In this instalment I got around to rebuilding the gearbox for my 1970 Alfa GTV. Check out more videos about the 1970 GTV Build here: • Barn-find GTV Instagram @jethrojamesbronner #AlfaRomeo #Alfa105 #AlfaGTV
The single most lovable detail about your productios is: No background music! Nothing beats the pleasant clicking and dinging of metal parts joining together Thanks!
I don't deny that he did wonderfull job, but calling it "unbelievable skill, and knowledge" is just stupid. Or just you are such a morron that dissasembly of a transmission for you requires "talent". It is just combination of equipement and bit of knowledge - that's all.
Andrzej Strzelecki wow, so rude, such arrogance. You got issues? I’m a long term and good mechanic, but I can respect good mechanical skill. Chill out man - it ain’t going to get you anywhere. Show Jethro the respect he deserves
Fantastic video mate. Gearboxes scare me with 1000 parts that all look the same. I would pull it apart and never get it back together again. Good to see the circlip flying across the workshop. It reassures me that you are still human ;)
I've watched lots of car restoration videos on RU-vid, but I can't ever recall seeing a gearbox being stripped down and rebuilt like this. Thoroughly enjoyable to watch!
Yes. Understood. The shop is spacious, and has all the tooling for this kind of work. The hydraulic press. The bead blaster and all of that. Very comprehensively tooled up. As is the rather young man who is doing the work.
Beats me why this channel does not even have 9k subscribers. Everything is nice and tidy, presenter knows his stuff. Editing is spotless. Narration is kept to bare minimum, obviously by choice and not accident. I would not be surprised if this channel had 90k subscribers or more. It has all the qualities, But it has 9k. What am I missing?
I am so happy that someone finally made this video, end extra happy since it's you with the production video that this adds. A very essential classic Alfa DIY
Brings back memories of my 1970 GTV 1750. Kept it in my garage for years intending to fix it up, but finally sold it to another Alfisti who had several cars, plus a workshop and tools. Bravo for taking on the task of keeping these automotive jewels running.
This is my kind of video! No flashy animations, no music, no redundant talking, subbed! And great looking work, that's how I'd want it to look after a rebuild for sure, looked like new bolts too.
The only thing you have more than Alfa's is Seiko watch straps, almost as if you're a car mechanic by day, and a watchmechanic by night. Love your vids man keep it up!
My '69 GTV has been grumpy about engaging 2nd gear since 1974. Treat it with respect until the oil is warm and don't be in a hurry. One day this job will need to be done but not yet.
Excellent stuff, great mechanicing, using everyday tools or home made specialist tools - just wonderful!! Oh & great production to boot focussing on the details with no melodrama - simply wonderful.
Bravo, same passion I had when restoring the syncros on my D83 Swedish sure-grip suck machine. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FTzVW82FaRs.html A classic for sure.
With due respect to the beautiful DOHC Alfa engine, the transmission is probably the most involved and critical part of the mechanicals of an Alfa or most any car with a manual transmission. I was surprised to see that you didn't lighten the gears while you had them out. We lightened the gears on my 82 Alfa Spider and it made a wonderful difference. Super smooth, easy shifting, especially 2nd and 3rd; and 4th and 5th are like butter now. It's something Alfa should have done at the factory. Also, 9:36 is a great shot of the of the working business end of the trans. I loved watching all the new and cleaned parts go back together. It's a part of the work that I enjoy the most.
So it was a worth while upgrade? This gearbox was for a very factory correct car, but I’m doing another box soon for a more modified car, might try lighten those gears.
@@JethroBronner Yes, it was worthwhile. I have owned many Alfas and they all seemed to have a weak or damaged 2nd gear syncro, sometimes 3rd too. So, it was a whole new experience with a lightened gear Alfa trans. You can actually shift it pretty fast with no chunk or grinding or heavy resistance. It just feels so much smoother all around. If you lighten your Alfa trans gears, please do a video of it because it's very interesting to see it done and what is involved. You'll love it, no two ways about it.
Clearly I'm a Nerd, best quarter-hour I've spent in ages (See admission of being Nerd) - I hear some people watch RU-vid videos of people opening boxes etc, now if they watched someone opening up a GTV box, now that I understand! Good work Jethro! Would like to see the same done to a GTV6 trans-axial :)
This is awesome. Had to rip up the console of my spider to diagnose a leak. This video helped a ton of figuring out where everything went. Much appreciated.
My fix for my 105 GTV 2nd gear crunch was to take sychro ring from 5th, and put it in 2nd. (Teeth ok.) Going 4th to 5th was dropping revs, so zero crunch. A successful freebie.
@@JethroBronner The Synchos work in pairs i.e. one ring for 1/2, one ring for 3/4 and one ring for "5". If you move the 5th gear synchro, one side has never been used !
I rebuilt one of these many years ago and I recall that the workshop manual said we should immerse the drive spiders into hot oil to make them slide on easily, we just warmed them up and pressed them on, like you, and verything was tickety boo!
