• Welcome to the new SAOCA website. Already a member? Simply click Log In/Sign Up up and to the right and use your same username and password from the old site. If you've forgotten your password, please send an email to membership@sunbeamalpine.org for assistance.

    If you're new here, click Log In/Sign Up and enter your information. We'll approve your account as quickly as possible, typically in about 24 hours. If it takes longer, you were probably caught in our spam/scam filter.

    Enjoy.

First Drive Issues

Mark T

Mark T

Donation Time
Hi! Finally took my first drive in my new Alpine 2.8 V6 today. Yea!!!! Still a few mechanical issues to sort out though.
First, does anyone know what to set the timing at? My Haynes manual just says to check the emissions sticker (which is probably still on the 1978 Mustang II that the motor came out of). Tried it at 6 degrees BTC but it doesn't seem right.
Secondly, the C4 automatic is reluctant to shift up at times. Ran great for the first trip (15 or 20 miles), but when I headed out for another run it didn't want to shift out of first. I manually shifted to second and then it seemed to work fine for a while, but the same thing happened again a little while later.
Lastly, does anyone know where I can find instructions (preferably with pictures) on putting the top away under it's metal enclosure? I followed the instructions from the sticker that I bought on eBay and found that it was a very, very tight fit getting the side arms down low enough for the little side covers to close over them. Is that normal? Thanks!
 
V

V6 JOSE

Donation Time
Hi Mark,

The initial timing should be set at 12 degrees advanced.Asa far as the transmission not shifting correctly, did you have it rebuilt before you installed it? If you didn't, it might need to be serviced. Soundslike the valve body is a bit gummy and the valve may be sticking.

Is there a reason you went with the C4 automatic, rather than with the A4LD that comes in the Rangers?

Jose:)
 
Mark T

Mark T

Donation Time
Hi Jose! I bought the car a couple of months ago with the V6 and C4 already in it. The guy I bought it from did the conversion 8 or 9 years ago and opted for the automatic that he already had in his 78 Mustang. He said that it was running fine when he parked it last fall. Guess it's time for a trip to the transmission shop! Thanks!
 
Mark T

Mark T

Donation Time
Hi! Please disregard my question about lowering the top. I didn't realize that it's covered in Section O of the Workshop Manual, complete with pictures too!
 
V

V6 JOSE

Donation Time
Mark,

Does your Alpine still have the stock Alpine rear end? If it does, you might want to consider swapping the C4 for the A4LD, because the overdrive will allow you cruise on the freeway at reasonable engine rpm's. The C4 with a set of 3.89 will be quick off of the line, but will have the rpm's a bit high for comfortable cruising. It won't hurt the engine, because these little engines love the higher rpm's, but it will eat more gas without the overdrive.

Jose :)
 
Mark T

Mark T

Donation Time
Hi Jose! According to the previous owner the car has a Ford 7.5“ chopped rear end, Strange (28 spline) HP axles with 2.75 gear ratio. Does that sound like a good match for the C4?
 
V

V6 JOSE

Donation Time
That is a much better gear ratio for the C4. Acceleration won't be quick, but you will be able to drive it anywhere in comfort.

Jose :)
 
Mark T

Mark T

Donation Time
Yeah, it doesn't accelerate nearly as quickly as I had hoped it would. Of course with my lead foot that might be a good thing!
 
B

Bill Blue

Platinum Level Sponsor
Mark, I'd try a can of the magic transmission additive marketed for auto transmissions that do not shift correctly. Years ago I put a can of that stuff in a Rambler trans that had about 120,000 miles on it. It did not want to downshift. After a few miles it shifted better than it did when new. That was Trans Cure, but I doubt it is still on the market.
 
Rsgwynn1

Rsgwynn1

Silver Level Sponsor
I used to have a Fairlane that had the same transmission problems. Found out it was simply a matter of changing the fluid and filter every year.
 
V

V6 JOSE

Donation Time
Mark T said:
Yeah, it doesn't accelerate nearly as quickly as I had hoped it would. Of course with my lead foot that might be a good thing!
Click to expand...
Mark,

When you put the timing up to the 12 degrees the factory recommends, you'll get better acceleration, but with the set of gears you have, it will never be quick. If you'd like better performance, I would suggest swapping a good stock Alpine rear end back into it, and switching the C4 for the A4LD. This will give you much better acceleration, plus it will cruise calmly on the freeway. The best of both worlds. For an automatic V6, it is the best combination.

Jose :)
 
Mark T

Mark T

Donation Time
Thanks for the info Jose! That sounds like a really good combination. I may go that route but I'm not sure what I'll eventually do. I'd really like to put a T5 in it. When I was looking at buying the car the only thing that I didn't like was the automatic, but it's not like I had a lot of Alpines to choose from in Ontario, Canada! For the rest of this year I think that I'll just enjoy it as it is. Thanks again!
 
V

V6 JOSE

Donation Time
Mark,

The T5 is definitely the better way to go. I just thought that if you were committed to go with an automatic, the A4LD would be a better bet. Glad you're thinking T5.

Jose :)
 
V

V6 JOSE

Donation Time
Mark T said:
Jose, would the T5 match up OK with my Ford 2.75 rear end?
Click to expand...
Mark,

Your 2.75 rear gear is for an automatic, so performance would still be low. You would be able to go 100 mph in second gear, but acceleration would suffer. About the best thing to do if you want to go T5, would be to put a stock Alpine rear end back into it, put hardened keys in it, check to see that the ring gear bolts are tight, and not drag race it every weekend. I have found that the Alpine rear end is pretty tough, as long as you aren't doing standing starts all the time. My first one lived for three years behind the V6, before breaking the spider gears. I have to admit that I abused it all that time, so if you aren't racing it like I was, it should last for years without any problems. This doesn't mean that you can't do the occasional blast on the road to get rid of some pesky "Rice Rocket" though. What kills the spider gears, is the full power standing starts.

The stock rear end will save you money, over putting in a Ford 8", which would be the ultimate. Unfortunately, a Ford rear end modified to fit the Alpine, could set you back about $800, because of all the things you'd need to do to it to get it to fit the Alpine. For those who want to put a Ford 8" in their Alpine, I would suggest using a set of 4.11's or as close to that as you can get, because this engine needs to rev to be able to put out the kind of power that thrills. The overdrive will keep the rpm's down to a reasonable rate on the freeway too.

Jose :)
 
B

Bill Blue

Platinum Level Sponsor
Mark, I think you would be better off to stay with the 7.5.

Ring and pinion replacement for ratio changes is not easy and will probably require the services of a pro that knows what he is doing. That is the down side. The up side is a lot of ratios and other stuff is available for it. Also it has already been modified for the Alpine, saving you bucks and headache. Check this out, the first site I clicked on after a search for "ford 7.5":

www.drivetrainspecialists.com/categories/ford/ford-75/index.html

Bill
 
Mark T

Mark T

Donation Time
Thanks guys! Bill, you must have read my mind. I was going to ask if there was a way to change the gear ratio in the existing Ford rear end to try and cut down on the cost. Thanks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top