Steve Szalai’s Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale

Updated: 14 May 2012 00:26

A little unrefined. A lot fun.

 

I have been designing modifications, and getting built, a 1976 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider "Speciale" since early October 1985. Maybe you'll think it's a bit pretentious to add the "Speciale", but perhaps after seeing what has been changed, you'll not be so offended. Of course, most of the time has been spent waiting while earning more money to pay the body shop. I couldn't stand not driving an Alfa in the interim, so I bought a 1977 Alfa Romeo Spider around 1989.

The car was taken off the road for body work on 5 October 1985. It was driven for the first time in its new form on 5 October 2001. It then went off the road as a result of a problem I'd prefer not to discuss <grin>, and returned to the road on 31 May 2002.

An accident took it off the road in February 2006. Finding a body shop willing to work on it (and to actually work on it) was difficult. I eventually found Coachwerks, which did good work, fast. But I ran out of money from the insurance claim. As I expected, the money the insurance company gave me was significantly insufficient. I took the 1977 Alfa Romeo Spider off the road for parts in February 2006. Now I am driving an old VW Jetta Diesel with faded paint and rust spots.

Back to the Road Blog

13 May 2012:Brake lines all installed. Calipers are still apart.
12 May 2012:Brake rotors (cross-drilled and slotted) installed with rebuilt front wheel hubs.
11 May 2012:Brake lines in engine bay, back to proportioning valve, installed.
Rebuilt tail light guard in trunk, completed, not yet installed.
10 May 2012:Brake M/C and Clutch M/C ordered from International Auto Parts.
12 December 2011:Clutch/flywheel balanced.
2 December 2011:Performance modified clutch received from Spruell Motorsport.
29 November 2011:Brake caliper rebuild kits received from International Auto Parts.
24 November 2011:Got my leather-reupholstered seats back from Styles Auto Upholstery.
10 November 2011:Polished through the transmission hump heat shield again, so taking it to Lejeune Engineering for more welding.
8 November 2011:Clutch plate and disc need replacing, so I ordered a performance modified Sachs plate, disc, clutch bearing, and also an oil pump screen from Spruell Motorsport.
4 November 2011:Clutch and flywheel to JB Precision to check for wear, repair as required, and balance.
3 November 2011:Crank installed in block and timing cover on.
Got new custom firewall model (11502) plate and MSD timing computer decal from Elite Sportswear.
Styles Upholstery has the hide (4 months after it was ordered) for the Recaros.
27 October 2011:Crank back from balancing at JB Precision
Styles Upholstery still hasn't received the leather for the Recaros (apparently a supplier problem).
26 October 2011:Got last piece of gold cadmium plated brake line back from Victoria Plating.
14 October 2011:Cam cover, intake manifold, Oberg oil filter, door handles, MSD, wiper arms, mouldings, "Alfa Romeo" script badge and other parts to Victoria Powder Coating.
6 July 2011:Front wiring harness mostly back in.
Engine block bell housing studs replaced by bolt kit from Spruell Motorsport.
Test-installed rad and returned to Townside Motors for mounting bracket adjustment.
29 June 2011:Ordered tie-rod end replacement kit (uses Heim joints) from Spruell Motorsport.
23 June 2011:Recaro seats (driver's seat fabric worn through) to Styles Upholstery for leather upholstery.
20 June 2011:I painted miscellaneous parts with Blackcote. My Lemmer electric sprayer isn't giving me the results I want (OK for a minute or two, then goes globby) but I think I can live with some of them.
20 June 2011:Rings arrived from International Auto Parts.
19 June 2011:Cleaned up steering box and column.
19 June 2011:Rear electrics installed (minus tail lights for now, for convenience).
18 June 2011:Painted rear roof studs with Nyalic.
14 June 2011:Received Aeroquip AN20 fittings for rad etc.
Took rad to Townside Motors to replace the AN16 fittings. Water pump and coolant return thermostat cap (rad coolant return) to Lejeune Engineering to replace the AN16 fittings.
10 June 2011:Ordered Deves rings, Door gasket end plugs, single handed brake bleeder from International Auto Parts.
10 June 2011:Ordered Main bearings from Centerline.
3 June 2011:Ordered Borgo 10.4:1 pistons and liners, rod bearings and thrust washers from Spruell Motorsport.
21 May 2011:Started working on it.
21 April 2011:Car flat-decked home. Let it cure for a month.
19-21 April 2011:Wet sand and polish.
18 April 2011:Painted engine bay.
15 April 2011:Painted.
13 April 2011:Car moved into paint booth this afternoon. Expect paint Thursday or Friday.
12 April 2011:Car is in preparation for paint.
5 April 2011:Lost priority at Coachwerks so probably no work until Monday 11 April.
1 April 2011:Car approaching preparation for paint.
15 March 2011:No body work today. I'm trying to find a sacrificial anode for my aluminum wheels. No luck so far in Victoria.
14 March 2011:Coachwerks started body work on the car today.
4 March 2011:Car is back in Coachwerks body shop (I've gutted it). I may get it back on the road after all.

