Fingers crossed you charged him double the cost of actually fitting new arms 😂

Bet your customer now wishes the wishbones had been replaced after seeing this! Good effort Neil.

Again, so glad I own Alfas in Australia and not the UK. That rust is insane.

@nigelha3699

3 ай бұрын

thinking the same, my 159 is pristine compered, not to mention the Suds..

Much patience by you. I can't see why the customer wanted to use those old wishbones and had I been the customer, I would have first painted that "new" subframe with something like POR15.

Absolutely brilliant video Neil ❤👍Waw that was a hell of a job brilliant

These kind of jobs were the ones I hated most when I worked as a mechanic. Not because of the work itself but because the customers always skimped and wanted to pay as little as possible. It always resulted in a tough discussion about the job taking way much longer than it should really and would end up costing just as much as getting it done properly from the start.

That Dewalt impact gun is still going strong! Enjoyed the video Neil!

@ItaliaAutos

3 ай бұрын

Yep just replaced the batterys

@stevelutwyche

3 ай бұрын

I’ve gotta get one of those, they speed up so many tasks.

Fully agree with you Neil.......it's a false economy to just replace the subfame without doing the wishbone & associated bushings too. Really admire your patience & perseverance in getting that stubborn, rusted subframe out. That was a real pain! Keep up the great work. 👍👍

Greaf job Neil. I agree I would have replaced the wishbones, in fact I would have built the new subframe up myself and replaced that crusty anti roll bar too. Those bushes must be on the way out too, its just a false economy reusing all that old crap!

'A little tap with a hammer' made my day mate

Well Neil, it's at these times, I bet u wish u worked in California!

@ItaliaAutos

3 ай бұрын

Anyday

@jeffc558

3 ай бұрын

I would have told the customer to go pound sand on the old bones…liability issue if you ask me.

@jeffc558

3 ай бұрын

Whoops. But i get it, customers are what they are…

I can't even imagine living with that kind of rust (I'm from spain). Kudos to uk mechanics.

The right guy with all the knowledge and the right tools! That would have taken me a week.

Ah dear, I see you were so fed up with that job. And yet, one thing I noticed about your channel, and I why keep watching, is that you do have some great methods of undoing rusty bolts and components. So important for doing the job right.

That is a Supersprint manifold! I want one. I have just bought a 2010 GT Cloverleaf with a 1.8 Twin Spark. My subframe is like new! It is a low mileage car, however I’m currently refitting the under tray that normally is missing as they break off! The under tray usually provides some corrosion protection to the subframe when fitted

Great video, thak you! Congrats for your patience! Brings back memories when replaced wishbones, stabiliser rods, anti-roll bar rods on my 145, finding all bolts rusted to hell.

Excellent video Neil - that was a pita

Poor Neil. Repair on a tight budget. Greetings from Germany! Love your Channel !

And this is why my 99 Spider is about to get a Lanoguard treatment.

@ItaliaAutos

3 ай бұрын

Good stuff.

Tea ☕️ and an italia auto video, lovely

Similar rust I had on my 2004 Gt's diesel subframe. There was like a whole visible crack, so I replaced it. I fitted a 156 subframe to the GT. There was only one small modification needed which was easily done.(idk why they weren't 100% identical) Before th change of the subframe, the whole surface rust was removed from the chassis with hard labour in my friend's garage. Then we put some chemicals and recoated with protective layers. Three years later it still holds strong. I was lucky the rust was only on the surface. But it was weird that the subframe was completely damaged, but the chasis was only on the surface. Weird stuff.

holy s...t neil , what a bastard job

@ItaliaAutos

3 ай бұрын

Yep it was.

Hi Neil, I had to do this job when I stripped the banjo bolt replacing a PAS hose! I have PTSD from doing that job on the ground without a hoist! Cheers Steve

Having done this job myself without a ramp I laughed in hysterics when you said the customer wished to reuse the wishbones. I hope you charged them well for the new bolts required! Did you use the subframe alignment tool?

Great real world video, enjoyed it, even the frustrating parts!

Thank you for the good videos 👍😊

I recognise that 145. One of the legendary ones still around. Coilovers too. Wow that subframe is pretty knacked.

Hard work for that rotten subframe. Can’t believe customers requests to reuse the wishbones. That costs more than new ones. In general that car requires some more love at all. However, Good work Neil👍👍👍

Good job again 👍🇲🇰

absolute tenacity in this one!

Wow! Good to see a new video and what a job!

In respect to the rotten bolts, maybe a Bolt Heating device will help to undo them.....Just an idea.

I'd have sent photos to Customer and said itd be cheaper to replace the wishbones than pay for the extra labour hours to remove and swap plus they'll need replacing soon

Love crusty Alfa. This stopped me from buying one 😂

Terrific persistence, Neil, bravo! Btw, there's a mysterious noise in the background, coming from the unit next to yours - like the sound-effect from Kubrick's 'Full Metal Jacket' - when the platoon is being pinned down in the deserted factory by that young Vietcong sniper girl! - Gives your whole video an extra edgy feel. 😂

@ItaliaAutos

3 ай бұрын

That noise does my head in. They always do it when I'm filming

Well done on persevering with what is essentially a rot box of a subframe. The owner is mad not to replace the arms as you say. You have more patience than me, that's for sure. Underbody protection would have been a wonderful thing post-production of a lot of these older cars.