I just can't get over how good your content is. Clear, concise and really enjoyable to watch. I only have old mini coopers and I am here just watching learning about Alfas! So enjoyable.
Excellent video ..my only concern was that you assembled it dry ..A good insight to those who do not understand gearboxes and that they are not as scary as they look
I will be replaying this many times. I've owned a 115 Spider for years, owned it twice and brought it back from the dead. I have a spare trans and will be swapping it soon once I crack it open, change seals and inspect. I will undoubtedly rebuild the original and put it back sometime. Your video is undeniable the finest I have seen. Thank you for your time and talent. Robert Hudson, Florida, USA
Fantastic. Yes love the no music, or the long droning face in camera droning on monologue we often seem to get when the subject gets specialised or nerdy. It’s inspired me to consider rebuilding my Alfa 106 gear box, I’ve done a couple of engines, but jethro has emboldened me to have a go at some thing I haven’t done before. Well done fella!
After watching your video about freeing up a seized engine from 2 years ago, I applaud the improvement in the quality and editing of your content. I also add my congratulations for not feeling the need to mask the satisfying sounds of a workshop, with a generic muzak soundtrack. The '60's Alfa Giulia was always my favourite car when I was growing up. It's frightening how stratospheric the prices have become.
Thanks Jethro. Done a few in the past, getting ready to refresh another. Your video does make it look easier than I have experienced in the past, but it is still something most people can tackle. The press makes all the difference! And I've had to split one open after rebuild a couple times, so no worries there. They always go back together pretty quickly the second time through!
Yeah I did leave some stuff out because this video would have been an hour long otherwise. I've done one gearbox without a press and I swore I'd never try that again, it's a real pain. This time round I got it all buttoned up and then realised the reverse gear was in backwards, so it had to come apart. And then when I got it back together I found one of those little metal jelly beans for the selector shafts lying on the bench... But in the end it worked out. Went together a charm on the 3rd try.
Fantastic video! Just acquired 1973 Spider-USA with two spare engines and various parts for winter project. Never attempted to do. Great to see how it’s done properly. Cheers. RJ-
My friend with a '67 Giulia enjoyed it even more. He's having issues with his gearbox, and was thrilled when I shared this with him. Your insights and contributions are most valuable, and very much appreciated.
Totally amazing to watch this kind of wizardry, impressive indeed! How he knows where everything goes back is just astonishing. When I take apart a toaster to repair it there are always a few mysterious parts left over afterwards!
The kind of video I like to see when I get up. Pares well with coffee, also. My Alfa's gearbox was supposedly rebuilt, but the guy only put in a new syncro for 2nd gear. The rest he flipped around between gears and used the opposite sides of the syncros. 3rd and 5th I think. I would have paid for all new parts, but he didn't ask...first gear takes a while to slow down when shifting with engine hot. Still, it all seems to work OK, better than before. I just wish that it shifted like a fresh Getrag!
There's nothing wrong with flipping the synchros if the one side is completely un-used, doing all new synchros would ad about $400 to the cost of a rebuild. Only changing the synchro isn't always enough, sometime you need to do new synchro operating sleeves too in order to get a smooth shift.
Thanks Jethro, I feel better about that now. He didn't replace the input shaft bearing though- assuming there is one on this Alfa- and while idling with clutch disengaged it's noisy. New TO bearing, so it's not that I don't think.
Keen to try this myself having never even opened a gearbox. Your video although it doesn’t explain step by step, highlights that it’s not wizardry. Worst comes to worst if you get stuck you can take it to a shop to finish off
Great video Jethro ! I have two Alfa's, a 1966 Duetto with a 2ltr high performance engine that I bought from a good friend who used it extensively in competition, mechanically sound but the body was in poor shape and I spent 7 winters restoring it, came out beautiful. The one I owned the longest is my 1969 1750GTV, bought it used in 1974, still drives like new. Anyway, what I was going to say is that the gearbox in the 1750 had a worn 2nd gear synchro, so I replaced it together with a few of the ball bearings, and have been using instead of EP80/90 gear oil I switched to EP75 synthetic, and that makes a lot of difference even starting out from cold in the morning. Keep up the great work, love your videos. Greetings from Canada
Aaaahhh, the sight and sound of Italian four-pot in-lines. I have toured many miles at the wheel of (at different times) a Giulietta, 124S and 132. Had a mate with an Alfasud, with whom I spent glorious afternoons blasting up and down side roads. Another mate had a GT 1600. Short fling with a girlfriend who loved her 1750 Sprint. Had a weekend dalliance with the newly-released 156. This symphony of tools here, and your previous, the 1750 seized engine, casts me adrift on a sea of poignant nostalgia. The sounds and smells of engines and happy hours in the workshop come flooding back. I have dismantled a 124S and 132 for repaint. While the 132 was bare an engine service required re-bore and outsize pistons. 1592cc to . .what . . 1750 . .? In a lightbulb moment I had a 'shop make header pipes and clean up the inlet manifold. To complete the ensemble a ZF 5-spd replaced the 4-cogger. Went through a lot of brake pads but them days in the twisties was f-u-n. Anyhoos, you could say I had a love affair with what many call 'Italian trash'. Now, thanks to you, I want an Alfa again.
