My Alfa Romeo 33 rebuild - FIRST TIMER

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Brit01
Posts: 825
Joined: June 28th, 2011, 4:54 pm
Location: Uruguay

My Alfa Romeo 33 rebuild - FIRST TIMER

Post by Brit01 »

Hi all,

I'll start this thread as my project. I have an Alfa Romeo 33 1.7 QV 1988 Series 2 with twin Dellorto carbs 40DRLA.

A tappet sound started in Feb and just got worse. Tried changing oils, Liqui Moly products etc to eliminate the possibility of block oil passages.

It was time to rip it apart and see what's going on inside. It was not nice to see the damage.

I've always been mechanically minded but never tackled such a big project before so it's a learning curve for me.

I have plenty of pictures. I will start adding a few each day. Also of course some of my car.

Regards
Attachments
all tappets.JPG
all tappets.JPG (64.37 KiB) Viewed 20827 times
damaged lobe 3.JPG
damaged lobe 3.JPG (60.25 KiB) Viewed 20827 times
damaged lobe taken out.JPG
damaged lobe taken out.JPG (48.62 KiB) Viewed 20827 times
damaged tappet.JPG
damaged tappet.JPG (62.72 KiB) Viewed 20827 times
alfa 1.JPG
alfa 1.JPG (110.05 KiB) Viewed 20821 times
alfa 6.JPG
alfa 6.JPG (118.54 KiB) Viewed 20821 times
alfa 2.JPG
alfa 2.JPG (109.73 KiB) Viewed 20821 times
alfa 3.JPG
alfa 3.JPG (117.47 KiB) Viewed 20821 times
alfa 5.JPG
alfa 5.JPG (90.89 KiB) Viewed 20821 times
Last edited by Brit01 on July 6th, 2011, 12:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
Brit01
Posts: 825
Joined: June 28th, 2011, 4:54 pm
Location: Uruguay

Re: My Alfa Romeo 33 rebuild - FIRST TIMER

Post by Brit01 »

cylinder cross hatch pattern.
smooth feel to them as I run my finger down them. Maybe too smooth. After de-glazing do you feel a slightly rough feel to the surface?
Still a good pattern showing.
Your opinions would be appreciated.
Attachments
cross hatch 2.JPG
cross hatch 2.JPG (52.57 KiB) Viewed 20822 times
cross hatch 1.JPG
cross hatch 1.JPG (52.88 KiB) Viewed 20822 times
cross hatch 3.JPG
cross hatch 3.JPG (59.39 KiB) Viewed 20822 times
cross hatch 4.JPG
cross hatch 4.JPG (64.82 KiB) Viewed 20822 times
cross hatch 5.JPG
cross hatch 5.JPG (76.79 KiB) Viewed 20822 times
cross hatch 6.JPG
cross hatch 6.JPG (63.34 KiB) Viewed 20822 times
cross hatch 7.JPG
cross hatch 7.JPG (54.92 KiB) Viewed 20822 times
WhizzMan
Posts: 459
Joined: August 13th, 2010, 8:05 pm
Location: Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Re: My Alfa Romeo 33 rebuild - FIRST TIMER

Post by WhizzMan »

It's not what you see, or feel with your finger, when it comes to honing for new rings. It's about a very precise structure of the cylinder walls that is required for the new rings to bed in properly. This structure can really only be viewed when using microscopes and such. Every time you change piston rings, you need to re-create that precise finish, or the new rings will not bed in properly on the cylinder walls and you're worse off than re-using the old rings.

Having done a few of these myself, judging by your pictures, I'd say you have 5 of 8 tappets worn irregularly. That means that at least 5 of the lobes on your cams are worn. You can tell by the circular patterns on top of the tappets. Those are very typical for Alfa hydraulic tappets. I guess it's the same for other brands, but I haven't seen any of those myself so it may be different.
Book #348
Brit01
Posts: 825
Joined: June 28th, 2011, 4:54 pm
Location: Uruguay

Re: My Alfa Romeo 33 rebuild - FIRST TIMER

Post by Brit01 »

Thanks Whizzman.

Yes very true, quite a few tappets worn and lobes.
Have new cams and 8 new tappets, new oil seals, valves, gaskets and also new gears for the oil pump.
I imagine the oil pump sucked up bits of that lobe and pitted the gears.