@royfontaine5526

9 күн бұрын

Underbody protection during production, would have been better, don’t you mean?

i understand the job is to a tight arse customers request....i just cant put anything back thats not cleaned, painted and oil free! Must have too much time on my hands

I've just finished removing the subframe on my GTV... Altough all the bolts were quite rusty, they all come undone, but as you state: I can't understand why anyone would reuse the wishbones, bolts and ARB-links. Seems silly.

Wow, was this an MOT moment 😮

The FIAT Multipla have a similar sorry subframe fitted too, I got sick of working on them, and then found an Alfa Spider had virtually the same item fitted.

Yeah good video. Good work. New Wishbones should have been a no brainer as very little money saved. Also definitely some rust treating while it was up on the lift would have made sense. Look at the radiator mount area? That needs rust treating asap…

I don't get why the customer wanted the subframe replaced but not the wishbones. Why do they even care in the first place?! I like your attitude with the customer is always right but personally I probably wouldn't have let the customer leave with this. Also because I know that some customers blame it on the workshop later on just because they didnt listen and act like you never told them...

Not to mention all the Fiats and Lancia’s with the same subframe. Mine (Fiat Coupe 20VT) was ok tho, sprayed thin wax everywhere after I bought it in 2002. Held up great for my 13 years with it. It did need the transverse OMP brace (marked as for alfa 155) to stop tramlining completely.

@ItaliaAutos

3 ай бұрын

Nice.

That looks like the job from hell. I agree that it would have been much easier and not much more to replace the wishbones as they didn't look that much better. And such a poor design to replace

This car is very crusty indeed. Our local 145, 146, 155's don't rust much at all. I have never seen a rusty one, or a rusty sub frame. However, most of those sold here in South Africa have been scrapped. Usually due to lack of maintenance, a cambelt/tensioner failure. Really sad.

@ItaliaAutos

3 ай бұрын

Lots of rust in the uk

@jacohauptfleisch935

3 ай бұрын

Yeah my 2003 147 looks brand new compared to the poor 145. A lot drier climate we have in the interior part of South-Africa. Just replaced the cambelt. Need new anti roll bar bushes - not looking forward to it but would be a breeze compared to this one

@MLC...

3 ай бұрын

@@ItaliaAutosIs there not an alternative to salting the roads?

@qwertz744

3 ай бұрын

@@MLC... In UK they use salt. I lived in DK, corrosion is major issue there too due to salt. In Austria salt is banned, they use something else.

Great "real world" video as always. Hope you charged for the full 5 hours!!

Daft question but have you not got a set of Irwin bolt extractors ?, I have worked on mainly old Alfa`s all my life an consider these the best bit of kit in my tool box. They simply do not slip once they bite no matter how rounded or chewed up the bolt head is. I dont have any connection to the company, but they have come to the rescue more times than I can remember over the years. Love the video`s, keep them coming ;0)

@ItaliaAutos

3 ай бұрын

Got some somewhere but I just love the welding option 🙂

If replacing the subframe would it be better to get the replacement sandblasted/powdercoated or get it galvanised?

Can’t believe some people. Refitting those wishbones and drop links! Unreal. Whenever I change wishbones on any Alfa, I always buy new bolts for them. Issue is now the bolts are £40 a side, so another expense to add on. Furthermore, the wishbones out there aren’t very good and don’t fit well. TRW used to be the originals, but I’m not sure they’re the same quality; any of the aftermarket wishbones don’t fit very well. I have heard Delphi wishbones work and fit well, but have never tried them myself. Birth ones used to be brilliant, especially on Fiat Coupes, but not sure any more….

@Codzilla71

3 ай бұрын

Delphi 👍

Nice work, but maybe, you shold refuse this job if customer did not buy new wishbones.

Jeez! what an horrendous job for you, pitty all the oil leaking from various places hadnt spread to the subframe it might have helped with preventing some of that rust!

No penetrating oil for all the bolts?

Alpha do some really good looking cars with good engines but that subframe looks like its been at the bottom of the sea for 10 years , fair play neil.

Neil are you seeing any rust issues with newer cars? Like the Giulietta?

Nice job Neil! And i also don't get why peeople would use old wishbones again? I mean they are cheap new and it saves time to take them off. If you are spending money doing those steps like an other subframe why not go a little further down the road? I don't get it!

How different is a mito subframe?

Whats the name of that song ?

I do not understand. This is not the first video I see of an enthusiast's car who clearly never inspected the underside. A subframe does not get this crusty overnight. Once a year I do clean and inspect the underside of my old Benz as they like to rust as well. Not a nice job, a few hours on your back with a steel brush, sanding paper and (in my case) white Hamerite. Why white? It shows future rust very well. Good job replacing this!

At 13.50 using a ratchet at a hammer. 😂 You should be telling the customer that wishbones are a requirement. Plus using the old sh*tty bolts to put the subframe back on. Generally rough as fook work. I hope you’re not changing £60 p/h for this. 😂

@workman122

3 ай бұрын

You're right he should be charging at least 80 p/h. Putting silly emoji's when insulting people, doesn't mean it's not an insult btw.

@gooseturbo6087

3 ай бұрын

The laughing emojis are due to me genuinely laughing at the use of the ratchet hammer. As one mechanic to another, reusing those bolts and wishbones is poor.

@ItaliaAutos

3 ай бұрын

🐮💩 every mechanic has used anything they can get there hands on as a hammer.