67 Alpine rebuild with Miata 1.6

[Charles Johns]

Very nice ride and I love the classic green. I am also in Texas (if your van plate is right) near Rising Star. Putting a 2.3 in a 67. If not to bold, what part of Texas are you in? After 40 years building customs/street rods this is my first sports car and Bill Blue has been much help but one can never have too much.

 

[hartmandm]

The car is looking fabulous. Great work.

It looks like the grille bars are not level. Is the center badge too high or maybe just the left bar is low on the left side?

Mike

 

[msmoorenburg]

Thanks for the comments . Yes the grill bars and badge are temp since I still need to paint the mouth area black. I am just north of Houston by 40miles. If I do paint the radiator I will use the special radiator paint but for now I like the bright alum look.

http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-radiator-black-paint.html

 

[Toyanvil]

Are you still running the stock rear end? I am thinking about going to 15" wheels, I have 14"now. I picked up a RX7 posi rear end with disc brakes I need to shorten, I have a Datsun in it now that is 51 3/8 face to face. I am not sure how wide a stock Sunbeam rear end is, I removed it in 1979. I am thinking about shorting to the Sunbeam size so I know the 15x7 wheels will work.

 

[Alpine66]

Are you still running the stock rear end? I am thinking about going to 15" wheels, I have 14"now. I picked up a RX7 posi rear end with disc brakes I need to shorten, I have a Datsun in it now that is 51 3/8 face to face. I am not sure how wide a stock Sunbeam rear end is, I removed it in 1979. I am thinking about shorting to the Sunbeam size so I know the 15x7 wheels will work.

What will it cost to shorten?

 

[Barry]

Are you still running the stock rear end? I am thinking about going to 15" wheels, I have 14"now. I picked up a RX7 posi rear end with disc brakes I need to shorten, I have a Datsun in it now that is 51 3/8 face to face. I am not sure how wide a stock Sunbeam rear end is, I removed it in 1979. I am thinking about shorting to the Sunbeam size so I know the 15x7 wheels will work.

The Alpine S-V and Tiger rear axles I have are 50-3/4" flange-to-flange.

 

[Toyanvil]

What will it cost to shorten?

I can shorten the housing myself, so I will just have to pay to shorten the axles, anywhere from $100 to $200. I picked up the whole rear end with brakes for $100.

 

[Toyanvil]

The Alpine S-V and Tiger rear axles I have are 50-3/4" flange-to-flange.

Thank you
flange-to-flange is with brake drums on?

msmoorenburg
Sorry about the high jack.

 

[Barry]

Flange-to-flange of 50-3/4" is without brake drums.

Typical of British sports cars in the '60's, the Alpine rear track width is about 2-1/2" narrower than the front track width. A rear flange-to-flange of about 53" would even out the track widths and bring the rear tires out closer to the fenders.

 

[bashby]

I measured my SIV some 7-years ago and got 52" drum-to-drum.

 

[PROCRAFT]

alpine

A tiger rear axle is " narrower than a Alpine all the Alpines we measured are
51" rear track vs. 48" for a Tiger having said that our Tiger has a 53" track
width front and rear were using a 6" wheel with a 4.437 back space all
around we shortened the ford axle were using ourselves and had Moser Eng.
respline the axles for us. cost effective I might add.

 

[msmoorenburg]

brown santa showed up this week



So the dash is coming along nicely

 

[Bill Blue]

Gauges look great. When I did my car the only available 4" speedo and tachs were the VDO "Visions". Good gauges, but have a rather thick, black surround. Just do not look right. The chrome really makes a difference.

Bill

 

[Toyanvil]

That looks great. I just ordered a new 3 3/8 elec speedo from VDO, and a elec speedo gear off ebay. it is from a 1999 Miata, there is a vendor that sell them for $40. free shipping. Did you get the decal?

 

[msmoorenburg]

So the build is scooting along with all major expenses behind me aka BUMPERS . Tony yes i did get the fusebox cover thanks again

The rear



The front at the rechromers




and the seats are starting to take shape

 

[Knightowl61]

Congratulations on your project. Only a little over 1 1/2 years from the start (first thread) to almost finished. Very impressive work and results.
I have an option to get a series 3 in rough condition. If you don't mind, could you give a rough ball park estimate of the cost of your project?

 

[msmoorenburg]

Congratulations on your project. Only a little over 1 1/2 years from the start (first thread) to almost finished. Very impressive work and results.
I have an option to get a series 3 in rough condition. If you don't mind, could you give a rough ball park estimate of the cost of your project?

here are some of the big numbers

$700 for Miata engine/trans and complete car harness
$1000 in rims and tires
$650 Rob Martel floor pans (purchased years ago)
$850 in gauges
$800 in paint material
$300 fuel pump, return lines, Tank restoration
$950 in bumper chroming
$1000 misa chroming
$375 in custom radiator
$ just about every item in the Rootes catalog

I also upgrade to willwood brake and clutch master cylinders with all new lines.


I'm sure i have alot in small items that I haven't added up

 

[msmoorenburg]

here are a few updated pics with the spring realigned and hopefully letting the frontend come down a bit more



and a test fit on the rebuilt dash

 

[Bill Blue]

"Spring realigned". How did you accomplish that? I'd say you've go the front setting about right.

I cut the front springs to get the front slightly below the rear. A couple of years later, it was too low. Had to install a spacer on each side. I think maybe the springs had "set" into the rubber pads.

Bill

 

[msmoorenburg]

"Spring realigned". How did you accomplish that? I'd say you've go the front setting about right.

I cut the front springs to get the front slightly below the rear. A couple of years later, it was too low. Had to install a spacer on each side. I think maybe the springs had "set" into the rubber pads.

Bill

I had cut 1/2 link off the top coil and when assembling the front end it was not seated in the rubber spacer and blocking the shock causing the suspension to sit on the shock


after


before