Also my ex-mechanic put new tappets in the car 2 1/2 years ago but left the old cams in. No wonder the tappets only lasted a short time. He was the owner of the care at that time.
Attachments
pitted pump gear 1
pitted pump gear 1
pump4.JPG (13 KiB) Viewed 20804 times
pitted pump gear 2
pitted pump gear 2
pump9.JPG (12.65 KiB) Viewed 20804 times
One of the pair of new cams
One of the pair of new cams
new camshaft.JPG (11.44 KiB) Viewed 20804 times
oil pump.JPG
oil pump.JPG (17.81 KiB) Viewed 20804 times
NEW TAPPETS.JPG
NEW TAPPETS.JPG (20.19 KiB) Viewed 20804 times
Brit01
Posts: 825
Joined: June 28th, 2011, 4:54 pm
Location: Uruguay

Re: My Alfa Romeo 33 rebuild - FIRST TIMER

Post by Brit01 »

Flexi-Hone being shipped!

some more pics:
Attachments
cylinder heads ready with new valve seals, seats and guides checked.
cylinder heads ready with new valve seals, seats and guides checked.
pair tapas sabah.JPG (10.86 KiB) Viewed 20800 times
finishedcamsupport.jpg
finishedcamsupport.jpg (41.55 KiB) Viewed 20800 times
headhe.jpg
headhe.jpg (93.39 KiB) Viewed 20800 times
multiple de admision con un poco mas pulido.JPG
multiple de admision con un poco mas pulido.JPG (14.81 KiB) Viewed 20800 times
new petrol pump gaskets and o-rings.JPG
new petrol pump gaskets and o-rings.JPG (13.87 KiB) Viewed 20800 times
test 1.jpg
test 1.jpg (17.1 KiB) Viewed 20800 times
tapa con pintura 2.JPG
tapa con pintura 2.JPG (15.06 KiB) Viewed 20800 times
mitch strada
Posts: 39
Joined: November 3rd, 2006, 6:02 pm
Location: London, UK
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Re: My Alfa Romeo 33 rebuild - FIRST TIMER

Post by mitch strada »

Great car, I love the Boxer engine what a fantastic sound, I have had a few Alfa Suds but never a 33. My Sud had a 33 1.7 16v engine and outboard front brakes too, the sound was like music to me and I would regularly find myself going for pointless drives just so I could hear the engine!
Were many Old Alfas imported to Uruguay?
Brit01
Posts: 825
Joined: June 28th, 2011, 4:54 pm
Location: Uruguay

Re: My Alfa Romeo 33 rebuild - FIRST TIMER

Post by Brit01 »

Thanks mitch strada.

yes they have a beautiful addictive sound that just makes you drive them hard and the overun is sweet. (unless you have broken tappets!!)
Also the induction sound if you can release it is just sweet also.
I've opened up my airbox a little to release the induction sound more.

Foam socks are not really suited for our climate here. We have too much dirt and dusty roads.
K&N panel filter is fitted.

Not so many suds/sprints/33's.
Only a handful of 33's in good condition. mine is well known here.
My brother-in-law has a sud 1981 4 door 1.5 super and his father has a sprint for racing.

Great cars but in good climates due to their awful rust problems.
Attachments
petrol pump polished.JPG
petrol pump polished.JPG (69.44 KiB) Viewed 20786 times
painting in progress of all parts.JPG
painting in progress of all parts.JPG (72.73 KiB) Viewed 20786 times
Guy Croft
Site Admin
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Location: Bedford, UK
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Re: My Alfa Romeo 33 rebuild - FIRST TIMER

Post by Guy Croft »

Nice - but more time your end should be devoted to reading about basic engine overhauling - and less to dressing and painting.

G
Brit01
Posts: 825
Joined: June 28th, 2011, 4:54 pm
Location: Uruguay

Re: My Alfa Romeo 33 rebuild - FIRST TIMER

Post by Brit01 »

GC - this dressing was done due to extra time available in the house and not being able to get to the garage.
Wife and son responsibilities/issues.

Not because I was neglecting engine overhauling basics.

Regards
Guy Croft
Site Admin
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Re: My Alfa Romeo 33 rebuild - FIRST TIMER

Post by Guy Croft »

Don't feel got-at. There is a method to everything I write here.

