105 GT early upgrades - what can be improved?

[pancho]

So, in an effort to not do the job twice I'm throwing out there what can be done to improve things with regards to mechanical items on the early 105 GT GTV. As things are moving towards the TS conversion I'd like to hear your thoughts.

I found out only recently that the pedals in early cars (with cable clutch) are different to those in later models (with hydraulic clutch) so replacing those is a must if you're headed down the hydraulic route - unless you love one leg workouts. (thanks to Dave and Scott)

Other improvements bandied about are the later bellhousings with screw in reverse switch to prevent oil leaks (Thanks TonyR)

Converting bellohousing studs for threadserts and bolts (thanks Scott)

What other non obvious swaps/conversions/upgrades can be done to improve the breed similar to the list above?

[alfagtv58]

I know Colin Byrne has an excellent little bracket that the brake cylinders attach to under the car that reduce their tendency to flex in hard brake applications.

[LaStregaNera]

Double row rear wheel bearings.

[Davidm1600]

Without wanting to sound like a dickhead, why try and invent the wheel Pancho.  Surely a ph call or email to Max Banks or even a peruse of both the stuff they have let alone a read of his story of the build of his GTA-R will tell you plenty. 

What am I missing ??

[pancho]

So gents, after talking casually the other night - why exactly is the 2 litre 105 gearbox better than the earlier ones ? larger more reliable bearings ? better design in certain areas ?

[AikenDrum105]

http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=6556.0


kthxbye 

[DaveT]

Excuse me while I tread on some likely well trodden ground, but what's the consensus on the best thing to do with the driveshaft on an early car TS conversion with 160+ hp.

Patrick I've just been re reading the driveshaft bit in your thread and you've gone with a 2ltr driveshaft with the later support bearing yeah? Was there a reason to go with the full 2ltr shaft, is it stronger or is it just a case of the later support bearing not locating and/or fitting onto the 1600 shaft?

Are the early pillow block supports too floppy to cope with the extra juice?

And what about the guibo, I was planning on replacing mine with a high quality after market version but it seems getting rid of it completely might be the best way to go. I'm blowing AH's horn again but that's what they do with their Race Propshaft Conversion...is this overkill for 'fast road' TS conversion?

[pancho]

Anybody here performed or know if this modification is a good one to do? Looks like a good new age way to stop replacing bushes - could be much smoother too.



Dave, if you're chasing power then I'd say that from what I've read you'd be best off replacing the early drive shaft with a later one. This is what I will be doing, but not going down the AH route yet, god knows I have money to spend elsewhere and I have a complete NOS 2 litre driveshaft and associated parts already.

[branko.gt]

Anybody here performed or know if this modification is a good one to do? Looks like a good new age way to stop replacing bushes - could be much smoother too.



Dave, if you're chasing power then I'd say that from what I've read you'd be best off replacing the early drive shaft with a later one. This is what I will be doing, but not going down the AH route yet, god knows I have money to spend elsewhere and I have a complete NOS 2 litre driveshaft and associated parts already.

i'm not sure but this may be of a "better mousetrap"  variety ....
not unlike some AH improvements that seem to "fix" problems that did not exist in the first place and often are actually worse than the original solution provided by alfa ....

[AikenDrum105]

.. problems that did not exist in the first place and often are actually worse than the original solution provided by alfa ....

So ... Alfa's original solution to a problem that didn't exist in the first place is better than the AH one ?   

[ItalCarGuy]

.. problems that did not exist in the first place and often are actually worse than the original solution provided by alfa ....

So ... Alfa's original solution to a problem that didn't exist in the first place is better than the AH one ?   

Sounds like a known unknown to me

[branko.gt]

.. problems that did not exist in the first place and often are actually worse than the original solution provided by alfa ....

So ... Alfa's original solution to a problem that didn't exist in the first place is better than the AH one ?   

very funny, i can see how you can intentionally misinterpret what i was trying to say ..

In case you weren't trying to be funny, i should explain that i used term "solution" where i should have said "design" or "engineering outcome". I am sorry about the confusion, too much IT jargon in my world, and in IT everything is a "solution".

[AikenDrum105]

I intentionally interpreted it the way it read.  I apologise if I made a grand sweeping generalisation.

 

[Divano Veloce]

With respect to the idler, Alfa provided a plain bearing which is correct for the speed and load of the idler shaft. They just forgot the grease nipple.

[Divano Veloce]

A pusher Thermo fan frees up a couple of hundred watts but more importantly with the stock fan shrowd removed you can access the crank pully with a socket