Alfetta GTV6 engine alignment

[ALFAAA]

Hi, Just fitted a V6 busso to my Alfetta GTV and have noticed that the engine is not square sitting in the car, Its more over to the left hand side. Is this normal.
Any advice would be great.

[rowan_bris]

Mine is the same

[Mick A]

Yes, completely normal.

[ALFAAA]

Thank you Mick A and Rowan_Bris.
Is there a reason for the engine to be slightly out of alignment.

[Mick A]

It's a bit of a mystery, but I think it has to do with the way the engine torques over under load and it brings it into alignment with the tailshaft.

...or Alfa just said "meh, close enough!"

[poohbah]

Maybe this well help put your mind at rest, courtesy of google research...

Dr Google says the engine sits 7deg off center and is designed to pull straight under load, as suggested by Mick.

[105junior]

Is that a Windsor??

[poohbah]

Well spotted its a 302 - i just found that pic on another Alfa website cos it clearly shows engine alignment. Probably would have made more sense to show an actual Alfa V6!! No matter, I think its a Melbourne car. Someone on here probably knows the owner.

[LukeC]

I remember the first time I worked on a V6 engined Alfa with a front opening bonnet many years ago (probably about 1988 on a 90), I did a double take thinking it just did not look right. It was a customer updating from an Alfetta and I was doing a pre-purchase inspection. I examined the car closely looking for accident damage, but found none. so I came to the conclusion that was how it was. It can be confirmed by examining cast aluminium parts of the engine mounts.

I also have read this theory that the engine is pulled into alignment under load. I dismissed it as someone with no real understanding of driveline mechanics, engineering and the forces/reactions involved throwing the idea. This nonsense has been floating out there on the interweb ever since.

I say its complete bollocks and I will challenge anyone to prove it with some fact or with some simple drawings of vectors and simple engineering math.

More likely it was to give decent clearance for the enormous old York A/C compressors originally fitted to the GTV6s.

That Windsor is a very neat installation even though it makes me a bit nauseous.

[poohbah]

That Windsor is a very neat installation even though it makes me a bit nauseous

Agreed, but seems a lot of bother for a measly extra 40hp.

[poohbah]

Actually, I was probably being a bit unkind. I revisited the site and apparently output is/was over 300bhp. So a fair bit more than an extra 40 ...