Might have found one.

[Steve Webb]

I might just have found a GTV for my project. Its a 1979 car so looks uncluttered, been up for sale for 6 weeks so is probably open to offers, and most importantly is only a couple of hours away.
Oh its also within budget, which helps.

Here are a few pics of the car, what do you lot think of it?

[AlfaJack]

That looks pretty clean to me!

[bravo155ts]

This car brings back lotsa memories for me.

My elder brother used to have one in the 80's. Was driven to and from school everyday in it.

[JBSOUND]

It's a beautiful car I love GTVs. The inside looks pretty good and from far away looks good too. But when I look the engine bay and the back side in the pictures it seems a little bit rusty...

[Xti]

Looking at the interior you can make an assumption regarding it's owner and the way he might have been taking care of this car. Now it also depends from how long he's been keeping this GTV.

But the car looks fine to me.

From here I just can wish you good luck with this, Steve.
I'm sure you have what it takes to make a good choice, I've seen your point of view on that 155Q4 (with flat tyre) selling on forum....

Cheers,
C.

[Steve Webb]

Yep the interior does look pretty good. The only thing that is worrying me about the car is the fact that it looks like it has been resprayed at some point, in what looks like Hammerite metallic green. And that in the pics of under the bonnet it looks like underseal has been applied along the top edge of where the wing joins. Maybe had a new wing or 2 in the past.

I'm trying to sort out going to see it now, but when I do I'll be giving it a good going over.

[wrinx]

It looks like a good basis for a project, it's definitely been resprayed at some point, looks like a rattle can job in the later pictures and badly prep'd at that!

All depends on price and work required...

wrinx

[Steve Webb]

Not had a chance to go up and see the car yet, been too busy with work and still got the Citroen hanging around which makes it politically incorrect for me to buy another car.

Looks like someone is interested in the Van now so hopefully I'll have some spare room soon.

[wrinx]

...politically incorrect for me to buy another car.

Is that domestically incorrect?

wrinx

[Steve Webb]

Tuesday is D-Day for the Van, so hopefully I'll be arranging viewings of GTVs next week.

[arguti]

Looks like the inner wings have been repaired at some point with rust coming through again. not a cheap job to do properly if both need to be done.

Also judging by the rest of the bodywork, I would look very carefully to see the condition of the bulkhead before committing - need a good light and look through the slat/louvres type things under the front windscreen - if bulkhead full of grot, walk away as its ££££. Ask me how I know!

[Steve Webb]

Thanks for that advice about what to look for. Any other spots where I should look for rust?

[arguti]

Steve

these are lovely cars and you can get carried away with mods, etc

Like all Alfas, they can rust anywhere - check the spare wheel well (from underneath as well as there are some adjacent rust traps, sills, etc.

Inner wings wings repaired properly cost anything from £750 to £1500 per side depending on how fussy you are. the inner wings panels are quite cheap from Highwood. Front wings themselves are made from unobtanium although there is always one appearing on German ebay - they can go for £400-500 each!

see http://www.highwoodalfa.com/2d2b5f74...7397c18-9.html

Also scroll down also for the aluminium wing liners which I had put on to prevent the inner wing rot in the first place.

I have just spent over £2000 at Alex Jupe (bilsteins, with rear RSR kit and uprated front ARB, poly bushes, etc) and uprated front GTV6 brakes. Am also sourcing original 4 pots from the Alfa Sei which I might use on the GTV6 (another car)

This is mine with the with the best wheels for the car- Momo Vegas. The photo is pre-suspension and ride height sort out:

Sublime cars - I just need your engine now!

|http://thumbsnap.com/g9s9164H[/IMG]

some useful links if you feel like spending money

http://www.alfaromeo-performanceparts.com/shop/

http://www.subitocorse.com/

[Steve Webb]

Thanks for the links, plenty to look through there.

Are the front wings on a GTV bolt on or welded?

I'm sure there was something else to ask but can't for the life of me think what it was.

[arguti]

Steve

just got off the phone with Alex Jupe - Mr Alfetta to you and me - his comments as follows:

To repair the inner wings costs around and up to £1000 per side for top quality "as if it never were welded" look - front wings do not have to come off routinely for this.

He said to avoid non steel wings as factory wings are welded on front and back and where he has used fibreglass front wings on racing cars, they had use roll cage extensions to the front turrets otherwise the front of the car would feel very "flexy" under load and paint would always crack at base of windscreen where fibreglass was riveted on. you also lose the box section with fibreglass which provides some of the strength.

He said for proper bulkhead assessment, open the bonnet and stand by the front of the car facing backwards and look right underneath whole of the the "overhang" of the top of the rear trailing edge of the engine bay (below the rear rubber seal where it meets the trailing edge of the bonnet). You almost have to look upwards and behind this lip where the clue is in the state of the (sometimes roughly applied) seam sealer used.

If there are holes in the seam sealer/bulkhead area, the bulkhead is shot - look also for bulging or raised areas ie lumps in the seam sealer where it is rotten underneath but not broken through the paint/sealer yet.

Other common rust area is ones with a sunroof -drains get blocked and they rust at the bottom of the car - leading edge of sills, etc.

Please remember I am but an armchair mechanic but I have spent so much money with Alex on various projects that I have access to his advisory hotline.

In fact, the best two cars I have bought (both Alfettas) were either known by him or in the case of the GTV6, I dispatched him with cash and a trailer to go assess, negotiate and purchase - saved ++++ heartache in the long run.

HTH

[Steve Webb]

Cheers for all that info about rust and wings. I'll be sure to be taking a magnet and screwdriver with me when I'm out on the hunt.
I guess when looking at cars of this age/condition its better to spend more when you purchase it, rather than try to save money and have to spend a fortune on things later on.

Oh and I've remembered the other question, which years/models of GTV had the LSD?