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March 8, 2010
I am looking at a 76 alfa romeo spider and i wanted to see what are some of the problems that spiders have tied into them.
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March 9th, 2010 at 12:39 am
Every known automotive problem known to man, and a few still unknown.
March 9th, 2010 at 1:27 am
Older Alfas typically have a lot of problems with their electrical systems. But, then again, the same thing is said of Jaguars of the era, and it’s not always true.
The early Alfa fuel injection is also considered “problematic” at best and diabolical at worst (and it’s hard to find someone who understands the system), and sometimes their carburetors are difficult to get in sync, but everyone agrees that carbs are the best way to go.
Also, be sure to watch who you get the car from…sometimes the owners aren’t exactly careful with their clutches. But a good Alfa mechanic should be able to sort any issues for you.
Alfas are excellent cars. The trouble is finding a worthwhile example that someone’s willing to part with.
March 9th, 2010 at 2:16 am
Definaly electrical as previously mentioned. Also the spica on the older ones are problematic. I would look for a later year bosh, unless you have your heart set on a roundtail. Do some serious looking around and don’t jump at the first one you see. join the alfa romeo owners club, and see if there is a local chapter in your area. They can steer you in both finding a good example and maintenance, as well as club events. The resources alone are invaluable. Every once in awhile someone comes across a good barn find (recently heard of a guy who found an unregistered Alfa limited-essentially a new car). Good luck and enjoy your search and ride when you find it.
March 9th, 2010 at 3:09 am
My first problem area would be rust in the doors and the bottom of the body. The F.I. in the early ones was not as bad as most say and definitely not any worse than the carbs on the earlier ones which never stayed in synch. The Bosch were a bit more stable but no owner in his right mind would work on them. The Spica unit was repairable (as I proved on my ’72 Veloce unlike my ’79 GTV) and that is usually replacing the injecters. No worse than most other cars. A nuisance is the throttle cable fraying until it snaps far from anywhere. Carry at least one 10-speed brake cable for the occasion and it will get you home and a new cable. The synchromesh in the tranny is noted for a short lifespan but most of us learned to live with it. Expensive and difficult is why. Those are probably the worst so check the body for repairs first.