Alfa 33 Restoration

dickyb

Member
Messages
432
The other thread went off on a bit of a tangent so I thought I'd start another one.

This will hopefully detail the restoration of my 33 as it progresses. The car was originally a 1994 Alfa 33 1.7IE with no sunroof and is being completely rebuilt to (hopefully) better than new condition, every single component has been restored or replaced with new, all brackets and bolts re-plated using my home zinc plating kit (pics on other thread if you're interested).

Spec will be as follows:

Engine: 16v bored to 1800cc with JE forged racing pistons, gas flowed cylinder heads, Colombo & Bariani cams, vernier pulleys, lightened flywheel, Programmable ECU, CSC exhaust system including manifold. I'm hoping for around 180bhp so the car should be fairly quick.

Suspension: All new suspension arms with new standard bushes (I don't like polybushes, too stiff and can lead to cracking of bodyshell and suspension arms), New shock absorbers all round, new H&R progressive springs, Eibach uprated anti roll bar. 15" SZ style wheels, rebuilt steering rack etc etc.

Brakes: Brembo sport discs with OMP pads, braided hoses etc. Original rear brakes were drums (the only UK market version with discs all round was the P4 ), but have been converted to discs using parts from European spec version with ABS. All calipers rebuilt with new seals and repainted. Front brakes will eventually be uprated with larger calipers, was hoping to use Tarox 6 pots but Tarox tell me that they never did a conversion kit for the 33 as they just couldn't do it, I know that it is possible to use 4 pot ones from HiSpec Motorsport but no one does a direct fit kit so I'll have to make something myself, I'm determined to use Italian stuff though.

Interior: Rebuilt Recaro P4 seats to as new condition, new carpet, new headlining, new gear knob and gaiter, factory option upgraded sound system with hidden speakers in parcel shelf (very expensive when new), A/C (it will probably be the only RHD car in the world with the factory fitted system).

Bodyshell: Full SPL (www.surfaceprocessing.co.uk) treatment, shell chemically stripped then electrophoretically coated, complete respray in original Rosso Alfa. New headlights, rear lights, indicators, fog lights, rear reflector strip, side rubbing strips, side skirts, door handles etc etc


As you will have seen from the previous thread the car has been resprayed once already but they did an absolutely awful job and needless to say they are now being pursued through the courts.

Here is the shell having been chemically stripped:

P10206182.jpg

Electrophoretically coated:

P1020671.jpg

Awaiting the bodyshop's attention...

RB35AR2.jpg

The bodyshop have just started working on the underside:

Seam sealer applied:

RB61AR2.jpg

RB62AR2.jpg

Stone chip paint applied:

RB63AR2.jpg

And finally a coat of Rosso Alfa 130...

RB66AR2.jpg


Managed to find a new zero miles speedo but this is what I found when it arrived in the post:

speedo4ii.jpg

Managed to fix it using the old speedo backing:

speedo6ii.jpg

An example of the brake refurbishment:

Rear caliper before:

Picture 495ii.jpg

Calipers refurbished:

P10102352.jpg

Hopefully things will start to move along at a reasonable pace in the next few months so I'll post some more info and pics as we go along if anyone is interested?

(Last 2 pics are a complete replacement sticker set for the engine bay, yes sad I know but it had to be done, and some alloy bells for the front brake upgrade).

Hope this thread is of some interest to everyone, I was really touched by everyone's positive comments and affection for the 33 in the previous thread..
 

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Andyk

Member
Messages
61,038
This is going to be a thread to follow...You see people making old classic good.......but its great to see a car like this given a 2nd chance as not many people do...Great thread..
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
Yes, the last one did go a bit 'off piste'

Loving this though, after forgetting about my track car for the past few weeks, you have reignited my interest.

What sort of timescale do you have on the completion. I suppose once the body is fully painted 8-16 weeks should do it.
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
When I restored my Triumph Stag, it took me 5 years to get it back on the road once I got my 'new' bare body shell back from the painters.
I hope you do it in much less time, but the amount of work from a completely bare shell to completion is immense. Satisfaction guaranteed though!
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,220
Wow.....

A question; is the electrophoretic coating you used aqueous or non-aqueous?

