Continuous Alfa 156 build thread

166man

Howdy folks, haven't been around here much the last while but thought I'd try and add to the project forum.

It all began with my trusty 2001 156 1.6. This car was my absolute pride and joy and I did 23k miles in it in the year. Heres a picture of it as it stood at the last Motors meet it attended.



Over the 14 months I had it the car had the following done to it,

- Front suspension rebuild
- Rear suspension rebuild
- All new brakes both front and rear
- 4 x Tyres
- Cloth interior changed to a beige leather one
- Upgraded CD Player
- 2 services

Had it machine polished as well which took hours but was totally worth it.

However in November last year driving down the M50, dropped a gear to overtake and heard a ferocious bang/clatter. Took the Tallaght exit and pulled in. Got out had a look but couldnt see anything wrong except this dreadful noise. Nursed the car home. Turns out the big end bearings in the engine were shot...:(

Fast forward a couple of weeks later and a well known Alfa specialist took the car off me and rebuilt it. A donor engine was used and the car was sold on to an enthusiast from Cork.

....I was on the hunt for some new wheels....

166man

...I ended up buying this...



A 1998 Alfa 156 in Nero black...with a 2.5 V6 under the bonnet! I had lusted after one of these ever since I got my 1.6 and it was simply epic! I paid quite little for it but got a fantastic car. It had been well minded and there were over €2.5k in recent receipts when i bought it with all the major engine and clutch work done.

Since I bought it, it's needed a new lower coolant pipe, some front brake pads (:D) and a service. Needs a new radiator now though and a few suspension arms. On the inside I changed the wood trim to the carbon fibre effect and changed the black leathers for the beige interior. Some genuine Alfa mats and she was ready to go.

Outside, a new front badge, a full body detail, some gorgeous Ti wheels and new plates and she was ready to rock.

Here's how it looks today



It's such a nice car, it really is. Outrageous to drive with crappy brakes and soft suspension but the engine is a peach and there's only 87k miles on her.

However all good things must come to an end and unfortunately 14mpg around town became a little too much so about 4 weeks ago I took her off the road and bought something else... Care to guess what it is?

166man

....Yep you guessed it another 156..!

I was away in France and this...



...came up for sale. It's a 2004 156 2.4 20V JTD estate. 169k miles on her with lots of recent work done such as suspension rebuilds, recon driveshafts, new engine mounts etc. I spoke with the guy on the phone and arranged to view it when I got back. Viewed it in Bandon and bought it that day.

Mid-way through a wash....



Absolutely superb car but it's a had a hard enough life. Bodywork is a bit tired and the interior is a bit farm-like but once exams are over Ill give it a good going over. Since I bought the car it's had one new suspension arm, and oil and filter change and new auxilary belt and tensioners. Threw two new front tyres on it last week too.

It's the 175bhp version so it gets down the road fairly well and is extremely economical, around Dublin I'm averaging mid 40's and on a longer spin mid to high fifties and thats calculated properly!

Had her in Kerry two weeks ago as well, very practical car with plenty of room in the back and very comfortable on the motorway.



The plan is to find a leather interior for it, clean it up inside and out and a remap in the near future to over 200bhp.

CianRyan

May I just add to this, there are now multiple "scratchies" on this forum.
Black Alfas have no hope. :pac:

Loving the cars really, man. You know how I feel about those Sports Wagons, even if it is a diesel.

Foxhole Norman

The 156 Ti Estate will always be one of the nicest estates on the road.

Looking forward to seeing what you do with it!

CianRyan

I'd probably have a V6 one if they came in correct wheel drive.

Foxhole Norman

CianRyan wrote: »

I'd probably have a V6 one if they came in correct wheel drive.

Probably about 1 V6 estate sold here though :pac:

Coolbreeze2809

Seriously how can you call a diesel estate a "Sport"wagon? I mean it's a nice car, but there's nothing sporty about it. Maybe if it had a huge petrol engine you might get away with it, but not a massive diesel lump.

166man

Cheers Cian/Foxhole, I obviously miss the V6 burble and the power delivery but the diesel has 90% of the power right through the range and just makes it more affordable by not having so stop every two-three days for fuel. Always loved the SW and couldn't refuse this one!

@Coolbreeze - The engine is heavy alright and the handling does suffer a bit, as does suspension and tyre wear, but it's decent enough in the corners and has plenty of power. Can't expect much else from a diesel estate really..:)

quadrifoglio verde

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

The 156 Ti Estate will always be one of the nicest estates on the road.

Looking forward to seeing what you do with it!

Agreed but this isn't a ti, no ti seats in her

166man

quadrifoglio verde wrote: »

Agreed but this isn't a ti, no ti seats in her yet....

Foxhole Norman

quadrifoglio verde wrote: »

Agreed but this isn't a ti, no ti seats in her

For some reason I thought it had the whole set, thought I saw leather in it on the ad, obviously not.

cabb8ge

166man wrote: »

--Turns out the big end bearings in the engine were shot...:(--...

Unfortunate but not surprise given low oil incidents.

The 156 sportwagon look superb car, I like idea of 40s mpg in urban area.

quadrifoglio verde

cabb8ge wrote: »

Unfortunate but not surprise given low oil incidents.

The 156 sportwagon look superb car, I like idea of 40s mpg in urban area.

