ALFAGTV6.COM

Started cutting out for new guages and buttons for DASH 2 display . Also additional buttons to get car through a MOT including fog lamps . I will add some more pics of prop to previous post when I find them . If anyone is interested I can put the name up of the guys who make these in UK .

I bought a new relay holder and fuse box to run extra items . Atleast this relay holder is closed as its always being a problem getting rain into them in bonnet area . Not sure how though . Even with all these extra small items it still will remain mostly a race car but I have to cater for inclement weather which is quite common now for me . Need to run demister, wipers , rear windscreen heaters , extra fuel pumps , bigger fans etc . Hoping to get a lightweight heater / demister soon so just prepping the wiring .
Still a big mess in engine bay but slowly getting there . Can see the old and new centre consul .

Using the 3M carbon rap on panels created more problems as it originally stuck nicely but if you took the panels off the wrap would peel back off the edges . Even if the aluminium was cleaned and heat gun was used to soften the wrap on corners it still lifted after a few days . I think I will just have to glue the edges again as right now it looks pretty crap . I needed to find something to mask all the holes and scratches and I thought it was the solution .

Some more pics of heat shielding directly above exhaust . Just cleaned and touched up on welding on exhaust joints to prevent corrosion as it was mig welding on stainless pipe .

Tired of exhaust rubbers cracking after a year on the car so decided to try these powerflex ones at £5 a pop . Time will tell what he effects of tension and heat have on polyurethane .

Fitted my newly made up relay box , fuse box and bulkhead connection all next to each . Decluttering the area where my cross braced for engine bay will triangulate to bulkhead .
I got separate fuse box in centre consul to cater for ecu, race technology Dash 2 display and lambda sensor . Took a while to find a 1 amp fuse for the dash 2 . Dash 2 is all calibrated as I used their sensors but I must just calibrate wheel speed sensor .
Engine bay is starting to look neater but still busy with all the pipe work for breathers .

Future cross brace . All connecting points are in just need to fabricate it .

check!

Thanks for pic , that covers everything . I won't need to brace on engine as the gearbox that sits behind it has very wide mounts so engine won't move much . I do have tubing that runs from shock towers towards the castor arm similiar to that of the 75 touring cars . Underside I still have a sump guard not that it adds to much other than protect my sump . My key thing is to triangulate back to the bulkhead as I have very heavy coil overs . I guess its all immaterial as its no longer a 100% race car but a track day car ..., however with possible future plans to race it again .

With the wintery rainy weather now rolling in now I think I managed to get 98% of the work done I set out to do in refining the original build and making it roadworthy . Fitted the windscreen washer hoses . Bit tricky to hole saw in back of bonnet without it suddenly going through to the front but all went well .
Got both banks breather bottles in . I intended using just the one oil catch tank but it was to small for both banks ( according to fellow Alfa racers ) and the bigger tank could not fit . I placed the second catch tank in bottom corner in front of the large aluminium radiator . I made sure this time the vent hoses are well away from cabin so I don't get the oil smell in even though all holes in firewall are now blocked .

Best upgrade done was changing the earth straps . Even though this is a 99% rust free car I found the bolt on the rear earth strap had corroded so much that the contact area surrounding was also affected . With a new earth straps and a new point to bolt it to has made a huge difference in cranking speed . Its worth checking on all GTV's that are in daily use in wet climate . ( just check bolt and contact surface ) . Thanks to Nick for getting these cables crimped with the heavy duty crimper .

its looking really good Kevin.... - !! - r u coming to SA at some stage?

Hi Joe , yes I'm trying to arrange to come to SA in Feb for the Zwartkops international . Maybe with all the back /spine rehab and training I will have recovered enough to be able take one one of Glenwoods GTV's to race in the festival . Dawie kindly offered me one of his cars last year when my car ran into issues in qualifying so I better check their will be one on standby .

I have been plodding on with car changing and re checking various electrical components as there are some still gremlins I'm trying to isolate . I started with the earth straps as mentioned above which made a huge difference already . Definitely something for everyone to look at with their GTV in the rear battery box . I had alternator rechecked as I noticed my voltmeter fluctuating . Test bench picked up faulty regulator so I can tick that box .
Even though I had a good kill switch I decided to upgrade it with an Autolec FIA type . Not cheap but then its great quality . I did already have new battery cable but changed the battery terminals .
Finally changed the sparkplugs as I killed those from to much idling and over fuelling this was caused by not having a thermostat in . The ecu feuling on cold start is directly related to water temp . I could get away with it in SA as the car would warm up quickly and I could rev it without anyone hearing it in two miles . So yes as road track car many things have had to change including my new rear silencer section that I'm getting custom made for side exit .
A proper battery has also eliminated any doubts of out of ordinary voltage drop on cranking . I got a great Yuasa battery . Again not cheap but it will be on a conditioner in the winter to save it .

I rechecked timing and belt tension just to make sure my fouled plugs were not caused by jumped tooth but its all perfect . Belt was on loose side but its now all set correctly in my outdoor workshop
Some pics to follow .

Hi

Never heard of a Yuasa....Please let me know what u do with silencer - pics, etc... I may need to do something as well.... also, I think Dawie has sold many of his cars... not sure how many he has left, though he builds a new one very day

All that street workshop takes me back when I lived in London and carried out running repairs on my cars. Fingers numb from the cold and waiting for a fine day without rain. Just beautiful. Sure am glad to be back in God's own hangout.

So Mr Kevin,may I suggest to always install a plastic battery tray under your battery? It is also a good idea to treat the battery enclosure with a good wax based quality rust inhibitor paint cause sure as JK sleeps with a Teddy Bear , corrosion will find a way to piss you off.

...God's own hangout??? So that's what being perpetually drunk is like! OR...Speak ill and be deported...
Jim K.