1971 ALFA ROMEO SPIDER

Symptoms: hard starting or no-start when hot, severe hesitation and stumbling under load, erratic idle that wanders dramatically, fuel weeping from injection pump seals

Fix: The Spica injection pump seals dry out after decades, and internal tolerances go out of spec—rebuilds require specialty knowledge (6-10 hours labor). Many owners convert to Weber carburetors instead (8-12 hours plus fabrication). Fuel filter clogging from tank rust accelerates pump wear.

Estimated cost: $1,800-3,500

Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: ticking or clattering from valve train that doesn't quiet with adjustment, loss of compression in one or more cylinders, oil consumption above 1 quart per 500 miles, blue smoke on deceleration

Fix: The twin-cam head relies on precise valve clearances and wears guides/seats over time—complete valve job with new guides, seals, and seat work runs 18-24 hours. Often combined with timing belt/tensioner replacement. If cam lobes show wear, add another $800-1,200 in parts.

Estimated cost: $2,800-4,200

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: excessive shifter vibration and buzz at highway speed, clunking when engaging first gear from stop, grinding into second gear even with clutch fully depressed, transmission visibly sagging when viewed from below

Fix: The rubber transmission mount deteriorates and allows the gearbox to drop, misaligning the input shaft—this accelerates input bearing and synchro wear. Mount replacement is 2-3 hours, but if the bearing is howling, expect transmission rebuild (12-16 hours) with synchro replacement.

Estimated cost: $350-600 for mount alone, $2,200-3,800 for rebuild

Typical onset: 100,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: heavy knocking from bottom end that worsens with RPM, oil pressure dropping below 20 psi at hot idle, excessive crankshaft end-play (clutch pedal feels spongy), metal flakes in oil filter

Fix: The aluminum block and insufficient oil changes lead to bearing wear—once knocking starts, it's full engine-out rebuild territory (30-40 hours). Crank may need grinding or replacement if journals are scored. Many shops recommend short block replacement to avoid comeback.

Estimated cost: $5,500-8,500

Typical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: excessive oil consumption (1 quart per 300-500 miles), blue smoke on startup and hard acceleration, loss of power above 4,000 RPM, wet, carbon-fouled spark plugs

Fix: Rings wear and cylinder bores glaze from short trips and inadequate warm-up—requires engine removal, bore honing or reboring, new pistons/rings, and reassembly (28-35 hours). If cylinders are within spec, a re-ring with hone can save money, but most engines this age need overbore.

Estimated cost: $4,200-6,800

Symptoms: visible rust perforation in floor pans and trunk, soft or crumbling metal along rocker panels, water intrusion into cabin after rain, jack points collapsing when lifting car

Fix: Italian steel and poor drainage design mean these cars rust from the inside out—floor pan and rocker replacement involves cutting out old metal and welding in repair sections (20-40 hours depending on extent). Surface rust is cosmetic; structural rot is dangerous and expensive.

Estimated cost: $3,000-7,000