Alfa V6

[Oneball]

As there are quite a few Alfa nuts on here I just wanted to pick the collective knowledge, does the Busso V6 have any particular week points, everything I’ve heard says they’re very robust?

 

[allandwf]

Belt and water pump need done regularly. Head gaskets are starting to fail on older ones now, strangely normally effecting the rear which is the hardest to replace,(on a GTV.) MAF can play up, but the same can be said for any car, and the oil cooler can be an issue if leaking. I've had four of them, it is a great, classic engine. Looks great too if kept tidy.

 

[alfatwo]

Yes they are generally, which type were you referring too?
If they over heat the head studs pull out, but apart from that there ok
And as Allan says head gaskets fail with oil in the water and all that stuff

Dave

 

[Oneball]

Thanks both. Knew there’d be some useful knowledge here.

The last of the line 3.2 24v.

Is there a common cause to any overheating or head gasket issues or is it just normal engine stuff?

 

[allandwf]

Thanks both. Knew there’d be some useful knowledge here.

The last of the line 3.2 24v.
Is there a common cause to any overheating or head gasket issues or is it just normal engine stuff?

Just normal engine stuff, corrosion seems to be an issue on some of the older ones. One of mine had rear gasket failure and the gasket was just crumbling away, that was a 2000 year car, so getting on a bit. As Dave said, don't let them overheat, but easier said than done if something fails.

 

[alfatwo]

There ok, they need the belt changing regularly as the cam timing goes out phase as it stretches
And as the oil pump is chain driven it needs checking from time to time

What model did you have in mind?

Dave

 

[Oneball]

Just normal engine stuff, corrosion seems to be an issue on some of the older ones. One of mine had rear gasket failure and the gasket was just crumbling away, that was a 2000 year car, so getting on a bit. As Dave said, don't let them overheat, but easier said than done if something fails.

Is it just gasket corrosion or do the blocks/heads corrode?

 

[Oneball]

There ok, they need the belt changing regularly as the cam timing goes out phase as it stretches
And as the oil pump is chain driven it needs checking from time to time

What model did you have in mind?

Dave

My favourite car that I’ve ever owned was a 147 1.6TS. Only car I’ve ever bought new, I ordered it when they came out without actually seeing one. Loved that car, so was thinking about a 147GTA.

 

[allandwf]

Is it just gasket corrosion or do the blocks/heads corrode?

It was just the gasket in mine.

 

[alfatwo]

It's the same as Masers, when they get into the hands of folk who don't know or cant afford to run the things

If it got antifreeze in you've got a chance, the rads fail, they get filled with tap water then the problems start

You'll love the torque steer on one of those

Dave

 

[allandwf]

My favourite car that I’ve ever owned was a 147 1.6TS. Only car I’ve ever bought new, I ordered it when they came out without actually seeing one. Loved that car, so was thinking about a 147GTA.

They are holding their price well these days.

 

[alfatwo]

There great fun, I had a go in a 156 GTA, very fast in a straight line, not sure about cornering though, with that whacking great engine forward of the wheels!

Dave

 

[Oneball]

The 1.6TS don’t handle spectacularly either, I tried to keep up with an Integrale once! I just really liked it.

Weirdly I find the 156 driving position a bit ape like but the 147 is perfect, you’d have thought they would be bascically the same.

 

[allandwf]

The 1.6TS don’t handle spectacularly either, I tried to keep up with an Integrale once! I just really liked it.

Weirdly I find the 156 driving position a bit ape like but the 147 is perfect, you’d have thought they would be bascically the same.

It's not always about outright speed though, It's how they do it. I had two 145s from new and two 147s from new, ( Co cars.) Chucking them about the country backroads was a joy.

 

[CatmanV2]

Had a 2.5 166, 2.5 156 and a 3.2 GT. All lovely in different ways. The GT was seriously nose heavy though.

Mrs C's 147 is fun, but getting long in the tooth now.

They are not in the same class as a GT or even a 4200.....

C

 

[alfatwo]

You had the best model, those 1.6 TS engines without the balancer shafts were a peach
It would be hard to find a nice one nowadays

Dave

 

[Oneball]

Had a 2.5 166, 2.5 156 and a 3.2 GT. All lovely in different ways. The GT was seriously nose heavy though.

Mrs C's 147 is fun, but getting long in the tooth now.

They are not in the same class as a GT or even a 4200.....

C

I know they’re not in the same league, very little is. I’ve had a string of very fast cars and was thinking of something a bit slower.

It’s all just pie in the sky at the moment, I’ve been banned from having another car, apparently 2 and a motorbike is enough

 

[Oneball]

You had the best model, those 1.6 TS engines without the balancer shafts were a peach
It would be hard to find a nice one nowadays

Dave

They’re great to just thrash about and just as economical at 30mph as they are at 100!

 

[allandwf]

I know they’re not in the same league, very little is. I’ve had a string of very fast cars and was thinking of something a bit slower.

It’s all just pie in the sky at the moment, I’ve been banned from having another car, apparently 2 and a motorbike is enough

Your not trying hard enough, I had 5 up to a few weeks ago lol

 

[alfatwo]

Yea, when I used to have my old 1973 Fiat 500, you could have just as much fun at 50mph than in I do in the Maser at 150!

Dave