road tripp'n

[Joey]

I have purchased a road worthy Alfa finally 
Ended up buying a GTV 2.0 with a fresh transaxle and a good service history. Receipts for rust that had been removed etc.
The seller assures me its rust free and has a good straight body and is one of the many conditions of payment, basically if I arive there and car was not described correctly I am not obliged to pay for it 
So the itinerary for me is to fly to Lismore airport leaving Sydney at 8am, meeting the car at the airport then driving the 1000k's back! Yes I am crazy 
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170405538989&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_884wt_1165
Was my winning bid a good price for a good condition original GTV?
wish me luck! I am hopefully going to take some photo's along the way, quite a nice drive actually I did it a few times earlier this year to pick go kart stuff up from Brisbane.
I am taking my tools along with picking up supplies in town before I head back, all types of fluids etc.
Anything for me to keep in mind/ recommendations?

[alfagtv152]

Hi Joey,
If that is 140,000kms only and as described I think you did good.I hope you have an enjoyable trip home and happy motoring in your Alfetta GTV,they are the best in my book.
Cheers
Andrew

[Joey]

Hi Joey,
If that is 140,000kms only and as described I think you did good.I hope you have an enjoyable trip home and happy motoring in your Alfetta GTV,they are the best in my book.
Cheers
Andrew

I usually don't like buying cars like this, but the owner seemed very genuine and after many very thorough conversations with him I came to the conclusion that it was a good bit of kit and that it comes with records of what has been done. 

[AgeG]

Joey,

Im in Melbourne, bought a GTV6 from Oyster Bay on QLD border, met the owner at the airport, car was as described, drove it home without missing a beat, and until now no problems.

Its the best way to fall in love with your new toy!

Best of Luck

Adrian

[pep105]

Hi Joey,
Yes you did do well looks like a nice example they're pretty rock solid mechanically if well looked after (maybe not electrically  )
Think of all the fun your going to have for very little investment.
I did the same thing with a 147, caught a bus to Sydney (awful, flights were all booked out) then drove it home with the missus, great fun, would be more fun in a GTV though !
Good luck
Pep 

[Joey]

So guys, a few questions:
Anything special I should keep an eye on during the way home? besides the general fluids etc...
Based on it being accident free, straight body, good service history, rust free and completely original, very well cared for etc did I make a wise purchase?
With the electrical problems I am likely to face in the future, what is the general process of ensuring the electrics will be solid long into the future? A few cans of contact cleaner over significant places?
I have heard of seats that are faded getting fixed up to their original colour, seeing as though these ones are mostly intact despite being quite faded.
As I have purchased this as a enjoyable investment, what are the main things to keep a eye on for the sake of the car staying in top condition?
When it arrives, I better join the club eh? 
Cheers, Joey.

[pep105]

So guys, a few questions:
Anything special I should keep an eye on during the way home? besides the general fluids etc...

Yes the temp gauge, and bring a paper clip, crazy I know but if the thermo fan switch dies you can short it out with the paper clip, fan will stay on but at least you can control the temp if it over heats.

Based on it being accident free, straight body, good service history, rust free and completely original, very well cared for etc did I make a wise purchase?

Sh*t yeah why wouldn't it be ?

With the electrical problems I am likely to face in the future, what is the general process of ensuring the electrics will be solid long into the future? A few cans of contact cleaner over significant places?
I have heard of seats that are faded getting fixed up to their original colour, seeing as though these ones are mostly intact despite being quite faded.

Ahh yes, better still theres a recent thread on a GTV6 in this link that explains it really well, eg relays, contact cleaner and measuring voltage drops, alternator upgrade etc here 
http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=3753.0;topicseen

I have heard of seats that are faded getting fixed up to their original colour, seeing as though these ones are mostly intact despite being quite faded.

Sorry pass, not sure about that

As I have purchased this as a enjoyable investment, what are the main things to keep a eye on for the sake of the car staying in top condition?

Try and garage it if you can keep corosion at bay, attend to things as they occur dont let issues pile up or it will become a clapper before you know it, regular servicing, oil changes every 5000km, regular cooling system flush/coolant change, tailshaft donuts, exhaust mounts, syncros, carby mounts/carby tune etc give her a regular once over have an idea of the overall condition get intimate with her, and drive it regularly, they really dont like sitting around! Im sure there heaps more but anyway you get the gist.. ohh and find a good mechanic and by the Haynes workshop manual and read it like your favourite novel ! From front to back and back again

When it arrives, I better join the club eh? 

Ahh Yes

[Joey]

So guys, a few questions:
Anything special I should keep an eye on during the way home? besides the general fluids etc...

Yes the temp gauge, and bring a paper clip, crazy I know but if the thermo fan switch dies you can short it out with the paper clip, fan will stay on but at least you can control the temp if it over heats.
 
Based on it being accident free, straight body, good service history, rust free and completely original, very well cared for etc did I make a wise purchase?

Sh*t yeah why wouldn't it be ?

With the electrical problems I am likely to face in the future, what is the general process of ensuring the electrics will be solid long into the future? A few cans of contact cleaner over significant places?

