Bringing an Alfa Romeo Spider survivor back on the road

[@hanvandewal917]

Like the philosofical remarks and appreciate your style. Nerdy channel, don’t think so. Style and some humor make it a pleasure to follow your work. Danke und tschuess aus der Niederlande.

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks, Han. What you mean, humour? 😆

[@ABROOKSH]

Relaxing, entertaining, and inspiring… like always. Thanks for the video.

[@GreasyFingers]

You’re very welcome, mate.

[@iea96]

Yet another brilliant video

[@georgeclements2742]

The self-dismantling engine at the start of the video is a great development and should save a lot of labour costs 😀. Thank you for another excellent episode and best wishes.

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks, George.

[@gearhead9828]

Thanks for another wonderful video 👍👍

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks, mate!

[@caspardelint3511]

Quite enjoyable; nerdy, competent and humor together with a Spider with a wonderful history. Sehr angenehm😊

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks, Caspar. Glad you liked it again!

[@caspardelint3511]

@@GreasyFingers ☺️looking forward to the Spider bodywork edition. The engineering & philosophic approach is much appreciated. The classic & crime tour concept sounds intriguing. My wife loves Krimi’s.

[@GreasyFingers]

That’s great to hear! You might want to invite her to our first Rallye on September, 21st. It’s by the way Oktoberfest season, so can do the Rallye and the Volksfest in one trip.

[@Tonykeefe1]

Love your channel. It's almost incidental that I own a '68 1750GTV and a '80 911, so naturally love the content, but they are also a totally therapeutic and relaxing way to spend 30 minutes. Excellent stuff, including the music choices - thank you

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks, Tony. Do you have a series 1 GT? Wow, to me the most desirable of them all.

[@rhettcorcoran2879]

Another excellent video, as ever.

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks, Rhett!

[@stevewuertz3598]

Johannes-It's very good to see you again-especially on an Alfa project. My first Alfa to own is a 67 Duetto but alas, it's in last place in the repair queue -it needs so much. I appreciate your kind sharing of tips and materials used...the perishing aluminum pipe trick-so smart! Will be following closely. Greetings from Austin Texas

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks, Steve. I was hoping to provoke a comment from you with another Alfa film.

[@leonmarais2638]

Lovely storytelling and visuals - thank you!

[@bigmacdaddy1234]

I had the same car in beautiful red. Stunning machine to drive. Brilliant SPICA fuel injected four cylinder engine, smooth five speed transmission and the perfect seating position. The manual shifter up near the dash was a stroke of genius. Best sports car ever.

[@GreasyFingers]

Yes, they’re unbelievable. I’ve never driven a Spica injected Alfa though. It hardly ever happens someone’s happy about it.

[@christianwesthoff3754]

Excellent entertainment, filming so refined. Great work!

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks, Christian. Appreciated!

[@BEGGARWOOD1]

I have stumbled across the channel and I love it . I have very limited mechanical skill but love my three old Merc’s. I have started having a go at basic tasks and so far so good !

[@GreasyFingers]

Fingers crossed for your Merc projects! Doing it yourself is by far the best idea to get great results.

[@skafy9999]

Special as always

[@s8050590]

Great detailing mechanics as always mister 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks, Pattama!

[@eladyaniv3071]

Perfect as always ❤

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks, Elad.

[@hugogreen13]

You make it look so easy . Zen and the art of alfa maintenance

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks, Hugo. Zen and Kaizen. Progress, no matter how slow it is, but always an improvement!

[@shawnjacobs4111]

A beautiful classic. Alfa Romeo has never made an ugly automobile, in my humble opinion. Freundliche grüße aus Kapstadt

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks, Shawn. Jethro would say: except the 116 Giulietta. 😆

[@shawnjacobs4111]

@@GreasyFingers I could agree that the 116 Guilietta was no Alfetta GTV, but not so much of an "ungeheuer" as the Arna.

[@laapulsford]

A great video, one of your best, thank you.

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks, Lester. Yes, I’m quite happy with it too. Unfortunately the KZbin algorithm isn’t! 😔

[@BerndS-j4j]

I was an owner of this car...IT IS a dream until now.😊

[@GreasyFingers]

You drive it once, you won’t forget it for the rest of your life.

[@enuclear]

Totally mesmerizing as always!

[@buildingsalvage]

Oh man. One of my dream cars.

[@GreasyFingers]

Yeah, it’s a great car to own.

[@ActionM]

Wonderful car Johannes .. Thera are a lot of spiders free of rust on Greece.

[@GreasyFingers]

Yeah, she’s magnificent. Let me guess why there are rust free Spiders in Greece … might it be because you’re blessed with sun?

