Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider (RHD)

Got quite a bit done over the last couple of weeks. Engine & gearbox are out and they are big!!  Took out the fuel tank and after close inspection I am amazed to say that it has no rust!!! Even inside is clean. Inside  the tank The car has the original clutch mechanism which is serviceable and just needs a new plate. I spent a few very dirty hours degreasing and power washing the underside and suspension in readiness to drop out the rear axle and front suspension. I pleased to say that the underside of the car also seems more or less rust free. Now to parts for the rebuild. I have spent a good few hours finding, ordering and storing parts ready for the rebuild. I'm managing to find most of what I need, but the list of suspension and rubber parts is long. Regarding the engine I'm replacing all the serviceable parts and adding a new electronic ignition. Once the engine is fully stripped I will no doubt have a few extra bits to find.

The car has covered only 1800 miles since 2000, and since 2010 only 300 miles. So the engine and gearbox were a bit of an unknown. We got the car started without having to rebuild the carbs and drove it "round the block", gearbox synchro's seem ok, but some bearing wear noise on the layshaft. The engine is fitted with the original Solex carbs, the mounting rubbers are cracked and the carbs are likely to be gummed up, so surprising that it started at all! Following both a leak and compression test, we now have a plan. Going to drop out the engine and gearbox, dismantle and refurb which will include a clean and rebuild of the Solex carbs. All of the suspension, drive shafts and braking system will be removed and refurbished.  I want the car to present like a well sorted and loved car from 1964 and not have that over restored look. The interior is complete and in great order (other than the seat foam pads that are crumbling to powder) so it will be all gently cleaned and sav...

This all started in September 2019 when my ever understanding wife said lets go to the motor museum, now the understanding bit comes in as we were on holiday in Malta so having the opportunity to indulge in a few cars was a real holiday bonus. A quick bus ride found us meandering around the many exhibits.  Malta Museum As a self confessed petrolhead there were lots of distractions however the group of red cars really caught my eye. What looked like original unrestored Italian beauties stopped me in my tracks. Malta car museum I've never really been an Alfa guy, not for any real reason, just never owned one. In fact I can't remember even being in one. My car history, forgetting the boring day to day cars is a real eclectic mix from an original Honda NSX, one of the last air-cooled Porsche 911 (933) and more recently VW based Porsche 356 replica which I finished during lock down. So finding myself nearly 3 years on as the owner of a 1964 2600 Spider, one of only 102 rhd made, I’m...