Ahh yes, better still theres a recent thread on a GTV6 in this link that explains it really well, eg relays, contact cleaner and measuring voltage drops, alternator upgrade etc here 

http://www.alfaclubvic.org.au/forum/index.php?topic=3753.0;topicseen

I have heard of seats that are faded getting fixed up to their original colour, seeing as though these ones are mostly intact despite being quite faded.

Sorry pass, not sure about that

As I have purchased this as a enjoyable investment, what are the main things to keep a eye on for the sake of the car staying in top condition?

Try and garage it if you can keep corosion at bay, attend to things as they occur dont let issues pile up or it will become a clapper before you know it, regular servicing, oil changes every 5000km, regular cooling system flush/coolant change, tailshaft donuts, exhaust mounts, syncros etc give her a regular once over have an idea of the overall condition get intimate with her, and drive it regularly , they dont like sitting around ! Im sure there heaps more but anyway you get the gist.. ohh and find a good mechanic and by the Haynes workshop manual and read it like your favourite novel !

When it arrives, I better join the club eh? 

Yep

I better keep a good eye that the thermo fan is kicking in when it should.
Haynes worshop manual I already have, first purchase I made! By sitting around, this is quite a fun thing for me to have as I work/manage a local mobile detailing business so this will have to travel a few times during the week as the demo car along with I fully intend to enjoy driving this machine!
Cheers for the quick reply pep105.

[MD]

joey,

If you want to keep it rust free (of the serious kind) spray all hollow sections with Valvoline Tectyl 506. Also good for around the battery tray area to stabilise any corrosion.

[Joey]

I went through the sponsors page but it would be best for me if somebody could recommend a good honest Sydney specialist? Most basic servicing and maintenance I plan on doing myself but it would be good for me to get a specialist to go over the car first. 
Cheers, Joey. 

[Mile Jurcic]

Hey Mate,
Congratulations on your purchase. Looks like a good solid car. Noticed the dash looks like its in good conditions with no apparent cracks. I have the same car with same coloring and i rekon it looks great.
I agree with what pep105 said "Think of all the fun your going to have for very little investment". Although my little investment seems to get bigger as the weeks pass.
Have fun and safe travelling.
Mile

[Joey]

Left home at 5am left Sydney airport at 7am, arrived at Lismore at 9am. Left Left Lismore at 10 after picking up supplies at the local SuperCheap auto.
Trip was going great for about 9 hours, kept a eye on fluids the hole way with nothing worrying to report. One of my stops I had a look at the drivebelt and it was starting to look a little frail. After leaving that stop, got 1k down the A1 to start hearing a squeek. Immediately I knew what it was and aimed the car towards the nearest breakdown bay. It went just before I made it to breakdown bay, just managed to stop it before it caused some damage. Went around to check the water pump and the alternator were spinning freely which they were.
Had to resort to NRMA... Took a fair bit of arguing to convince them that it was actually a very simple thing to repair. Eventually I managed to get in contact with a service driver who confirmed he had the belt with him and could replace it. Four hours later I was on my way back home. Besides this small hickup the trip was really good, the car was awesome to drive and after a bit of a polish the paint came up great.
What a trip 
travelling from 5am til 1am. What a day, but so worth it!

[MD]

I know this is going to sound a little kinky but...did you know you can make an emergency fan belt from a nylon stocking?

The trick is to only hook it up to the water pump and main pulley so the engine won't boil. The battery should run the car long enough to get you to a servo or spare parts place. Keep the revs low.

So next time you are in a fix and you have your girlfriend with you, you got a good excuse to say, drop 'em honey and see how far you get (in a manner of speaking). 

[Joey]

I know this is going to sound a little kinky but...did you know you can make an emergency fan belt from a nylon stocking?

The trick is to only hook it up to the water pump and main pulley so the engine won't boil. The battery should run the car long enough to get you to a servo or spare parts place. Keep the revs low.

So next time you are in a fix and you have your girlfriend with you, you got a good excuse to say, drop 'em honey and see how far you get (in a manner of speaking). 

That is the most horrible (and best) bush mechanic idea I have heard in a wile!

The car's paint work is struggling with oxidization as well. Tried to give it a bit of a hand polish but it was looking faded again the next day. I am thinking about booking it into a panel beaters shop to see how good they can get it to come up. If not I will probably eventually have to pull together the money for a respray 
all in all I am very happy with this car, I have found one little spot of rust over the entire car which seems quite good for a un-restored example
It came with receipts for the transaxle being replaced with a rebuilt one only a few thousand K's ago. All the synchro's are excellent, the engine is running great too and used next to no oil over a 1000k trip 
I like the fact that it is a original example with heaps of history with it of all receipts etc. Hopefully this will reflect on the resale value in a few years time.

[alfagtv152]

Hi Joey,
I use a product called ,T cut Original colour restorer, to cut away dead paint by hand and then use a red coloured wax polish to bring back the shine.I said red polish because I think you said it is red?.
Cheers
Andrew