Week 1 w/new clutch

Wow the Milano is a blast. The 4.10 rear end makes it seem much quicker than it should be with it's meager power.

So far I am liking the Milano more than any car I have ever had, except the Megasquirt'd Fiat X1/9. However, when the added practicality is added in, it is a toss up.

I really am stuck on Italian cars now.

Clutch!

The clutch is in! It took all day, but the clutch is in. I spent more time futzing around with the exhaust than with the driveshaft/guibo/tranxaxle/clutch.

Big thanks goes out to Mike for letting me do it at his place, even though it didn't rain.

The clutch bites HARD.

Alignment - continued

I got the Milano aligned today. Two Fat Guys on Babcock did it for $45+tax.

I also went out to the SEA meet tonight in the Alfa. Most though the Alfa was pretty neat.

The clutch is slipping more, but hopefully that will be resolved this weekend. Also, the cooling fan stuck on. I removed the fuse on the relay for it so it wouldn't run the battery down. I'll have to trace the fault this weekend as well.

Alignment

I have tried unsuccessfully 5 times to get an alignment.

1. NTB - The computer says we need 660lbs of ballast in the car to align the car properly.
2. Firestone @ Culebra - Our best guy isn't here. Come back another time.
3. Meineke - You should take "a car like that" to Firestone.
4. Hi-Tech Automotove - I don't have the specs for that kind of car.
5. Firestone @ Babcock - We tried to align it, but the "thing" to turn to adjust it just spins.

I really need my own alignment gear.

First week

The first uh-oh I had was oil pressure seemed really low, but only at hot idle. I noticed the PO put in 10w-30 oil. I replaced with high Zinc 20w-50. Oil pressure is now about 1mm above 0 at hot idle. According to other users on the AlfaBB, this is normal.

I started experiencing a drive-ablity problem after a few days. On light throttle, the car would backfire, hesitate, stumble, and buck. At first I thought this was due to an inoperational vacuum advance module on the distributor. It turned out to be the AFM acting wonky.

I cleaned the AFM PCB with CRC Electronics cleaner and cleaned the vane area with Carb cleaner. The car runs great now and power is up. So much in fact, that the clutch now slips. doh!

I also replaced a polyurethane sway bar bushing. I still need to get an alignment and do the clutch this coming weekend. Beyond that, I just need to get the a/c working.

Alfa Milano

Eight days ago, I purchased a 1987 Alfa Romeo Milano. I plan to use this blog to chronicle my journey with this car.

I have wanted a transaxled Alfa for a long time, finally buying this one.

Mike went down to Houston with me on Nov 1. We had reserved a tow dolly because the seller said the clutch was slipping. When I test drove the car, I never felt the clutch slip. So we drove the car back. No issues were encountered on the way home. Very pleased with my purchase, I was.