[@roelanduitslager3949]

As always a wonderful video.

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks, Roeland!

[@nesertema4583]

😍both ladies are charming! I had a bed feeling seeing the dirty coolant in the jar, so I guess finding the head gasket problem did not come by surprise 😕

[@GreasyFingers]

Yes, exactly!

[@alastairwatson3201]

Thank you for yet another most enjoyable video!

[@GreasyFingers]

Glad you liked it again, Alastair. What’s cooking in your kitchen these days?

[@ScottMicciche]

Another beautiful car and video. Thank you!

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks, Scott. Yes, and I haven’t even shown the interior which is Burgundy red and absolutely adorable.

[@knoxyish]

owned a s2 for 8 years in the eightys i waited 18 years to be able to buy one .to drive one of these cars full tilt at 3 in the morning through a essex winters night is sublime you poseurs khow nothing .

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks for that comment, I laughed myself to tears. One of the best ones I ever had. Please more!!!

[@iracema1]

Great video, great car!

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks!

[@m.f.5984]

That's more like it! keep the frequency (of the uploads) Best!

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks, mate!

[@Petrolhead912]

Found this purely by chance which is strange as I’m already subscribed 🤔 Looking forward to watching it when I get the opportunity.

[@GreasyFingers]

Top tip: you must turn the bell on. ☺️

[@goofballgarage]

Smooth, i wish things worked out like that i my workshop 😂🤯

[@GreasyFingers]

They sometimes too don’t at mine. 😁

[@racekar80]

I have a 911 like you, and I have always wanted an Alfa Spider.

[@GreasyFingers]

The good thing about spiders is they’re not expensive.

[@matzedias]

bertelsbeck machts möglich - mega video wie immer :)

[@GreasyFingers]

Danke! Gut, dass man die Teile für 105/115er überall schnell bekommt.

[@robbrummer8967]

Hello hope to see a new video soon. Was wondering which brand you use for internal rust prevention. You mentioned Mercedes uses this as well. Have been re looking at most video’s howeverncould not find that part. Thanks Rob

[@GreasyFingers]

Hi Rob, yeah, already working on the next film. You have too look for the corrosion protection film in the Walter series, my red 911.

[@robbrummer8967]

@@GreasyFingersthat one I found Fluid Film, but remember that there is another episode in which you mention a product that Mercedes uses to insert in cavities where some rust might have already started. That is the product I am looking for. Many thanks

[@GreasyFingers]

@robbrummer8967 That’s not me, mate. 😄

[@robbrummer8967]

@@GreasyFingersthen must be your neighbours from LR Time. You should watch some of their videos, they have patrons and all kinds of other gimmicks to get compensated!

[@manjit9445]

❤wonderful to revisit the channel. Super video content and commentary.

[@GreasyFingers]

Good to hear from you again! ☺️

[@grantpiper6358]

well set up, the progression on these is excellent, particularly the Dellorto DHL. this is something that frustrates me with EFI, it always seems notchy in comparison accelerating gently off-idle. Giulietta - my first Alfa, a 1980 1.8. Long gone now, but have adopted a 1979 Alfetta 2.0 , 1982 Sportiva II and 1991 75TS.

[@GreasyFingers]

Impressive collection of cars and obviously you’re another 116-lover. I’m not alone! ☺️

[@grantpiper6358]

@@GreasyFingers yes, I like the platform...also have a '94 Ghibli II, which is a difficult monster.

[@W210Garage]

More Porsche, please 😊

[@RichieRich845]

👍. Please tell me you didn't clean a hot engine? Check for air leaks on the carburettor mounts, when I replaced my carb mounts I didn't check if the were flat because they were new, they weren't. I took them off and removed the studs and flattened them with a belt sander, Looking forward to the head gaskets replacement.

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks for commenting. You shouldn’t overestimate cold water on hot engines. The key word is: rain.

[@patrickforray8958]

If you don't mind me asking....What is the brand name of that engine cleaner spray you use?

[@GreasyFingers]

That’s Sonax Engine Cleaner. Recommend!

[@paulwootton5378]

A question.....Did you check the size of the apertures in the inlet manifold gasket against the size of the apertures in the inlet manifold?....Did you find they were a little smaller...restrictive?

[@GreasyFingers]

Hi Paul. I had a quick look at it and found it all good (enough). My parts supplier in this case is an Alfa specialist, so there were no big concerns.

[@jbakker159]

Quite the coincidence, I just rebuilt my Solex carburetors as well. But somebow I now struggle with each inlet to leak quite a lot of fuel, which it didn't before. Are your accelerator pumps touching the carburetor casing when they are in neutral/untouched state?

