The day my "onboro ALFA" would revive

It was raining from morning on this day. It was not bad for me because I could spend time in my garage without hesitation while my wife and kids were watching TV in the house.  I fixed several repairs that I had thought I should do. To replace the ignition coil with the blue coil again. The ignition system with the semi-transistor and the blue coil looked like a retro combination. I changed the routing of the wire harness for the fuel tank to prevent the wire harness being damaged by objects in trunk. Previously overhauled rear brake calipers were assembled to the renewed rear axle. I found the spring washers of the caliper fixing bolts were deteriorated , so I replaced them with new washers. Rear axle and brake would be like a new if the rotor would be nicer. When I worked at the engine room of my car , there were some dark areas depending on the repairing part.   To improve this I tried a small idea for the li...

Acquiring the Blue coil as an opportunity , I tried the renewal of the ignition system. At first I replaced the Red coil with Blue one. The breaker point and the rotor were also replaced with the new ones I bought before. The breaker point was wearing like this. New breaker point and new rotor were installed on the distributor. By the way , the serviceability of the Magneti Marelli distributor was really bad. After this I tried to start the engine.  I thought the engine would start with roaring the exciting sound , but the engine didn ’ t start.  There might be some issues on the adjustment of the point gap ?   Or problem in the Blue coil ?   Or any fault on new breaker point or rotor ?   Any issues in the point gap adjustment ?   Problem in the Blue coil ?   Or any fault on new breaker point or rotor ? I adjusted the point gap , returned the coil to Red one , returned the rotor to old one , and finally re...

Since I bought my “ onboro ALFA ” in 20 years ago , Bosh “ Red ” ignition coil had been equipped. The ignition system was quite normal: Magneti Marelli distributor with the original breaker point.  I had been driving without changing this system , and then my car went into a sleep. A few years ago I read the article in a historic car magazine that Bosch Red coil is for CDI ignition system and Blue coil is better for normal ignition system with breaker point.  Recently I updated the ignition system to the semi-transistor type.  However , the breaker point system was not changed yet. Red coil or Blue coil ?   That was the question.  But in last week I found the Blue coil with a good price on the internet auction and I bought it. I would try the Blue coil. (My original blog was written on 6th Nov. 2008 )

It was supposed to start the overhaul of the front-left brake caliper as the 2nd action but … I was thinking that the progress of the work should be very quick because it was 2nd time , but it was not so quick. But today the work was ended at the removal of the caliper…although there was nothing difficult. In the middle of the work , I started cleaning the garage , installing the spark plug codes and so on ... I was not very concentrated. It was similar situation that in my childhood while I was doing my homework I suddenly read Manga or started drawing cartoon.  Concentration became loose for the work in second time ? But with such a pace the overhaul would not be finished … (My original blog was written on 27th Jan. 2008 )

I ordered some parts to the parts shop in US and the parcel arrived. What I ordered was not special parts but more general parts related to brakes , ignition , radiator hoses and filters. It took a week from ordering to the arrival to Japan.  I thought it was quick enough! ( The original blog was written on 24th Jan. 2008 )

I installed the semi-transistor ignition system in the engine room. The ignition system was somehow updated to the level of the late 70 ’ s. I couldn ’ t know it effective or not exactly because my car couldn ’ t be driven yet. However , when I started the engine , the engine start was very immediate like a spark! … probably.  I guessed the engine became lively. When I was installing the semi-transistor ignition , my neighbor Mr. K , who drove the Alfa Romeo 75 Evo , came to visit me riding on the scooter. He said that his scooter was same model as the one that was used by DUCATI works team at their pit.  What an enthusiastic guy!

Recently I spent a lot of time for the maintenance of Renault 5.  I had to progress the repair of “ onboro ALFA ” ! I decided to restart the work from the installation of the semi-transistor ignition system I got from the auction. Today I checked the position to install in the engine room and made the bracket ( just to bend the metal stay ) . The installation would be tomorrow.

My Alfa had the original point-type ignition system with Magneti Marelli distributor.  I thought it was not bad but I wanted to try a bit more updated system, and looked for something.   Recently I found and successfully bid the semi-transistor ignition system at the auction. With this new item the ignition system of my “ onboro ALFA ” would become the semi-transistor system with the Marelli distributor , which was recommended by some Alfa Romeo specialist in Japan. The semi-transistor system was not arrived yet , but I was looking forward to receiving it.