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The often neglected ammeter in the classic Alfa Romeo

The electric wiring and system of your Alfa Romeo sometimes causes problems. When the battery is dead or almost, a cheap and reliable instrument will help you to prevent it from happening again.

The ammeter is a reasonable investment, since it will tell the driver instantly what is going on with the battery. In fact, it will tell you how much electricity the alternator transports to the battery, or even worse, if the electricity is draining your the battery.

When the gauge is pointing at zero or preferably somewhat in the positive sector you have an indication that everything is OK. When the needle turns over to the negative sector, you are most likely to end up with a dead battery and it's time to check the alternator and the electrical system.

Besides, the ammeter will tell you how far the battery will last before it is completely dead. If your battery has a 60 AH and your ammeter is showing negative 10 am, you might probably have some five to six hours to go.

Most ammeters indicate +/- 50 A and are low-priced. You will also need some cable and contacts. Please note, that the cable must be dimensioned for 30-40 A, so get a solid and thick one or you might end up with a shortcut.

When you connect the alternator/generator, control (regulator) box and battery, check the wiring diagrams for your model. Always disconnect the battery before tampering with the wires!

1750 GT Veloce and Spider Veloce have the B+ from the alternator going direct to the + on the battery. From the battery there is a most thick cable to the starter. This cable is then connected to the fuse box and the main electric system. To get the ammeter to tell you everything about your electrical system, you will have to make a minor modification.

The original wiring diagram

Disconnect the cable from the alternator B+ and the battery and replace it with a longer one and connect this to the fuse box and the original (red) cable. Then connect the ammeter to the cable from the starter to the fuse box.

The modified wiring diagram

1750 Berlina etc. Slightly modifications needed. As usual, the B+ from the alternator leads direct to the + on the battery. The fuse box is supplied from the B+ on the alternator and I have modified this as shown.

The original wiring diagram

Some GTV cars in the 105-series has the same type of wiring diagram.

The modified 1750 Berlina wiring diagram

2000 Berlina etc. The horn has its own cable, an Italian specialty. Whatever happens, blow your horn and be happy.

The original wiring diagram

The proposed wiring does not register the horn consumption on the ammeter. No need to overdo it.

The modified 2000 Berlina wiring diagram

  1600 Duetto and Giulas with generator (dynamo). The cars with the older types of generators perhaps need a better supervising of the control box.

The original wiring diagram

All electricity goes through the control box on cars with generators, which makes the wiring easy.

The modified 1600 Duetto wiring diagram

Finally, where do you place the instrument? Well, since I do not want to spoil the original interior of my Roundtail, I have placed the ammeter in the engine bay where it is easy to read when I check the engine. Good luck!  

Replacing the alternator

Find an alternator from any '70's Alfa and put that headlight dimming, no current outputting generator on a shelf. It's worth a lot to the concours types, by the way. Check at the junk yard for Volvo and Opel cars who used the same equipment plus a lot of other European vehicles. For the rest of us, we want lots of consistent b.s. free amps delivered at a nice, steady 14 volts. If you find one, be sure to get the regulator and the wiring harness between the regulator and alternator. That will save you a lot of time. 

These Bosch alternators will bolt right on without modifying pulleys, the timing cover, or the alternator body itself. I believe that you can use the old bolt that attaches the generator to the timing cover. The bracket on top, used for tensioning the belt might be different. It could be exactly the same, I just don't remember.  

The belt, by the way should work on the alternator as well. If it needs replacing, however, this would be a good time to do it.

Replacing the contact breaker system

I have found that the BMW 4-cylinder cars with Bosch ignition system almost has the same as Alfa Romeo had. Go tot he junkyard and find a complete distributor by Bosch for a 4-cyl. engine. Get the complete wiring harness but make sure you have a Bosch module at the end of the wires.

Replace the cogwheel at the bottom of the distributor shaft with the old one from you Alfa shaft. That was the tricky part. Now fit the

The very effective snap-off steering wheel . . .

No wheel, no steal!

This is how I make the Spider impossible to steal and drive.

No wheel, no steal! The snap on lock is sold by Snap-Off.com in Great Britain. This is how it works. It was invented in Sweden by Mr. Johan Rosenlund who has them for sale. His fax number is +46- (0)8-511 776 61. Just fax him, he is a nice guy with a passion for racing.

The anti-theft device Snap-Off system, combined with SWM hub kits and sport steering wheels, allows the easy, quick release and removal of the steering wheel when the car is parked. The wheel can then be easily and safely remounted when you drive your car again. What better deterrent can you have than totally removing your steering wheel, thus confusing and discouraging the thief and diverting it to car without the so called Snap-Off. This system can easily be assembled and servicing is not necessary, Snap-Off will also allow you to buy a sport steering from the wide range of SWM wheels. The anti theft Snap-Off is covered by the European and American patent laws.

I just snap the steering wheel on when I like to drive. Once removed, it is not possible to drive away. It looks very strange on the parking lot and you will meet new friends all the time.

And the Spider will remain where you left her.

I use my Momo Super Indy wheel and carry it in a bag. No problems! This arrangement will fit any steering key shaft. BTW, if you have an air-bag, sorry, it won't work here. Just good old 105's will do.

Using a vice-grip will be very complicated for a presumed thief. First the villain will have to spot your car, second check how to steal it. Then he has to go away to get a vice-grip. When he returns, you will probably be gone with your car. If your pearl is still there in the parking-lot, the villain will have some real hardships, driving away with the odd steering wheel.

Remember, the vice-grip is not the nasty thing wrestlers use before the DSQ. It is a special tool, however not that common.

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