I have to say this is the first whole shell I've seen this on, looks brillient and just what an Alfa needs!
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
I wish the SPL chemical dipping and coating was around 20 years ago, the only option for me was grit blasting the bare shell.
All the panels where etch primed, stone chipped, and then painted, behind the panels before being welded into position. This resulted in as much paint behind and underneath the car than on top! 22 years later still looks good though.
As I have stated before I had a 33 P4 in the mid 90's so looking forward to seeing progress.
The one great advantage you have is lots of encouragement through the Internet, when I did my restoration, no Internet and digital cameras. I did take 100's of 35mm film which is now scanned though.
Cheers.
 

Parisien

Moderator
Messages
34,927
Again Dickyb, not a nice story to have to tell, so many sharks and criminal types out there, hoping you get it sorted to your satisfaction.


P
 

Parisien

Moderator
Messages
34,927
The law is rarely a great source of solace for the truly wronged.......pity it all comes down to this.....fingers Xed you get some satisfaction


P
 

urbanmaser

Member
Messages
2,908
I just got my 8 month old Italian super bike replaced after the carbon chain stay snapped under normal everyday use. This was after they iniatilly refused my claim.

These words will work wonder:-


The Sale of Goods Act 1979 makes it an implied term of the contract that goods be as described, fit for purpose and of satisfactory quality. As you are in breach of contract I am rejecting the (paint respray to my Alfa Romeo) and request that you refund the sum paid to you for the respray or that it be repainted without delay. Unless a satisfactory offer is made within the next 7 days I will have no alternative other than to recover my costs legally.


My legal charges by the way are at £500 per hour........ the bill is on its way :tomato9:
 

Parisien

Moderator
Messages
34,927
Looks great on paper Urbie, but as above actually getting the courts recommended redress is another thing all together!


P
 

urbanmaser

Member
Messages
2,908
If he goes to trading standards, they give you a case number and guide you through the whole process. It can be done on line. The mere threat is usually enough to scare the offender. Also, if paid by credit card, many credit card companies guarantee a purchase or work done in the event that the supplier/retailer fails to honour their work
 

the_raul

New Member
Messages
53
Hi dickyb,

I'd love to see the car when its done, I used to own a 33 P4. It was one of the best cars i ever owned. So light weight and powerful for its size, it really surprised a lot of people.
Plus the boxer engines make such a great sound.

There is a race preped one on eBay which I’d love to buy, but unfortunately i have no space for such projects anymore.
 

Andyk

Member
Messages
61,038
Comiong on nicely...Not many 33's will have aengine looking like that........Nice.
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
The memories....
It was the grip and handling that made the P4.
Launching without front wheel scrabble.
Powering out of a roundabout without the unloaded front wheel spinning.
Not getting stuck in a snow storm.
I used to go out in the snow for a play!
The Autodelta stainless steel exhaust playing that quad cam boxer hymn....
 

ENZ525

Member
Messages
6,748
looking really good dickyb, and finding the inspection sheet in the headlining, amazing :D
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
Coming along very nicely, Ill be in the Taliban tomorrow between 6.15 and 7 if you fancy a pint and a chat, my brother is Alfa mad too.

Ill be in a red GT and my brother a blue GTV, you can't miss us, we look identical apart from the 2 stone I am carrying over my bro and look like 2 members of the Mafia!
 

2b1ask1

Special case
Messages
20,220
Dicky,

One good thing about debt in English law is that you 'own' his debt to you, as such you have the legal right to sell that debt on. Now depending upon who you choose to sell it to could have very different outcomes for him! You may end up being offered as little as 25% of the total from the outstanding sum but you can have a clear conscience... and he gets to be very worried about who is knocking at his door! Again depending upon who you choose his outcome may allow him to experience some of the pain you have had with your car....

When you write to him informing him of the award from this latest case, tell him that you are prepaired to give him 28 days from the date of your letter to pay in full, after which you are intending to apply compound interest at + 4% over base rate and that at any time thereafter and add to the debt all reasonable cost incured. State also that you reserve the right to sell the debt at any point thereafter whencforth you have not control over interest applied or charges incurred.

This should get his attention, last time I used this tactic for an invoice I had the CFO of the American parent company on the phone to me in under 24 hours!

Good luck.