I said it because having coached you here from the beginning I think that undertaking an engine overhaul with so little basic engine knowledge is a bad thing and again, with your evident interest, I think you should get into some good books on this. There are plenty around incl mine and even in my new book I have referred to others in a favourable light. Remember that whilst you may think you and I are the only ones reading your posts (this is a commonly held belief) in fact the site gets over 2 million hits a month so I and I am on a mission to improve folks' general understanding of what I believe to be an important DIY skill (for a bloke anyway) and from time to time I make these observations to 'jolt people'. The difference betw us - you understand - is that I write for all - and you write for yourself.



G
Brit01
Posts: 825
Joined: June 28th, 2011, 4:54 pm
Location: Uruguay

Re: My Alfa Romeo 33 rebuild - FIRST TIMER

Post by Brit01 »

Oil vapor circuit 7 piece connector shattered (24 year old brittle plastic). Creating a new circuit. Pictures will be posted once installed.
Oil sump drain plug changed to hex bolt making it easier to take out. (damaged 12mm allen bolt previously installed).
Crowns cleaned up.
Outlet manifolds cleaned. Same size as gaskets so no modification needed. Kept as original size.
New big end shells.
Attachments
broken connector.JPG
broken connector.JPG (60.81 KiB) Viewed 20600 times
clean exhaust outlet.JPG
clean exhaust outlet.JPG (77.03 KiB) Viewed 20600 times
crown 2.JPG
crown 2.JPG (69.76 KiB) Viewed 20600 times
new big end shells.JPG
new big end shells.JPG (92.94 KiB) Viewed 20600 times
new oil plug.JPG
new oil plug.JPG (62.63 KiB) Viewed 20600 times
WhizzMan
Posts: 459
Joined: August 13th, 2010, 8:05 pm
Location: Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Re: My Alfa Romeo 33 rebuild - FIRST TIMER

Post by WhizzMan »

Brit01 wrote:Oil vapor circuit 7 piece connector shattered (24 year old brittle plastic). Creating a new circuit. Pictures will be posted once installed.
New big end shells.
That part is not for oil vapor. It is the central "distributor" for engine vacuum. The carter ventilation is also hooked up to it, but it has much more function than just that.
Book #348
Brit01
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Joined: June 28th, 2011, 4:54 pm
Location: Uruguay

Re: My Alfa Romeo 33 rebuild - FIRST TIMER

Post by Brit01 »

I tend to disagree a little Whizzman sorry.
rethinking about it from a different angle yes this circuit has a role in crankcase pressure also.
I'm considering whether to take off the air intake tubes(trumpet inlets - not inlet manfiolds) and add a filter or oil catcher to reduce the hot oil vapor entering the carbs.

The main oil vapor pipe comes out of a connection on the oil fill pipe. This leads to 4 inlets on each carb.

1 small one on the inlet manifold that draws when idling and the carbs are closed, and the other attached to the trumpet which sucks the vapor through the carb when you open the throttle.

Sorry I made this diagram with names in Spanish for a friend here but it gives you an idea of the Alfa circuit.
Attachments
diagram of oil vapor circuit.JPG
diagram of oil vapor circuit.JPG (37.75 KiB) Viewed 20584 times
Brit01
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Joined: June 28th, 2011, 4:54 pm
Location: Uruguay

Re: My Alfa Romeo 33 rebuild - FIRST TIMER

Post by Brit01 »

This is the mod I'm thinking of making.

The small pipes on the inlet manifolds will have clean filtered air from the airbox flowing into them.
The inlets on the trumpets blocked off so carbs will keep clean and no contamination of the fuel will occur.

On the oil filler pipe, I have a catch tank and also a filter directed vertically to release crankcase pressure.
Attachments
new vapor circuit design bigger.JPG
new vapor circuit design bigger.JPG (27.94 KiB) Viewed 20571 times
Brit01
Posts: 825
Joined: June 28th, 2011, 4:54 pm
Location: Uruguay

Re: My Alfa Romeo 33 rebuild - FIRST TIMER

Post by Brit01 »

Just a small DIY oil catch container but I can check on it regularly to see how much it collects (honestly I have no idea how much will collect for now).
Other end will have a pipe attached leading to a filter.
I noticed on my brother in laws alfasud there is just a pipe pointing down to the ground and see lots of oil splatters on the front drive axle and rubber gaiters! No filter or anything just an escape pipe spitting it out to the ground. (we don't have emission tests here).
Attachments
oil catch tank.JPG
oil catch tank.JPG (55.13 KiB) Viewed 20569 times
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