166 3.0 Manual Box

[ProtoTipo]

Here it is:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-Alfa-Romeo-166-Super-3-0-V6-24v-Manual-Full-MOT-Fully-Serviced-Low-miles/132389252602?hash=item1ed303adfa:g:KuwAAOSwid1aAFA5

[Guy Mayers]

Well, thanks to Chris for posting the link I ended up buying the car and had it delivered here on Tuesday. Today is the first time I've had a chance to look at it in daylight and run it. Impressions getting it off the trailer in the dark weren't great, gear selection was stiff and horrible but it started and ran beautifully. Blurb on the website spoke of a cam belt and water pump recently. The paperwork that came with it confirms that it was done 18,000 miles earlier but the invoice is from 2008. So it'll need doing again soon. Bugger.
Today I dismantled enough to get to the top of the gearbox and removed the selector shaft from it's housing, sanded it down to remove the slight corrosion, sanded the housing and greased and reassembled it all, it's better but not right yet, gear lever doesn't self centre yet but I'm hoping a little warming and use will improve that. I've run it up to temperature too today and it sits at 90 degrees at idle no problems, rev it and it rises until the fan kicks in and settles back nicely. All the seats/windows work as (not) expected but the stereo isn't playing yet, it says it needs a code entering but I have to wait an hour with the ignition on to enter that... The car came with two radios so I'm guessing one won't work! Hopefully one of the two codes I've got is the right one?
Minor issues are an injector light that's come on and no direction indicator warning lights on the dash plus a scrape on the rear door, drivers side that couldn't be seen in the pictures and a couple of other minor scratches. The spare is flat and there's no jack ratchet/wheelbrace. I'll have to sort those as I will use the car over winter to make sure it's mechanically sound.
All in all nothing to worry about except the injector light.. Off to change the antifreeze as it'a going to have to live outside, the garage is otherwise occupied!

Guy

[Strat Fan]

Blurb on the website spoke of a cam belt and water pump recently. The paperwork that came with it confirms that it was done 18,000 miles earlier but the invoice is from 2008. So it'll need doing again soon. Bugger.


Guy

I would be doing the timing belt at the earliest opportunity if it hasn't been done since 2008.

I may well have a jack & wheel brace lurking, will also have a usable spare if you require it.

Welcome to the world of 24v's

[Stratie.fr]

Congratulations for this nice purchase!
Do you intend to use this 24v engine and gearbox for your current build?

[Bernard]

Hi Guy..... It may also be worth dropping the water pump off to be clear in your own mind that it is the metal impeller version..... It will only cost a gasket and a little bit of time.

I was amazed at the condition of the plastic impeller on Nellies engine..... It was just totally f&&ked !

[Guy Mayers]

Plan is to run it up to Autolusso in Penrith at the earliest opportunity for a cam belt, idler and water pump service and will get the oil done at the same time. The current build is staying 12v but I'm considering this for my own car once the second car has been finished and sold. In the meantime I'll use it to stop me running the miles up on the 159 Q4. It's just had it's coolant drained and replaced with fresh so it should be good for winter. Injection light went out of it's own accord but something isn't right if it comes on.... Probably a MAF? Tried connecting an OBDII reader to it but it couldn't connect for some reason.

Guy

[Stratie.fr]

Sounds like a nice plan Guy!!

It's a pity I'll have no time enough during my trip in England next week end to visit you and see all of these!

Frederic

[Guy Mayers]

Indeed Frederic, paths will cross sometime I'm sure but I'm away next weekend anyway!

[Stratie.fr]

I'm sure we'll meet again with our cars another time ...Stoneleigh or Silverstone maybe!
Perhaps your build will be completed at our next meeting ;)

[LPH_UK]

If you can't get your radio working I have the radio / sat nav unit out of my donor car together with the code. Was working fine before I stripped the car.

[Guy Mayers]

Very kind of you! I may well borrow it for the remaining life of the car if I can't persuade one to work!

Cheers

Guy

[LPH_UK]

Just let me know. I sort of planned to try and sell it but can't be arsed with the hassle! 2 years down the line and I still have it :rolleyes:

[Normb666]

Guy, that injector warning light thingy...I had that on my donor 156 shortly after I bought it last year. After a bit of mooching about under the bonnet, turned out it was one of the injector plugs not seated correctly. Pushed it fully home and it's been fine ever since. Think what'd happened was that I disturbed it when I was poking about under there. Dunno if it'll be the same on yours, but worth checking the simple stuff first, right? Good luck...;)

[Guy Mayers]

It's possible Norm, I was poking around the engine on Sunday, removed the airbox and clutch slave cylinder and a few cables to remove the selector shaft and grease it up. The majority of the injector rubber covers are split and will need replacing at some point....
Got to start insurance shopping for it tomorrow and then I can tax it and use it...

Guy

[Guy Mayers]

Had a closer look at the flat spare tyre today and it was cracked all over the place. No wonder it didn't hold air so i got a cheapie fitted this evening. Got a reasonable insurance quote so it's taxed too and has had a 15 mile run tonight. Couple of minor issues, no self cancelling indicators or indicator tell tales on the dash and the temperature gauge backlight is in dark mode. Going to use it a little more over the coming weeks and months but it seems to pull like a train! Gear linkage not great, still a little stiff, but it goes into the gears easily enough. Well pleased!

Guy

[strat24v]

You will be once it's in your strat. You'll kick yourself for not ditching the 12 valve years ago.

[Guy Mayers]

You may be right John... And maybe the 166 just wants to die! I was nice to it at the weekend sorting a sticky gear change and putting fresh antifreeze in it. I was nice to it yesterday, bought it a new spare tyre, put half a tank of fuel in it, insured and taxed it and took it for a spin! Pulls like a train and no nasty noises. I decided I'd take it to work today, why not. But the heater fan doesn't want to pump air today. Matrix is getting nice and warm but no idea what I've done to the thing... So, unless there's a simple fix I'm not sure what to do.
Guy

[strat24v]

End it's life!

[ProtoTipo]

Another one:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALFA-ROMEO-166-V6-3-0-24V-SUPER-6-Speed-Manual-Full-Service-History-MOT/222847122953?hash=item33e2b93e09:g:U7IAAOSwhcdaitfy

[Strat Fan]

Another one:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALFA-ROMEO-166-V6-3-0-24V-SUPER-6-Speed-Manual-Full-Service-History-MOT/222847122953?hash=item33e2b93e09:g:U7IAAOSwhcdaitfy

Prices are creeping up again

[Guy Mayers]

The car I bought has just sold on to Nick Hay who ha an LB on order, another. And in the Derby area! Just waiting for a warm weekend to drop it off.
Guy

[ProtoTipo]

A 2.5 Manual 166:

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1009239