Just bought a 147 GTA

[MJF]

Hi All

I have recently bought a 2006 147 GTA, stock, 52ks, black/black, manual, non-Q2.  The car is fantastic and as much as I am enjoying getting to know it as is, I expect I will need some work done in the near future.

I am considering the Q2 upgrade, chip and airfilter at this stage.  Have any of you experience or advice to offer on these and other modifications?

Cheers
Michael

[hammer]

Michael,

Welcome to Alfa ownership.

I don't have any direct experience with the 147 GTA, but there are a few in the club. Club member Robert Kilsby races one in circuit racing and Targas and it's a very quick bit of machinery. Killer could certainly give you some advice on how he's gone about getting the most out of the 3.2.

You may also want to post something on the modern section of this forum as there may be some GTA owners from other states lurking around that section of the forum who could offer advice.

I look forward to meeting you at a club event somewhere. A few of us are having a sprint at Qld Raceway this Saturday arvo if you'd like to come out for a look. Hopefully the rain will stay away. We also have a club night on tomorrow night at the Shannons offices in Montague Rd, West End. It will be a fairly low key club night, with long-time club member Doug Stonehouse giving a brief talk on the development of this 1974 GTV.

Cheers,

Brent (AROCA Qld Vice President)

[TFJ100]

Hi Michael, congratulations on your new purchase!

I have a thread on here somewhere which detailed my experience with a blown diff on a GTV3.0 (driving around a corner at 20km/h), and subsequent fitting of a Q2.

Basically - $4k if it blows (because it takes the bell-housing with it), and $2k if you just get the upgrade done.

One benefit is a significant reduction in torque-steer, although I would says others make more of that than I have personally experienced

My view is that you would regret not having done it if your diff goes, so just go ahead and get it done.

Torben

[Brad M]

Michael,

Welcome and Torbin is a wise man, my first GTA didn't have a Q2, so I had it fitted straight away ... nothing would be more gutting than it going so early in your ownership.

Many buy the Q2 diff from EB Spares in the UK and have it installed at a specialist, who sources appropriate bearings locally.

Brad

[LaStregaNera]

Another usefully upgrade is fitting the exhaust manifolds from a 156 or GTV v6 - does away with the restrictive pre-cat although you'll need to use a pair of 'sensor cats' from Wildcat in South Africa to trick the pre-cat's O2 sensors to stop it throwing sensor codes. I've got a set of the gtv v6 manifolds kicking around somewhere, the back one isn't going to fit when I finally put the 24 valve motor in it.

[MJF]

Hi Guys

Thanks very much for the warm welcome and advice.  I wasn't around on the Thursday or Sunday otherwise I would have been very keen to come along.  I am getting the car looked over by Alfamotive tomorrow and all things going well, it will be ready for some real work in the near future.  I will keep an eye out for any furture QLD events.

Cheers
Michael

[Darryl]

Lucky cos you would have been a day late both times 

The club night calendar is http://www.arocaqld.com/cms/pageDisplay.php?module=custom&type=events&name=clubNightEvents - second Wed of each month, but check venue  for the "away" nights...

[MJF]

haha quite right!

Thanks for the Calendar, I will take a look

[155 lover]

Congratulations on the purchase. I recently bought one too. It's a fantastic car to drive and I'm sure you'll be happy with it.

Something to consider os that it takes quite a bit of labour to swap the diff over to the Q2 (between 8-12 hours). Because the gearbox is already out, you may want to consider looking at the clutch at the same time. I know when I had my Q2 done I did the clutch as well (at 43,000kms) even though it was only about 60% worn because the mechanic was already there.

[Brad M]

Something to consider os that it takes quite a bit of labour to swap the diff over to the Q2 (between 8-12 hours). Because the gearbox is already out, you may want to consider looking at the clutch at the same time. I know when I had my Q2 done I did the clutch as well (at 43,000kms) even though it was only about 60% worn because the mechanic was already there.

That's good advice I wish had been given, Q2 done at about 53,000kms ... then the clutch started slipping within 10 months of the Q2 at about 62,0000kms.

[L4OMEO]

Fair points. As a counter-point though, I had my Q2 installed by John French Motors in Brisbane in about 5 hours ($450) so it's not necessarily as big a job as indicated.

Welcome aboard Michael.

Cheers
Rory

[155 lover]

L4OMEO - $450 is a great price. I rang a number of mechanics in SA and just about everyone said that a gearbox in and out job is 7-8 hours labour alone + the fitting of the Q2 which is between 1-3 hours (most guys here charge between $90-$120 an hour).

Only other thing to consider MJF would probably be your timing belt/water pump - I notice your car is approaching the 6 year/60,000km mark. It's another big job, so you may want to start thinking about when you'll get it done.

[L4OMEO]

Yeah, that price was half what the next quote was. John French Motors have done several and probably have it down to a fine art.

Also, my understanding - and I could be wrong here - is that it didn't require the gearbox out. Can't possibly see how they could do it within 4-5 hours if it involved dropping the box.

Cheers
Rory

[Brad M]

RE price, I'd shop around.

Bruno at Maranello-Pur Sang made the comment to me that they had done a lot of these Q2 upgrades now, so the time was less than it used to be.

Dissapppointed I was one of the ones providing the training opportunity

Not dissappointed I don't have the stress of worrying about the diff/gearbox exploding.

[MJF]

Hi Guys

The timing belt/water pump was changed early on and is due to be replaced again in Q1 2012.  I will consider doing this earlier if I am going to the trouble of installing a Q2 - good point around doing everything at once.  The Q2 labour cost that John French Motors quoted is impressive, I will definitely be giving them a call.

In the mean time, I am in the market for some new brake pads which do not squeak as much as my current set...They are probably only half worn but I can't live with them!  Alfamotive Engineering at Moorooka recommends the standard pads however, I am seeking recommendations for aftermarket products as well.

Also, I didn't realise when I bought the car that it was missing the engine bay/sump guard.  I am told they are flimsy but still worthwhile for protecting the sump, keeping water out of the intake and reducing drag.  I am going to start calling wreckers/spare parts dealers in the hope that I can find a second hand one in functional condition.

Cheers
Michael