[@GreasyFingers]

Good day! I don’t exactly know what you mean, you might want to send me a picture …?

[@jyttesteenbruhn3211]

When changing the head gasket do not forget to check the overheight of the individual cylinders. Otherwise you may have to re-visit the issue...

[@GreasyFingers]

Thanks for the tip, mate. Is there a specific tolerance to be kept?

[@Liban46227]

Hi mate, i have giulietta 1981 2lt engine i got small hole in the top of cylinder head nera spark pluge number one no leak internal to piston or engine oil I saw your video you using liquid metal, is it good to try it as i do not want to remove the head or i must remove the head to weld or replace? Your advise please . Thank you.

[@GreasyFingers]

Hi there. I don’t think Liquid Metal is the solution. Temperatures are too high in the cylinder head. 😕

[@Laguna2013]

my last shop must have added the pebbles and left them inside for no charge :)

[@GreasyFingers]

😆

[@paulwootton5378]

Another question (just remembered)... After fitting the new diaphragm to the carburettor, did you check the number of "pumps" required to deliver the correct amount of fuel?

[@GreasyFingers]

Hi again, Paul. Yes, that’s an important step to do. I didn’t get proper footage of it, so I left it away in the film.

[@fuzzmao2851]

What are the rubber tubes hanging from the bottom of the airbox trough?

[@GreasyFingers]

Drainage, I guess.

[@luigialfared]

Complimenti per il video, è molto interessante. L'auto è fantastica e la signora alla guida ha un grande fascino. Ho visto anche il video sull'Alfa Romeo Giulietta: sei davvero bravo nel riparare le Alfa Romeo storiche. Ma intervieni solo sulle tue auto per realizzare dei video o puoi anche lavorare su auto di altre persone? Ho un Duetto Osso di Seppia e mi piacerebbe che tu potessi metterlo a punto... Grazie

[@GreasyFingers]

Buonasera, Luigi, sono contento che le piaccia il mio lavoro e sì, sono un'officina e posso occuparmi volentieri del suo Duetto. Mi scriva a [e-mail]

[@berndcassel2581]

Unglaublich schönes Auto,ich werde schwach

[@GreasyFingers]

Wir alle! 😆

[@duncankerr8258]

Hi,I need a bootlid for a 1969 boat tail spider. Do you have any source for such a thing? Or any contact who may have one?

[@GreasyFingers]

Hi. Yes, there’s one on the market in Germany these days. Please contact me on instagram. Otherwise [e-mail]

[@rudiknapen4867]

First i thought that is Julia Roberts behind the wheel off that alfa

[@GreasyFingers]

I’ll let her know. I do think she’d be pleased to hear this.

[@laurentiuprisacariu9905]

Giulietta on sale? 😮

[@GreasyFingers]

Mhmmmmm. ☺️

[@M1993W]

Where is Luigi and where is Olivia?😱😱

[@GreasyFingers]

Both fine! Just a little more patience please …

[@rockerbie]

Remove the hood and cover the fenders please.

[@GreasyFingers]

Or don’t and don’t damage them. ☺️

[@worldisafrick]

When someone brings you an Alfa to work on you can do it your way

[@nickmit4406]

If i ever get a classic Alfa the FIRST thing to do is to microsquirt it! There is absolutely NO reason to have carburettors in 2024.

[@GreasyFingers]

In that case I’d rather recommend to buy a new Alfa.

[@MLC...]

Do not agree. These old carburettors are beautifully engineered mechanical air and fuel mixture machines that supply classic engines. If I want a modern experiece I will buy a new car. But I don't.

[@nickmit4406]

I wasn't expecting a great odience tbh. This is an unpopular "opinion" indeed and this is due to the fact that our way of seeing things is different. My thinking is the following: I live in a country with minimal sunny days. The very rare day that the sun is out it would be very annoying to have to cancel the ride because of a stuck float or a blocked needle and instead of enjoying the sun, the ride and/or the car, I'm dismantling carbs. Each to their own I guess 😉

[@georgebettiol8338]

There is no denying that electronic fuel injection using (say) Jenvey throttle bodies is a far more efficient solution - however it comes at cost to both pocket and orginality. If the carbys and associated rubber mounts are restored and replaced respectively they will perform very well. Notably, my preference is for the look of the side draught Weber or Dellorto over the Solex type - although all three offer equal performance in standard tune. If I was to replace the carbys I would opt for the "heritage' fuel injection throttle bodies that make use of the 'body of the DCOE Weber - as these provide the desired look.

[@alfagreg4108]

All Alfa owners excited to follow this! Beautiful car and film. Interesting with the Solex content. I have a US version 2000 spider so very familiar with the work....just without the Greasy Fingers when watching.