“Octane” UK staff report on their favorite cars. Evan’s 1974 Alfa Romeo Spider has been painted. The next big thing to do is the engine.
Alpha has returned from the paint shop. The next job was to put the engine in. If you leave it to mechanic Benny, he’ll do it in your sleep. Hoses, cords, radiator, fan, cover, engine mount, grommets, wires, brake master, electronically controlled ignition, etc. were replaced with new ones. There are many other things I can’t remember. I also needed a working Spica fuel injection pump. All of this will be completed in the morning.
My favorite moment is when everything is installed and connected and I turn the key for the first time. Benny looks at the throttle linkage and I turn the key. There are sounds like bro-ro-ro-ro, chu-chu-pu-shu. Hmm, guess what, and when Benny adjusts the timing… it’s like an angel is in the room! After a few more tweaks, the Alpha started to sound really bright and wonderful. You can even put a champagne glass on it, like in the old Lexus commercials. We warmed up the Alpha to the right temperature. The big job is now over. That day, the orange chicken I bought at a nearby Chinese restaurant was the sweetest and most delicious I’ve ever had.
The next two days were spent refurbishing the door panels and door handles. Clean and install the Calero headlight bucket, and install the Altissimo taillight. I hooked up the wiring, got all the electrical systems up and running, and even made the hood and trunk lights shine.
Next is the bumper. I restored the front bumper. Lift them together and secure them with bolts. The rear bumper took a little more time. It was a new part, but the holes didn’t line up properly. Benny made the bracket connections while welding and creating sparks. When it comes to restoration, sparks like this will fly at least once.
Jesse from Astro Plating chrome-plated the front grill. New gear shift gator, bluetooth radio, center console included and everything works. While preparing to rebuild the undercoat and suspension, I spent the day polishing the underside, getting my hands dirty.
A windshield installer came and installed the new rubber parts. They work as a husband and wife team. It was my first time meeting them, but they kept talking about Benny and soccer. That too in Spanish. Still, their work was admirable. Pull the cord, fit the rubber, attach the weather sealer tube, and you’re done. He did it with ease. I’m thinking of asking them for the hard top glass someday.
I offered my photography skills in exchange for powder coating. The negotiator is Sean, who runs Quality Powder Coating in San Diego. He owns a beautiful 32 year old Ford hot rod that he is putting up for charity auction. He offered to coat the wheels and springs for free if I agreed to take the photo. Deal completed!
The wheels are original turbines and are equipped with rare Ward & Dean sport springs. When I returned to the shop, a set of 4 Falken Azenas and Bilsteins was waiting for me, as well as a new bushing. It looks like it will handle like a slot car. Some of you may have heard of the British “Classic Alpha“. They were very helpful in providing me with the parts I needed to complete the exterior. The big box arrived and it felt like Christmas even though it was July!
Next week I’ll finally start working on the bottom. The work is expected to be completed in about two days.
文：Evan Klein
