Shocks 33 continued

Last week I started replacing the rear shock absorbers of the Blue King. In my last post I reported that I bought some cheap ones in Austria via Ebay. Now was the moment to fit them.
I studied the manual, it seems to be a quick job, no special tools needed, except a special tool to jack up the rear axle (a fixed axle, called de Dion). But here does the manual deviate form my actual car. So I had to be creative to solve this issue. In stead of jacking up the whole axle in one turn, I could do it side by side. The brake lines which I had to disengage, could stay put. Another time saver.

By dismantling the left and right suspension I noticed everything came loose in a jippy. Although the springs where somewhat rusty again. Once the old shocks were out, I compared them with the new ones. Some differences I noticed. Especially the rubber head on top of the shockabsober altered from the old ones. so here too I had to figure out a solution. Also the axle to fit the shocker on the rear axle of the car was wider.
In the old situation in the upper part a metal plate rested on the central axis of the shocker. Two rubber parts above it were closing in the metal of the car, the suspension dome. In het new situation a metal dome shaped plate was the upper side of the shocker. Fixing it with the plate of the old shocker would mean metal clashed to metal. I think that wouldn't be pleasant in the long run. So I made a new rubber piece out of the old shocker and put it on the metal dome piece of the new one.

By disassembling I did not notice the difference between the old and the new absorbers. It seemed that the new mounting cylinder at the bottom of the absorber was wider than the old one. When I assembled the pieces I figured the effect would be minimal. But it was not. The first test run gave a rambling and a on easy sound. So I had to dismantle everything again...

A set of new shocks from Austria

Had to dismantle the rear suspension and axle. The brakes lines could stay in place

The refurbished coil spring after three years

The upper part of the shock to dismantle in the boot

The spring

The inside suspansion chamber, only slighty rusty

My little stove to keep me warm in winter

The top ends of the old (left) en the new shocks 

needed some adaptation before mouting again.

The new shock with the old parts would 

make a lot of noise: iron plate on iron dome

Adapted set up with a rubber part on the iron dome, on top of that the rubber parts that hold the shock in place when fitted in the top part of the suspension chamber

The bottom part with the vertical axis, through the axle.

The noise when fitting the old setup in the new shock bush

This new bush was wider than the old.

Thei old bush fitted perfectly

Shocks 33

During our autumn trips in the King Bleu, we noticed the rear axle was very lively. Not pleasant when sitting in the back and driving over trafic bumps. During the Christmas holidays I did a short visit to my Vakgarage /Alfa Romeo dealer just to ask what it could be.
Their main mechanic Jan grabbed the keys and asked wether I'd go for a ride with him. This man was the guy I asked in 2007 wether he was able to weld my sills and rusty spots on this particular car, the King Blue. We did not come to an agreement, but that was okay then, for both parties.
So driving along in a fierce style, revving the boxer, Jan tried to look for trafic bumps and wholes in the road. After we had a rough ride, for testing purposes very appropriate, Jan put the car on the bridge in the workshop. His conclusion was a rear left worn shock absorber. He advised to replace them both in the rear.
I asked to make me an offer for this parts or for the complete job of replacing the two shock absorbers.

I already looked for a pair on the interweb, but couldn't find any. The ones I found were extraordinary expensive. Creemers called me the other day for the job and offered to do it for 440 euros. "Only in case" the recptionist remarked "the parts fitted can be removed easily" . Damned, I overhauled the complete axle in 2012, everything, except the absorbers, is new!
So that's a lot of money for this old 33. So I got back in the interweb surf position. The original Alfa's had fitted Monreo shocks, number E5032, but they are not available anymore.  Finally I found a set of new Boge-Sachs Nr. 312 057 shocks in Austria, for a very reasonable price of 54 euros, for the pair including shipping. Order has been made already.

The set up of the rear suspension of the 33 is quite simple. 

Just mind the good tightening moments and the good setting up of the car.

So this will be a nice job for me in the next weeks. Hope temperatures will not drop again...

After posting this, our dog Pip awoke.

Winter works 2

The stove is nice and cosy, but with 13 degrees Celsius not necessary. But works are going on. The driver's door had a malfunctioning electric window opener. It went as slow as a snail can go. So today I was back in my garage again. Top2000 music can be heard while watching the videos.

This one was a little trickier, then the last. But with some perseverance I did it again. Looking now for the before and after videos.

A prettyexhausted window operator is working here.

My original plan was to dismantle the motor 

of the electric window mechanism, 

but that was fixed to the complete up and down moving system. 

Three bolts for the motor

Plastic coverings removed out of the door

My loyal buddy can't miss me when working on his 33.

The complete mechanisme out of the door, five bolts.

No opening of the motor, one cable goring round, 

several covers causing trouble while functioning after 28 years.

The little motor in one piece

Great stuff made in Italy

Specs

The cable go round

The cable fixed to the up and down holder of the window

And out it is, cleaning

Trying to remove the window holder. 

No chance, thsi is one way ware.

Cleaning the rail for the holder to guide.

Cleaning teh wheels

Cleaning the window-moving-left-and-right-things

Fiddling an half hour to get the cabel fixead again 

&^$$^&%&*^@!@#!

My mother in law's screw driver did the job.

Testing the overhauled piece

Brushing the window seals. Dirty!

After testing movint het system back in the door.

Almost on its place.

The window touched the window frame, just adjusting it a little.

This little guy does the trick, a little.

Ready for the next spring to come.

Winter works

Holidays are on. Since I bought a little petrol heater, life's better in my garage. In winter time temperatures can drop to 5 degrees C or even lower, and the temperature in my garage won't be much higher, since the door is to the cold north side.

Yesterday I fixed the right passenger's door lock of the Bleu King. It was not working good, and the electric motor which had to lock the door, did not do its job properly. Locking your car is essential in these parts of the world.

Minor works, I use to call it, and it keeps the spirit of driving a youngtimer high. Luckily the Alfa 33 is a thankful mechanic piece, so everything can be fixed with some patience and care. No special tools needed.

The problem seemed that the electic motor in hte locking mechanisme did not perform well anymore. A simple opening operation had to confirm my diagnosis.

The dismantled and opened locking motor; simple mechanics.

A little electric motor and some differential parts

the parts were all sound and complete, no wear or tear

After testing the motor, it performed fine.

The problem was that the parts were dirty of old grease

So I cleaned them with a brush

Checked the housing, it was sound, no damages.

The longitudal axle I brushed and cleaned with some petrol

The small axle I cleand, the inner wheel tube too.

Putting the parts together again, little new grease on it

The pop nails I replaced by two screws and a piece of threat.

The other nails I put back in with some gleu

Ready tot go

idem

Behold the results of my labour, or as my wife uses to recall:
"klik klak, Thei heat weer get gemak!"

Personalising the 156

Well, I'm from a generation that stickers were allover. Stores handed out stickers, events and museums, schools or all sorts of institutes handed out stickers to promote their cause.

I never liked it to stick them all around too much, but nowadays they're rare for promotions.

I like them on my cars to personalise them and to let them stick out the masses.

Two examples on the new 156 here. I order them on eBay as unique pieces.

I think it looks good.

The traditional Green Clover on the flanks of the green 156.

It's even reflectieve.

The Italian lips on the bumper.

So when you see a green 156 in front of you,wearing the Italian lips like this, you know it's me. Or my wife.

Salute.