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 | |  | | | Now - to put this thing back together, a particularly difficult task since I've never seen it completely assembled. Coating choices continued with the rusty, crusty components. First, of course, is many hours of chemically stripping everything to bare metal - a process that continues without an end in site. Alfa made use of many cast components that, when stripped, are true works of art. It appears that most suspension parts were originally painted black, but I couldn't bring myself to cover the beautiful aluminum pieces so these will remain uncoated and polished. Rustoleum was highly recommended to me by a veteran restorer as a very durable coating for under-car use, and this is now on most suspension parts. My only surrender to powder coating (so far) was the Borrani wheels, shown here with my 20+ year old Pirelli Cinturato tires.
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 | |  | | Some of the more visible suspension parts, such as the rear axle shown here, were coated with Eastwood Corroless rust resistant primer and their matching "Chassis Black". Although this is much more labor intensive than a Rustoleum coat I've been very pleased with the results obtained with this coating.
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 | | | | | The rear axle and suspension components have all been cleaned, refurbished as needed, and coated. Shown here are the completed parts, ready to install on the chassis.
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| |  | | The front suspension and steering system was a bit more complicated, with many more parts and pieces, but these are also now refurbished and painted - and finally installed.
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 | | | | | So, what now? Sadly I've just realized that it has taken me over 2 years to get my car back to the same state of assembly as when I bought it - a chassis with 4 wheels. Of course it's in much better condition now and, at least in my opinion, much better in appearance. Hundreds of parts and components sit here on my garage shelf awaiting installation or their turn in the cleaning / painting shed out back. Some are finished, some are new, but much more remains to be done. Is reassembly really simply the reverse of disassembly as they claim in the shop manual? As time and a limited budget permit completion of this project I will keep you updated.
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