164 'Restoration'

[V AR 164]

So the bonnet on my donor was in terrible condition, it had been resprayed and was looking aged.
I thought I'd give it a facelift 
A sand down and few cans satin black spray paint. I'm pretty pleased with the results!
Also sprayed the chrome surround Rosso red.







Not bad!
Andrew.

[stustustu123]

Looking good! Will be great to have it back on the road I'll bet. I'm not a huge fan of the red scudetto bet hey, each to their own! Your engine bay looks pretty clean by the way, a lot of older 164s tend to look pretty scruffy by now unless someone has given them some TLC.

Did you have any issues sourcing a thermostat? I bought a Tridon one a few years ago that was marked for a 164 but it was just the internals & would have required modifying the housing to fit, so I took it back and bought a proper one that included housing.

[V AR 164]

Yeah it looks better in person, the camera exaggerates it a bit. Also I mention this is my donor car, not my actual one, so it probably will never be on the road again.

Yes I can't wait for mine to come back, at the mechanics now and missing it dearly!
I got a thermostat from Itallian Automatovie Spares with the housing included, no issues at all.

Also the deadline for my car to be completed by is the 30th of August, including roadworthy and rego, to make its debut on the Bundoora Sunday drive the club has organised. Also because I'm getting my learners on the 28th, and it would be great for me to drive it on the day 

Exciting few weeks to come!
Thanks, Andrew.

[V AR 164]

Unrelated post but I got my learners today!
Been driving everywhere, sadly not in my Alfa because it's still not ready, but in the GTS so it's just as much fun as you can imagine 😆

Can't wait to spend more time on the road! Certainly a lot of fun!
If you see me say hi!
Thanks, Andrew.

[V AR 164]

Hey guys,

Got my new wheels all on today, really pleased with how the car looks now 





Andrew.

[Bulli75]

Looking Good Andrew!   Keep up the good work! 
This  was my favourite car (until I sold it). More importantly I still have the SZ genuine Speedline Rims.

[Bulli75]

Andrew, I thought you may like this.  Its a 1of V10 164 ProCar (F1 derived mid engine)

[Bulli75]

 

[colcol]

Formula 1 driver Ricardo Patrese drove this car at the 1988?, Italian Grand Prix, for some demo laps and described it as one of the most terrifying cars he had ever driven, due to enormous power output, with lack of downforce and it being under tyred.
It was Bernies short lived idea to kill Group A Touring Cars, by having a replicar body shape of the production car with a Formula 1 motor stuck inside it.
Only catch was that the Formula 1 motor suppliers may not have wanted to enter Procars, as Formula 1 was expensive enough.
Alfa Romeo in 1986 had built a 4 cylinder 1.5 litre Turbo charged motor for the French Ligier Team, Ligier Team driver and Ferrari discard  Rene Arnoux, described the motor as "used food".
The now broke Alfa Romeo Company was sold to Fiat and promply withdrew Alfa Romeo from Formula 1, as they didn't want to be funding a competitor to the Ferrari Formula 1 team.
They were interesting times, Alfa Romeo would have to wait until 1995 with the 155 2 litre, to taste victory in the British Touring car series, which they won hands down, Colin.

[stustustu123]

Looks good Andrew! Must be a whole lot easier to clean than the original wheels. I actually like the originals too, never a huge fan of the Q 'cookie cutter' style though.

Can't think of the last time I saw a 164 on the road - there still seem to be quite a few turning up on eBay that people are wrecking etc, but the actual running, registered (and in regular use) car number must be quite low now.

[ARQ164 Shane]

Wow very nice work getting your car to good running condition is only most the battle to keeping
your car on the road.
I believe that a well maintained car (any car) is gold.
by the way I just did my first oil change on the Q I used a oil flush for the first time
with 10w60 Liquid moly & k&n hp-2004 filter it double my oil presser I'm really happy .

all the best keep up the good work

[V AR 164]

Thanks guys!

Yes not many around now, so glad to have it up and running finally. I was mainly focusing on getting the mechanical side of things fully sorted before I start with the visuals, but these wheels came up and I just had to have them. So much better than the originals IMO.

That procar sure is cool. I have read about it a few times, sad that it was never raced.

Regarding oil pressure, I've noticed that my oil pressure meter reads 0 once warmed up. The red light isn't on and when you rev it a little it increases but then goes back down. Is this common? I read that it is, but just want to make sure. It too has had an oil flush additive run through it and new oil.

Thanks, Andrew.

[ARQ164 Shane]

oil flush some people like them and some people have horror stores.
only use them when you are about to do the oil change put the flush in get the motor hot then drain
DO NOT GO FOR A DRIVE the oil flush cleans and lower the oil stick ness

cheers

[V AR 164]

That's what I did. I put the bottle of oil flush in, turned on the motor and let it idle until warm, then drained out the oil. Replaced oil filter and put in new oil.

Andrew.

[dfrye]

Well done Andrew, very impressed. Just make sure your school/uni results don't reflect inverse proportionality to your degree of interest in car projects like mine did 

//dean