What's so special about this "speciale?" Most of the modifications are bodywork. Every panel except the hood and trunk lid have had their lines changed. Some modifications affect the mechanicals. Here are some of the significant modifications.

Photographs below.

Modifications:
  • Engine
    • 10.4:1 pistons
    • Ported head
    • Performance cams
    • Larger intake valves
    • Performance valve springs
    • Custom aluminum flywheel
    • Shankle header
    • Primaflow exhaust
    • Dellorto DHLA 45 carburettors
    • K&N carburettor filters
    • Custom throttle actuator
    • MSD (multiple spark discharge), MSD coil
    • MSD timing computer and RPM limiter
    • Custom magnetic pickup distributor
    • Perma-Cool 14 inch electric radiator fan
    • Oberg remote oil filter
    • Canton Racing pre-oiler
    • Aeroquip stainless steel braid hoses
    • Polished block, head, and sump
  • Other Mechanicals
    • Ereminas chassis stiffener
    • Custom Nylon and Delrin suspension bushings
    • Bilstein shocks
    • Rugh Engineering stiffer, shorter springs
    • Custom front spring spacers
    • Compomotive aluminum 2-piece 15"x7" wheels
    • Pirelli P7 (225/50-15) tires front and rear
  • Bodywork
    • Pulled out front and rear fenders
    • Straightened doors to match fenders
    • Custom metal air dam with skirt
    • Air ports in air dam
    • PIAA fog lights mounted behind air dam
    • Rocker panels squared and flared
    • Side skirts
    • Recessed Ferrari 308 taillights
    • Running and signal lights
    • Recessed rear license plate
    • Heat shield in transmission hump
    • Heat shield for steering box
  • Interior
    • Recaro LS seats, custom leather
    • Leather dash
    • Electric window regulators
    • Console, switches, and indicators
    • Alfa Romeo clock in console
    • Carpets replace rubber mats
    • Courtesy lights in footwells
  • Other
    • Cibié headlights with 16 gauge wiring
    • Car alarm
    • Remote trunk release
    • Re-routed battery cable
    • Wiring changes
    • Hidden backup flood light

Thanks to the following suppliers, etc.:
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - front, right, on grass
Note:
Compomotive wheels,
Pirelli P7 tires,
air dam, side skirts,
Alfa Romeo heart logo painted on dam,
Cibié headlights,
fog lights,
stainless trim powder coated black,
signal lights, side marker lights,
Recaro seats.		 16 June 2002
All Italian Vehicle Display
Waterfront Park, North Vancouver
British Columbia, Canada
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - rear, right, on grass
Note:
Ferrari 308 taillights,
side skirts.		 16 June 2002
All Italian Vehicle Display
Waterfront Park, North Vancouver
British Columbia, Canada
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - engine bay, left
Note:
Shankle header,
MSD coil,
Aeroquip fittings and stainless braided lines,
mechanical engine fan removed,
thicker radiator,
powder coated cam cover.		 04 June 2002
Victoria
British Columbia, Canada
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - engine bay, right
Note:
MSD timing computer and MSD,
MSD coil,
Dellorto DHLA 45 carburettors,
K&N carburettor filters,
Aeroquip fittings and stainless braided lines,
Oberg oil filter.		 31 May 2002
Victoria
British Columbia, Canada
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - engine, on stand, front right
Note:
Shankle header,
Oberg oil filter adapter with Aeroquip fittings,
thermosender in oil sump,
aluminum water pump pulley,
engine fan removed,
oil sump, block and head polished.		 08 May 2001
Victoria
British Columbia, Canada
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - water pump, right
Note:
Aluminum water pump pulley,
Aeroquip fittings on water pump.		 08 May 2001
Victoria
British Columbia, Canada
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - bare chassis, front, left
Note:
All metal, no fiberglass,
air dam,
rocker panels squared and flared,
fenders pulled out, not flared,
door curve removed,
fog light housing,
upper shock mounts braced to fender
and open into engine bay,
custom dolly.		 04 August 2000
Victoria
British Columbia, Canada
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - speedo, tach
Note:
indicator lights (LEDs) in speedo.
handbrake, oil pressure idiot light,
heater fan (stock),
fog lights, high beams,
turn signal.		 7 September 2002
Victoria
British Columbia, Canada
Alfa Romeo Spider Speciale - dash and console
Note:
leather covered dash,
custom designed console,
Alfa Romeo clock,
Recaro LS seats.

LEDs at top left of console:
  • auto theft alarm indicator, pre-oiler warning, oil filter clogged
Switches, from top to bottom, left to right:
  • electric interior heater (in standard heater box)
  • solenoid switch for heater core coolant flow
  • heater fan (almost invisible in this photo)
  • console & instrument lights dimmer, hazard lights flasher
  • fog lights, thermometer (coolant, oil), console lights
  • electric window switches
  • wiper intermittent, wipers, windshield washer water
  • wiper intermittent rate, choke
 7 September 2002
Victoria
British Columbia, Canada

Check out Steve's Alfa Romeo spares page
16 June 2002 All Italian Vehicle Display - Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Contact Steve
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