pup! I’m nearly 72