Si B

iTrader: (59)

Neighbour of mine has offered me the above car, think it's an X Plate 2000 model Alfa 156 Twinspark. Black saloon with black leather. Nice looking thing, but it's got a death rattle

From what he's described sounds like it has spun a shell at least - basically starts and idles fine, but rattles like marbles above 2500 rpm.

Anyone know if this can be easily fixed? Had a similar problem with my old Mondeo V6, got quotes of £2k for a short motor from Ford, but landed up importing some shells from the US for £66 from a Cougar, and my friend Phil2400 from here shoved them in the car. Car did another 5k miles no dramas before I sold it on, and not heard again from new owner.

Wondering if I can do the same with the Alfa? Would guess crank condition would need to be checked. Car is worth prob £1k max running, so not worth going to new engine / engine rebuild work, but say £100 on shells and crossed fingers has got to be worth a punt right?

Car looks like this one:

YOREVOL

crank will be f*****d on either no3 or no4 journal. cheapest fix new lump.
saw loads when i worked at alfa dealer. exhaust warms bearing up,oil burns away engine seized.

RS Grant

iTrader: (1)

Depends how cheap you're getting it to be honest mate... IF you can 'do a Mondeo V6' on it then I'd give it a shot for definite, but how long has it been rattling and how far has it been driven like that??


Cheers,
Grant

Touring Car Spares

iTrader: (6)

What he said ! Any low oil level or oil pressure ,water in oil from head gasket is a fave ,fks these engines right up .

Si B

iTrader: (59)

Thanks matey, at least I know where to look if I do drop the sump off. Seen a trader on ebay doing rebuilt lumps for £1075 fitted, but that basically makes repair the same as what the car is worth fully running - ie not worth the bother. Hmmm.

Can you regrind the crank and can you get oversized shells for them?

My thoughts too Grant. Not too sure of the rattle history, other than it died 2 days after it's last MOT, and not been driven since. Mileage on the car could be tallied up with the mileage on the MOT to confirm that I guess. It had 4 new tyres for MOT time and passed ok I believe, so would hope it's not gone far / done much since. Might just "mondeo V6 it" if I can get the parts cheap enough

Depressingly common issue then Tony I guess what might be worth further investigation is what caused it... don't want a head gasket to deal with as well

gouch1

it would have to be very very cheap they fetch nothing in a1 condition

Si B

iTrader: (59)

true... hence the idea of a bodge repair rather than a proper one, if it will work

Knowing my luck I'd fix it, and it would work, so then I'd go out and rag it and promptly kill it again

lawnsy

iTrader: (1)

Ya sure it the bottom end cause these are terrible for chucking water pumps and they bang like hell when they go...

Chip

iTrader: (3)

secondhand engine that works and throw it is in probably simplest option.

Si B

iTrader: (59)

Not heard it personally yet, but that would almost be ideal if that was the case

Far easier than buggering around with the crank I would guess...

I'm going to take a look around it more tomorrow. Wonder if the rest of it is worth much in parts on Ebay?

Leather looked tidy when I last saw the car at a distance, and it seemed clean....

lawnsy

iTrader: (1)

Last one i done got a second hand engine for £200 from scrap yard....

lawnsy

iTrader: (1)

Had a few with water pump probs though..

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Exactly, problem solved providing they will let you hear it running first

Si B

iTrader: (59)

I'll pop up the local scappy tomorrow Chip, see what's up there

Engine swap's not out of the question if the price is good and if the donor is in better nick than the current car.

Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

My mate had the same car and the same problem. I'm sure he got bum raped at a garage

lawnsy

iTrader: (1)

Did you go look at it then....?

Si B

iTrader: (59)

Looks like that may be an option £1200 odd for engines rebuilt on Ebay. Sod that.

Yep, well briefly in the dark. It's a no go for me, too much work and too much risk for little gain.

The current owner is going to rape it for bits for his Estate car version of the same car, then weigh it in

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

i did loads of these when i worked on alfa.iirc you had to get the crank first and see what colour paint marks were on the crank then get a set of shells with the same colour paint on them lol. Is the noise defo coming from the bottom end.