So you're restoring your old car. You can do a lot of the scut work yourself: disassembly, assembly, cleaning, polishing, painting some of the small parts, etc. But there are a lot of tasks that require special tools, knowledge, and experience. The last post about the electric fuel pump was a good example. There are many more such tasks from wire wheel renovation to replicating the wiring harness. But the three 800-lb gorillas in the room are the engine, the interior, and the body.
Phoenix, Arizona is a good place for an old Alfatross to rise from its own ashes and live again. That's where I went last week. Not only is Phoenix steeped in the American Car Culture and home of the most famous car auctions in the world (last winter sales totalled $225 million!), but also a great place to find specialist car services.
The Alfatross's connection with The Phoenix started in 2004 when I invited Rich Heinrich to visit us in Corpus Christi. He worked for a private car collection in Phoenix where he was tasked with the restoration of another Alfa SSZ like mine. Because the Alfatross was more complete he could take photos and measurements that would result in a better restoration of the car he was working on.
We kept in touch over the years. Every time I was in Phoenix I made a point of visiting him and the other guys working in the restoration shop attached to the private collection. When it came time to get serious about restoring the Alfatraoss I went to them for advice. After a very disappointing experience with an alleged Alfa 1900 engine specialist in St. Louis, I decided last year to take my engine to DeWayne Samuels, one of Rich's co-workers in Phoenix.
Last week I flew down to Phoenix to check on the progress being made on the engine, and while I was there, look for a shop that could paint the Alfatross's body. I was met at the airport by my old schoolmate Dr. Randy Davis, who volunteered to be the wheel man for a long day of fighting traffic from one end of Phoenix to the other and back again. The first stop was Roger Lorton's Standard Machine, LLC. There, the engine was completely disassembled, cleaned, and evaluated. It was time to make sure Roger, DeWayne and I were all on the same page with respect to concerns such as originality, performance upgrades, and appearance. As expected, the engine needs some machine work and new parts: new exhaust valves and pistons, and machining of the valves, valve seats, and possibly crank. The good news is that the block, head, and connecting rods are all OK along with the cam chain and oil pump gears. How long will it take and what will it cost? Still too soon to tell.
I wasn't looking forward to the other item on my list, finding a shop that could give the Alfa a great paint job. Most body shops only accept insurance repair work, so what we were looking for was something completely different and a lot harder to find. Rich suggested that we pay a visit to Young Guns Designs (http://younggunsdesigns.com/). There we met the owners, Tyler Tibbits and John Pollock, who spent more than an hour taking us through their facility. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera so I have no photos to post, but their Web site and numerous You Tube segments will give you a good idea of what they can do. We were very impressed by their facility, professionalism, enthusiasm, experience, and raw talent.
I will have to send photos and documents to familiarize them with the Alfatross, my schedule, and expectations so they can mull it over before going any farther.
The Phoenix keeps calling The Alfatross. Perhaps one day the Alfatross will be part of the auction scene in nearby Scottsdale . . . .
 |
| Phoenix, Arizona, built on the ruins of the ancient Hohokam culture, was named for the mythical bird that rose from its own ashes to live again. |
The Alfatross's connection with The Phoenix started in 2004 when I invited Rich Heinrich to visit us in Corpus Christi. He worked for a private car collection in Phoenix where he was tasked with the restoration of another Alfa SSZ like mine. Because the Alfatross was more complete he could take photos and measurements that would result in a better restoration of the car he was working on.
We kept in touch over the years. Every time I was in Phoenix I made a point of visiting him and the other guys working in the restoration shop attached to the private collection. When it came time to get serious about restoring the Alfatraoss I went to them for advice. After a very disappointing experience with an alleged Alfa 1900 engine specialist in St. Louis, I decided last year to take my engine to DeWayne Samuels, one of Rich's co-workers in Phoenix.
Last week I flew down to Phoenix to check on the progress being made on the engine, and while I was there, look for a shop that could paint the Alfatross's body. I was met at the airport by my old schoolmate Dr. Randy Davis, who volunteered to be the wheel man for a long day of fighting traffic from one end of Phoenix to the other and back again. The first stop was Roger Lorton's Standard Machine, LLC. There, the engine was completely disassembled, cleaned, and evaluated. It was time to make sure Roger, DeWayne and I were all on the same page with respect to concerns such as originality, performance upgrades, and appearance. As expected, the engine needs some machine work and new parts: new exhaust valves and pistons, and machining of the valves, valve seats, and possibly crank. The good news is that the block, head, and connecting rods are all OK along with the cam chain and oil pump gears. How long will it take and what will it cost? Still too soon to tell.
 |
| Roger Lorton with one of the many special machines used for precision seating of valves in a cylinder head. Note the "floating" base. Roger and DeWayne have worked together on various engine restoration projects over the years ranging from big-block V-8s to a straight-8 Bugatti! |
 |
| The Aflatross's 58 year-old aluminum cylinder head. Condition is pretty good except for some minor scaring in one of the combustion chambers. I have new intake valves already, but will need a new set of exhaust valves. |
 |
| The crank is in pretty good condition too, but the main bearing surfaces all show varying degrees of wear and will have to be hard-chromed. New pistons will have to be fabricated. Balance has yet to be checked. |
I will have to send photos and documents to familiarize them with the Alfatross, my schedule, and expectations so they can mull it over before going any farther.
The Phoenix keeps calling The Alfatross. Perhaps one day the Alfatross will be part of the auction scene in nearby Scottsdale . . . .