Not necessarily with the twin spark engines.
The sump is shaped weirdly to allow the exhaust pass under it, but this can lead to cylinder 3 getting less oil over long periods of time.
Most cars you can get away with letting the oil sit between min and max. With twin sparks you need to keep it at max.
Also when they can use 1l every 1000 km it's easy to see where trouble could arise.

cabb8ge

quadrifoglio verde wrote: »

--- With twin sparks you need to keep it at max. ---.

I know that

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=81570487&postcount=1091

Given 166man not keep oil at max I not surprise his 156 engine suffer big end issue.

quadrifoglio verde

cabb8ge wrote: »

I know that

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=81570487&postcount=1091

Given 166man not keep oil at max I not surprise his 156 engine suffer big end issue.

Most don't know that it needs to be kept at the max though. I checked the oil on that car post big ends going, it was grand.
Another reason for the big ends going is the bearings not being replaced after a belt going snap. Few 1000 miles later and the engine starts to sound like a machine gun.

166man

Yeah the big end bearings went on the car. Certainly came as a surprise as in the time I had that car it had two oil and filter changes and it was regularly topped up. The guy who bought it off me reckoned it would have been to do with owners prior to me running it on low oil. I don't know tbh but the car got a new engine put in and lives on down in Cork!

You might come across it yourself as you're from that area yourself if I remember correctly.

Was a nice excuse to upgrade to the V6 anyway and now onto the JTD. This summer ill get the finger out and sort my GTV too.

Tazio

Just thought I'd drop in and say hello!

...............and now as the current owner of your Proteo Red 156 :cool: (with a new 1.6 TS engine) I have to say we are enjoying her big time this summer...

Just two photos of her a few weeks back when my good wife took her out for a run...

Tazio

here she is with her 'sisters'..





and while this 156 was in excellent body condition when I bought a certain family member (ahem) reversed into a skip one winters night on the drive and dented the rear boot lid... but it was an excuse to respray her.. ha ha ha.. and of course check and treat any of the known rust areas underneath.......







and on the day we collected her from the respray:










Sorry for hijacking the thread... just wanted to show she lived on to live a happy life after the engine died....

166man

Ah so that's who you are!

I'd love to see it again in person, such a fantastic car. I attribute QV's desire for Alfas to his spin he got in that car the day he bought his V6!

The 156 could not have gone to a better home, I'm absolutely delighted!

I have a few updates that need to be posted here, pictures coming!

166man

Changed the interior today and removed the rear spoiler. #demseats

166man

Sorry folks no idea how to upload pics from an IPad...

cabb8ge

166man wrote: »

==The guy who bought it off me reckoned it would have been to do with owners prior to me running it on low oil.==.

did he not think you running it on low oil had an effect?

Looks great now, full respray done?

166man

May need to update the thread title a little bit..

toastedpickles

Thats no alfa!

quadrifoglio verde

You might also need to change your username :pac:

Supergurrier

That aint no italian

surpy

Interesting reg!

pred racer

Where is the don't like button :eek:

davycc

a big improvement for me:D hard to beat a blood red e39 m sport;)

YbFocus

That place looks woeful familiar

Cleveland Hot Pocket

quadrifoglio verde wrote: »

You might also need to change your username :pac:

I'm suggesting 525-I-Diff

just saying.

166man

Haven't been on here in ages, really should change my username though!

Anyway quick pic of my 12 cylinders in the drive...:D Got some plans for the 156 anyway so it's a start!

YbFocus

That e39 is so sweet.

166man

YbFocus wrote: »

That e39 is so sweet.

Cheers man! It's a quality motor, seems to be one of few decent E39 Sports around too. Helps that the Imola red is in great condition!

Cleveland Hot Pocket

And that's one nice v6 Bravo beside it.

166man

Hopefully collecting the new car this weekend, any guesses? Not that anyone will reply

166man

New car time... Looks strangely familiar..:D

toastedpickles

Why?? :pac:

Tazio

.......and she's back home.... enjoy!

166man

Fanboi-ism is alive and well! I'm absolutely chuffed to bits! I may get slated for this but c8bbage wherever you are, eat your heart out!

Thanks again Tazio on here lads and a crazy Wexican for bringing it back to life!

166man

Few snaps post rotary polishing...:D

166man

Wish I knew how to attach the images properly..!

toyotaavensis

She looks smashing

166man

toyotaavensis wrote: »

She looks smashing

Much if that isn't down to me, more the other person who gave her the TLC I wished I could have given the car. It really is in fantastic condition, and stands leagues apart from most other 156's on the road and donedeal.

I am humbled by your compliment, I don't get much traffic around here.

Cleveland Hot Pocket

166man wrote: »

Hopefully collecting the new car this weekend, any guesses? Not that anyone will reply

I had replied but it was deleted

166man wrote: »

Wish I knew how to attach the images properly..!

FYP :P

166man

I must update this thread with my latest jammer... Hint: it's not Italian

colm_mcm

166man wrote: »

Wish I knew how to attach the images properly..!

If you're working off ipad/iPhone, there's a very good photo hosting app I use called skypath.

166man

Think this should work now thanks Colm, here's the new weekend barge...guesses as to what's under the bonnet?

toastedpickles

An engine? :pac: but no I know what's under there

166man

toastedpickles wrote: »

An engine? :pac: but no I know what's under there

Ah Chris I have missed being able to thank your posts, it's always funny with the :pac: smiley.....:D