So helpful. I am bringing my gearbox to a shop and the mechanic will let me look over his shoulder. This video really helped me understand so much. Thanks Jethro!
fifty years ago i did the same to a '61 MGA gearbox. interesting in that i KNOW i didn't have a press, and yet i replaced the mainshaft and all the synchronizers, a few selectors and some other things. and had it completely dis-assembled. i suppose my memory may be failing me and had hired out a few pieces to be pressed on and off. anyway... i remember at the time thinking the gearbox was a marvel of clever engineering and reminded me of nothing more, with all the springs, pawls, hidden ball bearings and woodruff keys, etc., than one of those wooden cube-like wooden chinese puzzles with a "secret" piece that moved, thus revealing the method of disassembly. :)
Wow...intense tranny...I am well versed on an old Saginaw 3 speed with O/D...took it apart and rebuilt it 3 times...finally on last overhaul needed a new freewheeling sun gear hub...found a great used one...got a small parts kit and did it all...wrecked the 55 Chevy for the last time...sold it for $550.00...it had 1 burnt valve too...I put over 300,000 miles on that 150 2 Dr wagon...my Dad bought it late 55 for $1,600.00...drove it 100,345 Mike's overhauled the engine and it sat until he gave it to me...Thanks Dad...RIP...
I am so glad that you confessed to making mistakes and having to split the case again. It happens. I rebuilt a British Leyland gearbox that did not split sideways, everything had to be slid in through the ends, nightmare. I never did get round to fitting it, ended up selling it after the car it was meant for had long gone.
its nice to see there someone still keep an old alfa living. in my country (Thailand) there're less and less mechanic who can fix them. nice to see your vids.
this is a gem . Thanks for the amazing amount of time it must have taken. Also yes, thanks for not having annoying background music. good job. work of art.
Great video Jethro, as usual,very informative and a pleasure to watch how to dismantle and re- assemble a 105 gearbox properly. You would be amazed at how many so called Alfa specialist mechanics butcher and ruin these wonderful well engineered gearboxes and then proceed to use the wrong oil (should be EP 90 ). Not many people know that the two gearbox halves do not use a gasket .
I’ve seen a lot of really badly assembled gearboxes now. A lot of guys seem to think that changing out the 2nd gear synchro is all that’s required to get a good shift.
@@JethroBronner . Absolutely right Jethro. I discovered this many years ago, when some inept mechanic only changed the 2nd gear synchro on my Giulia Super gearbox. failing to replace some worn bearings, and filling the gearbox with the wrong oil.
Excellent video Jethro,i wish you would restore a 1989-1991 Lotus Esprit SE (my favorite)from scratch like you have so brilliantly done done with the Alfas..
I've watched every one of your videos and for some reason this is my favourite so far. Its therapeutic watching someone do something so complex, so competently, and making it look so simple. Keep up the videos - we all love them.
A great video and look at what I need to do to my 1971 GTV 1750's gearbox. Right now I need to double clutch with a throttle blip between for any gearbox action involving 2nd and 3rd gear. While it's fun from a hands-on drive experience, a gearbox rebuild is in my car's future. (And great clip of your drive from South Africa!)
Yeah I think it's time for new synchros. My 64 Sprint GT could shift into 2nd even when just started at -20 degrees. It's best to get synchro issues sorted out before they wear out the sleeves, which are about $100 to replace.
I really enjoyed watching the disassemble and reassemble process of this gearbox. LOOKS SIMPLE!! The split main case seems to make things a bit easier to take apart. Great Video!!
My 2005 Audi A6 4.2 V8 is awaiting work on the auto gearbox, complete overhaul, following nasty changes into 3rd and 5th. Also engine coming out to find leak and change timing chain. Someone is doing me a huge favour by taking it on as I'm sure it wouldn't be economical to repair if done by anyone else. Also coolant and P/S leaks to deal with. The trade off is that I help. I'm technical, but not with cars. Massively looking forward to it and hopefully to a good outcome. Hence, am spending all free time learning as much as I can. Really enjoying your videos and admire your talent.
Don't know how I found you, but this Detroit boy is really enjoying learning the eccentricities of the Alfa Romeo. Great videos, and as many have said, no music necessary.
Lovely boxes when they're just nicely run-in, effortless and precise. Some might find the lever throw a little long, but that was what was expected back in the day. Anyway, very nice job, but don't forget to put a "NO OIL!" tag on it before you put it away.
I find the really engaging and fun gearboxes to use when they're built right, a bad one can be a real pain. I'll make sure I fill it before I go down the road.
I've been driving for 50 years with no liscence. It's legal here as we call it granddad rights. Anyway I know absolutely nothing about engines and gearboxes, until watching these vids. Thank you so much for educacting this old and miserable bastard. :)