Work in Progress

[Mat Francis]

Well, she's still a long way off, and she'll never quite regain her former glory, but at least it's one less sacrifice to the car god's.

[Mat Francis]

some more

[Evan Bottcher]

What's this going to be Mat?  Road or race?

[Mat Francis]

i would love to say road car, but it would just take too long and cost too much. So this one is destined to be the "mean-ass stripped-out track b*tch." Hopefully by the end of this year? I doubt things will go that smoothly for us though.

[Luke]

Wow Mat, end of this year is a tight deadline to meet (it certainly would be for me anyway.)

What are your plans for the engine?

Best of luck to you!

[Mat Francis]

End of the year is probably a bit optimistic, but it would be nice. Dad's doing the tricky stuff while i get the easy, time consuming stuff done at the moment, and we are making pretty good progress. The engine will get a budget re-build where needed; rings, bearings, etc. Found a set of 10548's lying around in the shed, so we'll whack them in, but apart from that it's just going to be standard.
The logic here is
a) i can't afford to go nuts on it, even if i wanted to,
b) i want to learn to really drive the thing properly before getting behind the wheel of anything really fast,
c) it's still gonna be a hell of a lot of fun for near enough to nothing

It will also be nice to know that if something gets broken properly i will still have a road car, which is a really good incentive to make progress quickly. It's not going to be the prettiest/fastest car going around, but as far as practicality i think we're onto a winner 

[Evan Bottcher]

So are you going for standard class, or the new 'modified' class?  The new modified class will be basically similar to current super-modified class.  Details will be finalised shortly I expect.  You're already in super modified this season due to R tyres I guess.

Looks like a great bit of fun though.  I love sedans.  Ssh don't tell Sheldon.  :-P

[Mat Francis]

It's looking like modified is the way to go, as we won't be putting the interior or bumpers or any of that back on. and yes plus the tyres, and it needs a new exhaust, and the huge advantage that an extra 1/4" of pipe is going to give me would make it utterly unfair to run in standard class!!!

Oh and as for sedans, i bet not many people are aware of what they weigh. In standard form, with nothing removed, (  ) and a full tank of fuel, (according to the Haynes manual, covering 73-87, all models inc. GTV) 1060kg. Minus whatever i can pull out, of course. Whats that, a GTV has to be lighter you say, it only has 2 doors! Well, you would be right, it does have 2 doors, with a free 170kg! (1230 with a tank of fuel, again says the manual) someone correct me if i am wrong of course, but to me that is a LOT of free horsies!

[Sheldon McIntosh]

Sounds like a big difference, but if Haynes says so....  As magazine Editor I can confirm that anything committed to print is 100% factually correct.

The 90 is lighter than a GTV6 also.

[Mat Francis]

You're right, it does sound like a lot, but it does keep me very happy to continue believing it.
Once this car is near completion i'll take it to the weigh bridge down the road and hopefully put a real number on it.

[Paul Gulliver]

Matt,

Your right those are the weights noted in the Haynes manual. I thought it sounded a big difference so i pulled out my old owners instruction booklets for both cars. ( I have owned a 77 Alfetta sedan & 1980 GTV over the years). The 77 Alfetta sedan is noted at 1060 kg and the 1980 GTV at 1080 kg, both with full tanks.

Perhaps the factory has  the same set of scales as my wife.

Cheers

Paul

[Jekyll and Hyde]

Perhaps the factory has  the same set of scales as my wife.

I'm assuming that Mrs. Gulliver is not computer literate? 

[Mat Francis]

Thanks Paul, that does, unfortunately for me i suppose, sound a lot more like it.

[pep105]

Yes will vouch for the GTV weighing in at 1080kg (I think 1100kg with air con) as the manual states and have read the fetta weighs 1060Kg

Matt nice work with the Alfetta one of my favourite Alfas, boxy, fun well balanced and great exhaust note
should make a great track car, get the suspension right and a good strong engine with the 10548s plus reduced weight and Bobs your uncle.

[Mat Francis]

some progress/acquisitions from the Francis Alfetta yard. The section under the rear screen is starting to come along, and the seat was exchanged for a six pack, a pretty good deal as far as i'm concerned.