If you have ever replaced the shoes on a three-shoe system such as Alfa decided to produce on its interim 101 / 1600 cars, I feel your pain. Changing out brake shoes isn’t nearly as much fun as it sounds, and to most intelligent people it sounds like a pain in the arsenal. You are alternately fighting with springs, visibility, and the general slipperiness of things that are supposed to be slippery in operation, but which you wish were oh-so-grippy on installation.

(more…)

It took more bus trips than I care to take in a given two-day period, but between yesterday and today the TI went from a painted shell to a full-blown car with carpets, door panels, door seals, permanently installed seats, seat belts…. Even with the hours I had to spend on the bus, I decided a few days ago that it was more efficient to farm out these jobs than to try to do them myself, and I’m glad for this decision. Jesus Angulo took care of the big things (installing the carpets and door seals), small things (repairing the headliner where it was coming apart), and a half-dozen other pieces that needed an upholsterer’s expertise.

He also finished the Sprint seats, which look good but will still need some mechanical attention. I’m somewhat amazed by how basic (and flimsy) these seats are, considering the engineering that went into pretty much every other part of the car.

Here’s a shot of the more or less finished job.

This is about as bi-chromatic as a car gets. Carpet is a Wilton wool kit from World Upholstery. It's nice, if a little prone to shedding. I probably should have gotten the dark grey but this shade still works.

(more…)

My car scene right now is a little like an act on the Ed Sullivan show, where a guy spins a dozen or so plates at once and everyone is amazed. Of course that guy has talent whereas I have a combination of trial-and-error know-how, persistence, and a few spare dollars to throw at problems that are either too boring or too time consuming for me to address.

To wit… The TI got painted (yay!) and I am reasonably happy with the results. I have to remind myself that the price was right. There is a lot of orange peel and the coverage isnt’ perfect, but I’m sure a good wet sand and polish will do wonders for it.

Outside the body shop, the day after it was painted.

(more…)

In a rare moment of clarity and intelligence, I realized the Bondo work I was doing on the TI could, and more than likely would, be better done (or worse yet, undone and redone) by someone who gets paid to do this kind of work. Also, I’d lost touch with friends and family because they don’t much like spending their leisure time in my driveway. Go figure.

So last weekend I did the last bit of body work (banged on a few dents, sanded some bondo, etc.), and then ‘installed’ a spare Giulia Super seat I had in my basement to go drive around some of the shops down on International Blvd, aka East 14th. I love this street. For car guys, it’s where to go if you need something done (usually) reasonably well and at a fraction of the price you’d pay in the less, how do we say it, international neighborhoods. And if you’re not a car guy, you might enjoy one of the couple hundred or so taquerias.

I drove to a few different shops, but of course ended up back where I started, at Pete’s Body Shop and Frame (510-534-5402). Hand painted sign, 2-bay garage, no frills. I won’t say exactly how much it’s costing, but he beat the competition even on International by more than half.

Here she sits, wearing white paint for the last time ever.

(more…)