20VT into an alfa 145

Finally I can start the build thread for my Alfa 145. Had the 145 for a while now so have been able to prepare it a bit ready for the project to start in earnest, maily welding up the rusty floor!

I now have a complete 20VT coupe which has most of the parts needed for the conversion, I say "most" of the parts as the engine turns out to be pretty much dead which is a shame even though I bought it as a non-runner.

Pics to start with of the 2 cars facing up together. This weekend I will take the running gear off the Coupe and fit it to the 145, the engine can wait until later.




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got the engine out today, the suspension etc swap over will start this weekend

hope these pics create clickable thumbnails





took the head off to see what the compression/piston/water loss issue was



new engine needed

thanks to barnacle for editing the pics, i know how now though so no more problems

started to swap the suspension & brakes over this afternoon, the sub-frames also need to be swapped i'm told so will be doing that also? the rack needs to be changed anyway so easier to change the whole thing.
the gear linkages are the traditional rod types on the 145 and cables on the coupe so they will also be changed, comes complete on it's own tunnel on the coupe, will take the 145's one off tomorrow which hopefully should mount similar



while taking the struts off the 145 though i had a poke at some rusty areas, more welding needed





hopefully it won't be too much longer before the main parts are swapped over, apart from needing to get a fresh engine of course

brakes/suspension/steering etc swapped over & i hope the wiring is in order so on to the engine work.

had an issue with the new engine being slightly different in that it doesn't have the oil temperature sensor in the sump so had to strip the old sump off the blown engine to swap it over, bit of a mess in there



took the baffle plate out and after 2 or 3 hours of cleaning it finally ended up clean enough to be used, nice cast baffle plates in the sump bottom to help with oil surge






all built back up ready for fitting




a few of the bits & pieces i found in the sludge in the sump



made a mess of my parts washer too, plenty of other bits of piston & block bore too





one little piece that is recognisable, the part of the piston where the gudgeon pin goes through, the groove for the circlip is still in place

hopefully will be installing the engine in the 145 within the next few days

engine fitted now, a bit tight for space but everything lined up fine



have got it running so happy that my wiring seems to be working. just got to now fit the fmic, new front brakes, mount the power steering reservoir somewhere else and that's about it.



hoping to have it finished in a few weeks time so i can finally get to drive it

i also fitted 3 extra gauges in the 145's dash where the ash tray used to be



don't mind a few extra dials

maybe one day you coupe guys & gals will let me along to a meet so i can thank you all for being helpfull

a few more jobs done.
got the wheels finished now. the 4 spokes were pretty gouged and there was a fair amount of corrosion so took a bit of work to tidy them up.
gone for a different colour too, will see if i like it once they are on the car. look ok for now though.



close up, it's a metallic grey colour



my front mounted intercooler has arrived so this weekend i hope to get it mounted properly and most of the pipework plumbed in.



on the car, about where it will eventually end up. shame i can't mount it exactly centrally but the pipe routing won't allow it with all the stuff i've to get round.



hoping to have it on the road by the months end, or the first few weeks of october

nearly done.

this is it parked with my sud & 156SW in the background



managed to get the bits & bobs fitted so gave it a much needed wash, a month or 2 of dust now cleaned off. polish time soon



new front discs & pads to go on this weekend, move the power steering reservoir to the passenger side and tidy up a few loose ends.
still a few little jobs to be done but now aiming to be on the road for oct 1st

Good stuff, just noticed this.

I like the Sud, I had a 1.5Ti (Not an X) back in 1987, it was only 3 years old and still needed welding for it's MOT, brilliant car to drive though.

used to have a sud 1.3 TI awsome first car but the usual problems ... the paint was not very good at holding the rust together

i keep seeing your Alfa 145 at the ATS garage in Boston

Your a fitter there?

not been on here for a fair while, kind of finished the project off now!
the car is in daily use as i've sold my alfa 156SW (yep dan, that's me ;)) and is a fairly good car. fun to drive with enough power and i'm getting 27mpg which isn't at all bad considering it's a lot of town driving

this was the intercooler fully fitted



the final fitting under the bonnet



the air intake, only place i could get it. does get cold air to it from behind the bumper so seems happy with it. the power steering reservoir ended up in this corner too as there wasn't room for it where the coupe has it.



i've had a proper stainless exhaust made up now so it evens sounds good too. really nice when it's revved hard, proper fruity not unlike the old audi quattro rally cars as the exhaust builder said





the size of the tailpipe makes it a bit too loud for daily use though so i will be going back to get a smaller one fitted.

i was thinking of selling it around christmas time but it's a really fun car to drive, suprises a few folks maybe i will be able to come along to a coupe meet in the summer, be nice to see a few of you guys

the engine i bought from terry has proved to be a good one, holds great oil pressure (30 - 35psi when warm on tickover, around 65psi warm at running speeds) doesn't use much oil, water temp constant and no loss, hydraulic tappetts settled down nicely now too.

this is my sud which i brought up the drive this xmas time to warm the oil/water up, didn't take it onto the snow though. strictly a dry weather car that one

just for those who can remember the sud and how rusty it was (is :D) i'm currently restoring an early series 1 sud ti for a friend

he sent me these pictures to see if i could sort it out for him

relished the challenge, is almost solid now with the majority of the rot cut out and welded up

Just a heads up for anybody that may be interested, this car will be up for sale at the end of this month hopefully.

What you looking for it?

I will be looking for £2750 for her without tax. I am contemplating insuring her to tax and use for work whilst she it up for sale. In which case I shall ask about £2850.

Not meaning to be rude.. but why? imo the Alfa 145 is a fugly car to pop the coupe engine into of all options?

looks really good that, i love the look of the alfa 145's too.

Its a matter of opinion... I dont like the look of the Fiat Coupe... but love 145's. Everybody is entitled to it.

The Coupe engine bolts straight in, all based on the Tipo model, as I and the person who done the converversion originally loved the 5 pot note... that engine was selected.

The 145 also has a great load space.
If you need to get a washing machine from A to B at 150 MPH+ there can be no better choice

and that I suppose... cant do that in your Coupe!

Lol, can barely fit the gf's handbag in the boot of a coupe!

Must be a 20vt thing, Perf - I get a full-sized aircraft in the back of mine...

Hopefully the engine will be going back in today!!! Excited!

and the engine is in!!!! PPHHAAWWW TIGHT!