Brown on Brown Wagon: Alfa Romeo 156 SW

[Oli77]

Got you. I was just wondering. My son lives pretty close in Switzerland next to Lausanne.
Was just wondering in case you decide to sell you car (never know if he may be in need of one).

[Galapolis]

I see, I'm in Zurich sometimes as I have friends there and may actually be picking up a set of Style 32s for the E46 as well there later this year. Location shouldn't be a problem.

[Galapolis]

I ordered a short shifter from 4H-Tech and installed it yesterday:





It's an improvement but still nowhere near the feel of a ZF 6 speed. Good enough for what the car is though.

Have a few other goodies coming in soon as well.

[ZHPizza]

Cable shifters are so wild. Will never feel like a direct linkage but you can shorten the daylights out of them without much penalty.

[Galapolis]

Yeah I'm not a fan but it is what it is. i drove it a little bit today. It's weird to have such short shifts while the feel is still sloppy. But it's still fun enough, especially with the next part I installed.

The TS engine already comes with a cone filter stock (inside a box, kinda like the S2000) but there is practically no intake sound. I was able to find a rare Novitec intake on Kleinanzeigen. It's the only legal intake I know of, so I grabbed it right away.

Installation was weird but then most things about this car are weird. Had to fiddle the massive stock airbox out of the bottom of the car with the splash guard removed. It just slots into the radiator brace and is secured with a single 13mm nut hidden deep inside the wheel arch. Absolute pain to get out. Also, no wonder there is no intake sound with how ridiculously oversized the box is. No idea what the second box is for, I assume it's additional sound cancellation or something. It's heavy too, so some nice weight reduction.



Looking very empty with the massive box removed:




A bunch of rusted metal and random screws fell out as well:



Installed and splash guard reattached:





The kit itself didn't impress me, it's just kinda loosely attached in the engine bay with a tiny bracket that has terrible fitment, so the intake can move around a bit even after tightening all the screws.

At least the sound is exactly what you expect from an open cone, so overall still a success. Throttle response seems about the same which, given that the stock intake was already a cone, kinda makes sense.

Still, working on this thing is not really fun. One of the jacking points collapsed due to rust so that's not great. Not to mention all the dirt, grease, and rusty bolts everywhere.

I learned the other day that vintage cars (30+ years) are actually tariff-free in Germany and benefit from a massively lowered sales tax of only 7%. I'm already making some plans to potentially replace the 156 with a slightly less rust-prone American classic.

[Oli77]

Nice update!

[ZHPizza]

Wow that kit definitely looks more like an AutoZone universal cone intake. Can't believe THAT got TUV approval when others can't.

I learned the other day that vintage cars (30+ years) are actually tariff-free in Germany and benefit from a massively lowered sales tax of only 7%. I'm already making some plans to potentially replace the 156 with a slightly less rust-prone American classic.

Looking forward to the "How I imported a 1st Gen Dodge Viper" thread

[Galapolis]

Wow that kit definitely looks more like an AutoZone universal cone intake. Can't believe THAT got TUV approval when others can't.

Yeah for a German brand that literally makes T?V approved Ferrari and Lambo parts (some of which quite expensive) it's quite disappointing. At least I got it for cheap (NOS). I was very surprised to see that GruppeM actually has an intake for this car and engine, but it costs basically 25% of what the car is worth, not to mention it's not legal. https://gruppemusa.com/products/fri-0156

Maybe if I ever get a non-shitbox 916 GTV...

Looking forward to the "How I imported a 1st Gen Dodge Viper" thread

LMAO I wish. We're still on a tight budget here. Not sure if it'll work out but I'll definitely share here if it does. I should also add that vintage cars are displacement tax exempt as well, otherwise I wouldn't be considering a V8 (not that it narrows down American cars much lol).

[slater]

wow, i never saw this thread (i have been away from the 'mafia for a good long while). this car is just oozing with character.... the interior - damn....

so, are you still contemplating a move back to the US?

[Galapolis]

wow, i never saw this thread (i have been away from the 'mafia for a good long while). this car is just oozing with character.... the interior - damn....

so, are you still contemplating a move back to the US?

It's worth dropping by every once in a while. Good to see you again on here.

I've been in the process of trying to get back (or rather get the VISA) for 3 years at this point. It's a difficult, stressful, and frankly unfair process, and that doesn't even account for any of the recent stuff that's been happening.

Constantly living in limbo is not healthy, so I'm looking at options in Switzerland, which was my second choice. Honestly though, there is no other place in the world I know about that combines the career opportunities for my field with a decent wage and good climate in the same way the US does.

I wish things were more certain, if only for my own sanity, but you just kinda have roll with things and make the best out of situations like mine.