Phase One Complete for my 105

[Tim Jobson]

Well it has been a busy couple of months with my target date of 21 Feb to get the car registered so that I can show her at the all Italian Car and Bike day.

After finishing the rear suspension rebuild and fitting my new adjustable brake pressure reducing valve it was now time for the really fun part, installing my newly trimmed seats and door cards.   I had previously stripped down the front seat runners and repainted and greased them, boy what a difference a non tatty/torn interior does to a car...I feel she is coming back to life, the stained roof lining will have to wait till the body get a full respray.....later!

So it was ...bleed brakes with help from my very patient wife pumping the pedal......very dodgy spray job from a spray can on surface rust areas......align main headlights in the garage .......then book a day to get the wheels aligned and car inspected at a Transport vehicle centre.

43 Degrees....You Must be MAD!

Of all days, I picked the day Perth had 43 degrees at the airport which meant it was hotter at Kelmscott where I had booked my inspection for 1pm, yep peak temp time!!.    Lyndell said I was mad to go in that heat, let alone in a car with no A/C and one that had not been driven more than a km.....I took the risk and went anyway (she was shaking her head as I drove off into the heat haze).

As I was driving I was constantly watching the temp gauge, listening out for any abnormal sounds or vibrations.     It was hot, no it was bloody hot, and my girl kept her cool, the temp gauge stayed at 85-90 deg, me ....I was melting.  I felt very proud of the way she handled the conditions and she gave me my first Alfa smile.     In the end it was worth it because she passed and was registered and was now on track to attend the Italian car day!!!

I will have more updates later.

Tim

[1750GTV]

Very nice. I like to two tone door cards.
Another 105 back on the road - this can only be a good thing.

What trim did you use for the upholstery?

Chris

[Tim Jobson]

Thanks Chris, I used a really high quality vinyl that feels like leather as I feel that leather interiors are more for in tune for luxury and touring cars rather than a classic sports car.   I did the two tone in a more modern colour as I feel this is what the coupe would of progressed to if they kept the 105 theme updated with the times.    It is a shame that Alfa could not of done an Aston Martin and kept the true essence of their coupe yet in terms of body shape and performance over the years!

I did not include pictures of the outside as its paint work is not much better that the look of my origional red interior!

Tim

[mario-jnr]

tim that trim job is top shelf mate im not a fan of brown or tan but you have converted me damm you ive already bought my new black leatherete racing seats for my jnr and have spent many hours making all the new door cards myself all in black grain h mm is it too late to change...........no im sticking with black whew
i would and will post some shots of my old girl when she is respectable doing bodywork now all mechanicals are done thank god but the bodywork is taking me longer than i thought keep up the good work tim

[lhodgo]

Mate looks awesome, what a difference! My beauty received a Brisbane make over before I bought her and to my amazement the owner before me had replaced all the seat fronts with black velour!!! I couldn't believe my eyes when I first inspected the car, I thought 'why would anyone do that, the first thing I will do is replace those seats with leather trim'. He had kept the vinyl basket weave pattern on the back of the seats and copied the original stitch pattern in the velour fronts. When I asked him he said, "mate have you ever driven a black vinyl interior car in Brisbane on a mid 30's day with 80% humidity?" I'm telling you now, I will never change them back.  I'm glad I didn't do leather, you're right vinyl is the only 'non velour' treatment for these beauty's!

[Tim Jobson]

Thanks for the comments guys, it was not only pleasing to feel and see my new seats, they were also pretty good even in very hot conditions.     I have had many other Fiats with vinyl seats that really make you sweat when hot so it was worth getting the better quality material.

It looks like it will be a comfortable 32deg at the Italian car day this Sunday!

I also managed to replace the rear window rubber hinges as the old ones had all cracked.    It was a simple job and I even bought a punch set so that I could make a new set of washers from a tyre innner tube for the rear of the window latch mechanism.     It seems to of worked however a slightly harder material would be better....has any one tried anything else?

Tim

[Gary Pearce]

I dont know if you have Clark Rubber over in the West, but I made some similar washes from some 3mm rubber sheet I came across. The trouble with rubber tyre tube is that it seems to perrish and breakdown quickly.

[tuf105]

Hi Tim,
The rear quarterwindow hinge arrangement is very similar to Karmann Ghias of that period. You can get the rubber gasket for that model.

I bought a couple of sets for my 105 and they did fit, admittedly tightly. I've read elsewhere that they fitted like a glove ! At $5 each, it might be worth a try.

A bonus for you is that I got them via a friend through a VW Karmann Ghia specialist in WA called the "Karmann Ghia Company of Australia". You'll find their details on the internet.

Regards,

Frank.

[Tim Jobson]

I think your right Gary, a better UV resistant material is needed, I will try Franks suggestion.    I wonder if the origional washers were just flat on both sides or were like the ones shown in the airheadparts picture.     

Tim

[Tim Jobson]

Thanks for the tip Frank, I went and saw the Jerry Heldt, the owner of the Ghia Company of Aust at his factory unit here in Bibra Lake ( 08-94188895).    Nice chap who sold me two sets of window washers, he even suggested that the rubber hinges he sells are also the same as for a 105!

As an aside, I make it to the all Italian car day last Sunday, unfortunately too hot, I do not know how east coast clubs run their "Show and Shine Day", I posted my comments on the event in the WA forum.

Regards

Tim

[tuf105]

Hi Tim,
No problems.

From memory, the problem I had fitting them was the thickness of the washers. On 105s, the pin is held in place with an e clip or similar. On Karmann Ghia's, i believe the pin screws in (Like the front quarterlight window pivot pin).

I had to squeeze the assembly with a clamp to get enough circlip groove sticking out to assemble an e-clip (Don't ask how many e-clips I lost in the process, I've still finding them on the garage floor !). Obviously, this was a window 'out' situation because there was no way I could do it with the windows 'in-situ'.

Hopefully, you have an easier time of it. I would suggest heating them up and using lots of lubricant to give you every chance of getting that clip on if doesn't fall in to start with.

Goes without saying be careful whilst handling the glass for safety sake.

Let us know how you go.

Cheers

Frank.

[Tim Jobson]

I will have fun putting these new ones in when I have stripped the car down and had it painted....and that will have to wait until the piggy bank gets full again!    Looking at one of the Ghia's rear window latch they are almost identical except the fixing arm to the car, theirs is at 90deg to the 105s!

Cheers

Tim