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The Italian Project - (Read Saga) - Continues...

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 So after that memorable and enjoyable occasion on the track at Lakeside for the first time in Alonzo, a significant amount of time and exasperation has followed. The joys of owning an Italian car I keep getting told. Doing a little Googling can be a dangerous thing, so with the intention of improving the handling of Alonzo a Wiechers front strutbar was ordered and installed in March. Simple procedure and we will have to wait and see if any difference is noticed in the next track day. The only issue was the strutbar stopped the lid of the brake/clutch fluid reservoir being removed, so a couple of washers to push it out a bit remedied the situation and lid was now easily removed and closed. A lovely bright red colour so obviously must make an impressive amount of improvement. Maybe a rear strut brace is on the list next?    It was couple of months after the track day, and just before the next one at Lakeside ( I had missed the event at Queensland Raceway in March ) that I started hearin
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Lakeside Park Raceway - Alonzo's First Outing on Track

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 So for those that may not have been following, the whole reason for Aurelia (may she rest in peace), followed closely by Alonzo (2003 Alfa Romeo 147, 2L Twin Spark) , was to get a 'cheapish' car on track for inexperienced me that if something untoward occurred would not cause me any great grief but it still had to be fun to drive.  Since the last time, Alonzo has made one more visit to Barry to finally have both front Lower Control Arms ( wishbones) replaced and a general once over. All good, didn't even need a couple of other arms that I got for free. Found out the Fiat brake pads I was given were also for the Alfa 147 front brakes, so a little win there. The front discs are a bit pitted so that will be a job for me in the future, replace front pads and discs together as there is still plenty of life left in the pads at the moment. A re-gas of the air conditioning system fixed the warm air problem (personally a necessity up here).       It was then just a matter of bookin
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We are on the Road .......

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 Finally, finally, finally .......... Well its been a bit of a long road getting Alonzo ready for the RWC, but we finally got there after a number of unforeseen 'issues'. First was a new battery followed by the clutch which I knew about before purchasing and despite my immense mechanical knowledge and efforts; needed to be replaced by the 'experts' ( Master clutch cylinder, not clutch). How they fit those things in such tight places is beyond me.  Then the new brake lines, went for braided as not a lot of difference in price and much better for the track. New gas struts for the rear hatch door, 4 new tyres, engine mount, roof lining replaced, new rear bump stops, brake pads, new rear discs, etc, etc.... Did a few things which was all new to me and thoroughly enjoyed it and left the more involved stuff to those that know. BUT the thing that took the longest was the bloody drivers window.!!!!!! For roadworthy it must go down and up in single motions. I recollect that when
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Alonzo's Rebirth and the road to a RWC

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  So its been a few months since Alonzo arrived in the family and the lack of a working clutch presented a few initial problems that I thought I would be able to fix myself. This however did not prove possible as without a workshop & hoist, I could not get the damn master clutch cylinder out (which I was told was the problem). So a little cosmetic cleaning was performed until finally he was hoisted onto the tray of a tow truck and taken to the mechanics.        A trip to the wreckers provided a proper lockable fuel cap, a replacement drivers door switch and courtesy light along with a few missing screws/bolts.                 Cleaning of the leather seats came up a treat and a little TLC was performed all around without going too far, depending on the mechanical outcome and if we were going to proceed further with Alonzo.  Once at the mechanics, a full inspection was performed with a view to getting a roadworthy and a number of items were required. Best part was that the clutch iss
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