Tech Spam thread - because 1/4" BSP gets 5 hand spans to the jiggawatt

[h4nd]

Win the rocket thrust race by first winning the chemical hazard chart bingo game:

 

18:11 " If this engine were actually used in a stage 1 booster, it (exhaust) would douse the launchpad  in a toxic acid capable of dissolving sand... "

 

 

[kws]

So, having just replaced the RH rear wheel bearing on the Marina, because there was a definite rumbling noise/feel from it, the noise/feel is still there.

The old bearing was bad, it was hard to turn/crunchy once removed, and the grease in it was gross. There were a couple of small marks on the bearing race, but not as bad as I expected. The new bearing spun smoothly in the hand, although with a fair bit of resistance (which i presume is the grease in the sealed bearing).

The LH side wheel spins smoothly and silently.

Any thoughts? I was thinking maybe it's a diff bearing, but having spun the wheel with my head near the diff center i can't hear it from there, it's only really noticeable from the wheel end. Could it be a bad, brand new bearing? Pressing it on went fine, I used the old steel retaining collar to only put force on the center of the bearing, not the outer. Once the bearing was "home" I didn't exert more force on it.

[tortron]

https://brakeperformance.com/rough-feeling-hubs.php?srsltid=AfmBOorpByE41niF0yOxuzYkahRlSIGU9xF3sxIYrcUg6RJ2UbXKYXv8

 

Tldr. They come with "gritty" feeling grease, Let it bed in for a few thousand revolutions

[kws]

25 minutes ago, tortron said:

https://brakeperformance.com/rough-feeling-hubs.php?srsltid=AfmBOorpByE41niF0yOxuzYkahRlSIGU9xF3sxIYrcUg6RJ2UbXKYXv8

 

Tldr. They come with "gritty" feeling grease, Let it bed in for a few thousand revolutions

Thank you, I obviously wasn't searching for the right thing.

I've done a couple of sealed wheel bearings as an assembly and they have been stiff but not rough like this, so presumed it was bad.

Will leave it for now and put some ks on it and check again.

[MightyJoe]

Are there any resident Alfa foamers on here that can offer words of warning or encouragement toward a twin cam?  There's one on marketplace which looks cheap at 800, the dellortos would be nearly worth that surely?  From a quick google it could be from a 1984 Guiletta?  It looks complete from the pics. 

Main concerns are what are the weak points on these motors, any inherent flaws? Are there any modern gearbox options?  Should i just walk away? 

Plans would be to fit this to an escort sometime 35yrs from now when I get round to that project. 

[Nominal]

Worth getting for the hoard I reckon.

[MightyJoe]

I am keen to have a look and turn it over.  Usual story, don't need it, kind of want it for wanker points saying I've got a twin cam escort, then have this in the bay. My main concern at this point is gearbox options. I dunno what they came with, how much they are to buy, how sturdy they are, if there's a more modern option to bolt up its a no Brainer. Old school cool carby twink with a nice smooth 5 speed behind it. 

[Alfashark]

They came with a coupling  to connect the crank to the driveshaft, and then on to a clutch/5-speed transaxle unit if from Giulietta/Alfetta/75.

I can't see why the usual Fiat/Alfa parts bin shouldn't have everything you need to bung a conventional flywheel+clutch on it.

[MightyJoe]

Cheers I'll look into that 

[Doug Hill]

They're less awful than the Lotus TwinCam the escorts came with 

[RUNAMUCK]

26 minutes ago, Doug Hill said:

They're less awful than the Lotus TwinCam the escorts came with 

Lot

Of

Trouble

Usually

Serious 

[Alfashark]

Big aftermarket parts and knowledge around them too. 

Not too shabby stock, but angrier cams and a decent exhaust wakes them up really nicely.  Old mate has an Alfetta GT and even just a bigger plenum feeding the stock Solex carbs and a muffler delete gave it a shitload more top end.

[GregT]

If you're going to mate it to a conventional clutch and box,you'll need to machine the crank for a pilot bearing.

But you'd pull it down anyway.

[MightyJoe]

22 minutes ago, GregT said:

If you're going to mate it to a conventional clutch and box,you'll need to machine the crank for a pilot bearing.

But you'd pull it down anyway.

Thanks for that.  Do you know of any boxes that bolt up? Or anyone that's done it before?   Not looking for a complete how to, but some more info to read up on would be good. 

[GregT]

That family of twin cams have been used with conventional clutch and boxes. Google is your friend.

Alfetta is the only transaxle application afaik.

[Doug Hill]

The Berlinas weren't transaxle. You can definitely marry them up to a Lada Niva box too 

[HighLUX]

Fiat chat needs @azzurro he is god

[kws]

Anyone got experience with VH44 remote boosters? I'm looking to add one to the Marina once it's on the road as unboosted brakes are a bit too... manly... for me. I see there are HEAPS of Chinese knockoff ones available, including from "reputable" classic car sellers locally, am I right in my thinking that I'd be better off getting a recon original one, than trust my life with a Chinese one? Or am I just being silly and it'll be fine?

like, there is this which I presume is just a Chinese one, https://classiccarparts.co.nz/brake-booster-servo-kit-remote-single-line-1-:-1.9-aftermarket-tt3949z?search=servo&description=true

And on the other end of the scale of Chinese ones, https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car-parts-accessories/parts-other-makes/brakes/listing/4985996566

CBC often lists original ones they have rebuilt, which come at a much higher cost, https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car-parts-accessories/other-accessories/listing/4986494157

[azzurro]

6 hours ago, HighLUX said:

Fiat chat needs @azzurro he is god

Oh, shucks. 

This is Alfa* chat tho, we are well beyond my pay grade. 

My understanding is those Nord engines do ghfwii

Technicality for thread *Fiat bought a majority share of Alfa Romeo from the Italian Government in 1986, so it could still be Fiat chat, technically, and the plastic bits and Fiatish stamping font suggests it could be a later model one?

Have enough fiat parts bin here to try connecting it if you do get it.

 

[Doug Hill]

12 hours ago, kws said:

Anyone got experience with VH44 remote boosters? I'm looking to add one to the Marina once it's on the road as unboosted brakes are a bit too... manly... for me. I see there are HEAPS of Chinese knockoff ones available, including from "reputable" classic car sellers locally, am I right in my thinking that I'd be better off getting a recon original one, than trust my life with a Chinese one? Or am I just being silly and it'll be fine?

like, there is this which I presume is just a Chinese one, https://classiccarparts.co.nz/brake-booster-servo-kit-remote-single-line-1-:-1.9-aftermarket-tt3949z?search=servo&description=true

And on the other end of the scale of Chinese ones, https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car-parts-accessories/parts-other-makes/brakes/listing/4985996566

CBC often lists original ones they have rebuilt, which come at a much higher cost, https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/car-parts-accessories/other-accessories/listing/4986494157

For that price difference I would just buy the rebuilt PBR unit. Peace of mind seems quite affordable there 

I've had issues with cars sitting around unused and the boosters sticking after first brake application. So I wouldn't buy a cheapo