Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

First thing I saw was the jeans.
Thought "yes. I'm doing something right with my life"

Alpina was bon.

Dogsballs Ute:

https://www.whichcar.com.au/tv/dyno/barra-powered-vs-commodore-ute-dyno-video

all my jeans are perma-set to chainring clearance height dude

Good work.

US car hire mini win

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Further proof that Dale is 100% mental...

I still love him, haven't been down to Melbz to see him yet, shame on me... Mind you, half the forum have moved there in recent years...

Did a bit of part ordering last night.

• Android head unit.
  
• Induction kit.
  
• Somewhat hilariously two ridiculous looking gearknobs which I'm unlikely to use either one of (black katana and long-ish titanium alloy ones).
  
• Sharkfin aerial.
  
• Alfa Romeo valve caps.
  
  

Have gotten a new set of traditional Alfa Romeo badges for bonnet, rear, wheel centres and steering wheel centre to fit and also a manual gearknob adapter (which will require minor modification to fit) and a bunch of additional USB sockets to fit in discrete spots about the cabin.

I've been speaking to an exhaust fabricator about getting a custom stainless steel setup built and also to a body shop regarding partial respray to get the exterior back to it's glory.

What have I gotten myself into...

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It's started then, there's no going back now .
Just make sure you don't spend all your money ready for when it inevitably shits itself.
I speak from experience.
Having said that i've just paid to put a 'GTV' number plate on my GTV . And changed the exhaust back to factory when id didn't need doing.

Further proof that Dale is 100% mental...

I still love him, haven't been down to Melbz to see him yet, shame on me... Mind you, half the forum have moved there in recent years...

He's done a proper job of getting bulk power from that Barra, although turbo power is, of course, easy power.

Absolutely!
So far so good though in reliability terms * touches all of the wood in sight *.

I'm really looking forward to getting the remap done after the exhaust. Should easily make about 250/260bhp and hopefully an mpg improvement with it.
I wouldn't rule out bigger stoppers too as it's a heavy old thing so maybe a set of Ti Brembos would be a nice upgrade although I'm not keen to go to bigger wheels if they won't fit so I might experiment with better discs and pads for now.

My plan is really just to get it back to as-new condition and then a few subtle modifications but I'm really enjoying it thus far, it's surprisingly rapid for a diesel barge.

My plan is really just to get it back to as-new condition and then a few subtle modifications

Now where have we heard that before?

The 911 or the C55?

The height of my aspirations is really to design and print a practical solution to holding two coffee cups in the front... "no self respecting Italian would be seen drinking a cup of coffee while driving" etc.

I should really just stop myself now though... I don't have enough disposable income at the moment to build my own re-engineered Busso engine and solve all of the shortcomings of Italian designers.

Last two days have seen me sat on a stool by the side of the C55, soldering the broken wires in the looms that control the mirrors. Who knew that folding wires in half each time you turned the engine off would eventually break them?

Sounds like the BMW approach to boot lid wiring.

Soldered joints are stiffer than the wires, so you'll have a stress riser and the wires will fail right next to your soldered joint.

Crimp connectors 4 lyfe.

The loom in my rally car has no soldered joints because of fatigue breakages

Love it. Would look much cleaner without roof rack and with blue latches.

^^^^Oh what the hell. That was meant in reply to the alpha.

Why not both?

https://www.sealey.co.uk/product/5637189449/heat-shrink-butt-connector-with-crimp-solder-blue-pack-of-25

obvs if you're doing a lot of crimping then the cost adds up. But for occasional bits and bobs they have the benefits of both soldering and crimping.

Has anyone got any recommends for a garage in the east of london (Hackney area) that might be good for a small repair - Headlight replacement.

I've bought the appropriate part with a view to doing it myself but having popped the hood it looks a bit trickier than I imagined.

These guys were really helpful sorting out my aging Golf and were quick.

https://goo.gl/maps/6ip5fhELyYp

I tried crimps, but I didn’t have any small enough- the wires are really narrow. I’ll probably replace the wing mirror looms at some point so soldering is a tactical measure.

I agree it’s not ideal by any stretch of the imagination.

Part of me wouldn't waste the money on paint till the car is ready to move on.

What car?