OCTANE CARS / Running Reports
Talking dirty
Engine removal speedy; readying the shell for Gustavo;
don’t mention the cams; mint pistons and liners; Benny giving the engine bay a hose down.
EVAN KLEIN
1974 ALFA ROMEO SPIDER
IT’S TUESDAY MORNING at Benny’s workshop here in LA, and we’ve eaten our doughnuts before we get started on my ‘new’ Alfa Spider (see Octane 249). I’m wearing my dirty clothes because it’s always dirty-clothes day at the shop. First on the list is getting the motor out, for our goal is to have the Italian car off to the bodyshop by Friday.
We drain the coolant and unbolt everything: the bell housing, starter, battery, Spica injection, exhaust manifold, motor mounts. It really doesn’t take that long once you get started. Of course, it looks as if Benny is doing all the work, but someone has to hold the camera… We have the motor hoisted out and on a stand before noon, after which I start scrubbing the block, timing cover and so on.