With the oldest GTV6 nearing 40 years in service, a forum to document projects and restoration seems sensible.
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Michael
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Re: New GTV6 project, 1981 Rosso

Post by Michael »

This is what I'm planning to try first.
As you pointed out Mike, the pink is (usually) power source and the case has a separate pin there with a 15+ label. Plus the pink wire is a little longer so makes sense that it does not connect to the back plug. I'll connect the white/red wire to the center pin. BTW the 5th pin on the connector is not used (I opened the box to check it out).
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Re: New GTV6 project, 1981 Rosso

Post by MD »

With all that heavy duty gearing, I am thinking that the device is meant to be a control box for some purpose that needs remote control. Perhaps a heater valve, an air vent, a demister flap, an early intermittent wiper controller ( long bow here). Dunno.
At the end of the day, it cannot be a key element to the operation of the vehicle as it is not a component used in other markets as it has been suggested.

Certainly a good brain tease.
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Re: New GTV6 project, 1981 Rosso

Post by heavymetalalfa »

I've had 75 GTV6's and I have seen a lot of those. They aren't on every car, to my knowledge.
I always figured it was a speedo sender amplifier/decoder for the dash speedometer. Taking the pulses from the trans sender and as they increase, it mechanically turns the potentiometer that moves the needle in the speedo head
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Re: New GTV6 project, 1981 Rosso

Post by Michael »

In case some other poor soul also becomes fascinated by the black box... my experience was quite odd. I found that when I first test drove the car, I thought there was something wrong with the passenger side wheel bearing as it made an occasional thunking noise from he passenger front side. I then remembered the black box with the severed wires and removing the plug solved my issue. The speedo operates intermittently but I think that is a faulty sender unit.
So its been 20 months of gradual progress but the car is finally driving again! I feel like almost everything I encountered was broken in some way so progress was slow. On the bright side, almost everything has been overhauled or replaced and I feel like the car will be reliable. It has a 3 liter engine I built in 1998 with S cams and CSC headers so it goes nicely! I'm currently using the original 1981 Bosch ignition system but the fuel ECU has been replaced by a modified 3.0 Milano unit. I'm already planning Megasquirt and the engine has a 164 pulley and wheel and timing sensor. I installed a wide band O2 sensor and I see 13.9 AFR at WOT and I think the car would make better power in the 12.9 - 13.0 AFR range.

Lets see, it has replica Ronal wheels, and Euro type bumpers I bought from Alfa Panels in the UK. Actually, the front bumper is not yet fitted because my car needs some body work to straighten it out before the bumper will fit properly. Now that its on the road, I'll be able to take it to various body shops to see if they can help. This is my one disappointment with the car; I really wanted one with a straight body and this one was represented to me as being cosmetically great but its obviously been hit in the front and the driver side wheel arch is damaged (& poorly repaired) and the front is pushed slightly in. I think its repairable but beyond my skill level so its going to be expensive.

I also found an Alpine stereo which seems period correct and I had someone plumb in a bluetooth input (using the old AM band). It awesome. I kinda like the seats though the Recaro Specialist seats are tempting me.
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Michael
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Re: New GTV6 project, 1981 Rosso

Post by Michael »

I also ordered a 3.0 South African bonnet from Alfa Panels. With the price of the cars in SA now, I've given up ever affording one so a (vaguely) similar one is my only chance. Watch this space :)
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Re: New GTV6 project, 1981 Rosso

Post by KevinR »

Hi Michael, looking very good. I see you have also the 3.0 front spoiler as well. On my fiber glass bumpers I made I painted the original insert black ie the black trim area and the bumper appears to be original looking :) also in the black area I could hide my fixing points.
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Re: New GTV6 project, 1981 Rosso

Post by KevinR »

Those Ronals look very good and have a perfect offset .
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Re: New GTV6 project, 1981 Rosso

Post by Michael »

Thanks Kevin! Also for the ideas on mounting fiberglass bumpers. My idea is not quite as neat, I do have some mounting bolts showing.
I painted the bumpers black just for fun, and I think I like it a bit better than the red bumpers, mostly because the trim behind the bumpers is still black.
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Re: New GTV6 project, 1981 Rosso

Post by Michael »

I have spent lots of time on my engine management recently.
To make sure the engine was running well, I installed an Innovate wideband Air/fuel ratio gauge and determined that my car was running lean at WOT - AFR somewhere near 13.9. To correct this I contacted Al Mitchel (on the AlfaBB) and he made me a 'plug-and-play' Megasquirt solution. It consists of a gutted L-Jet ECU with a Microsquirt module installed inside, a MAP sensor, an IAT sensor, a Bosch TPS, set of 6 High Z fuel injectors on a GTV6 fuel rail and a small wiring harness needed to make everything work. The ECU plugs into the stock Bosch connector so it can be reversed easily.
I have an early car so I had to add a couple of pins to the ECU plug but it was easy. I'm using TunerStudio currently to dial in the MAP - its really nice software! I'm running stock ignition for now. Best part about it is being able to remove the factory AFM. Next job is to relocate the cone filter behind the headlights since its something of a 'hot-air intake system' right now.
My car has a 3.0 liter Verde engine, 164S cams with a Sperry Stage 1 valve job (Anyone remember those guys?), CSC headers. Contact me if anyone wants the .MSQ file reflecting current state of tune. The car feels faster and definitely has smoothed out the running. I'm also ready for new modifications if I ever decide to go with higher compression pistons or aftermarket cams.
Al has really done a thorough job creating this kit, its truly plug-and-play and clearly a labor of love.
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Re: New GTV6 project, 1981 Rosso

Post by FLETCH »

looking good Michael , when is the SA Bonnet going on ? :D
81 GTV 2.5 V6 (SOON TO BE 3L )
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Re: New GTV6 project, 1981 Rosso

Post by Michael »

FLETCH wrote: Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:42 pm looking good Michael , when is the SA Bonnet going on ? :D
Haha, soon :D . It just needs to be painted. I painted the spoiler myself and it looks pretty rough (bodywork not my forte) so I thought I'd get that bonnet panel professionally done. I have been pondering having it wrapped in black to see how that would look....
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Re: New GTV6 project, 1981 Rosso

Post by Steve R »

The car is looking good Michael !
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Re: New GTV6 project, 1981 Rosso

Post by Michael »

This is the wheel arch which needs to be repaired:
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Re: New GTV6 project, 1981 Rosso

Post by Michael »

Can anyone tell me how to make something close to the 3 liter bonnet duct grille?
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Re: New GTV6 project, 1981 Rosso

Post by KevinR »

I can get one scanned for you off one of mine. I can get a quote this weekend.
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