1973 ALFA ROMEO SPIDER

Typical onset: any mileage on original system

Symptoms: hard starting when cold, rough idle and stumbling, fuel weeping from pump or lines, loss of power under acceleration

Fix: SPICA pumps require specialist rebuild (few shops know them) or conversion to Weber carburetors. Rebuild takes 8-12 hours if you find someone who can do it properly, Weber conversion is 12-16 hours including tuning.

Estimated cost: $2,500-5,000

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: rattling noise from front of engine on startup, loss of power, rough running, catastrophic failure if chain jumps

Fix: Chain, guides, tensioner, and all related seals. Front cover must come off. With cam timing reset and new gaskets, expect 12-15 hours labor. Often done during valve job since you're already in there.

Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200

Symptoms: visible rust perforation, soft metal when prodded, sagging body lines, shock towers cracking through, water leaks into interior

Fix: Italian roadsters rust catastrophically. Proper repair requires panel replacement with welding, not Bondo. Shock towers are structural and dangerous when compromised. Full restoration metalwork runs 40-80 hours depending on how far gone it is.

Estimated cost: $4,000-12,000

Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: grinding into second gear, difficult to shift when cold, popping out of gear under load, transmission whine

Fix: Second gear synchro fails first, third follows. Full rebuild with synchro replacement is 16-20 hours including removal/reinstallation. Parts availability from specialists only.

Estimated cost: $2,800-4,500

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: blue smoke on deceleration, oil consumption 1 quart per 500-800 miles, fouled spark plugs, loss of compression

Fix: Valve guides wear and seals harden with age. Complete valve job includes guide replacement, seat cutting, valve lapping, new seals. Head off and on with timing reset is 18-24 hours. Smart to do timing chain at same time.

Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: knocking noise on startup that quiets when warm, low oil pressure at idle, metallic rattling under acceleration, oil light flickering

Fix: High-revving Italian four-cylinder with marginal oiling. Lower end rebuild requires engine out, full teardown, crank polishing or replacement. Realistic job is 30-40 hours for short block rebuild.

Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500

Symptoms: intermittent gauges, charging system failure, lights flickering, starter solenoid clicking, wiper motor failure

Fix: 50-year-old Italian wiring with British components - nothing works reliably. Grounds corrode, connectors fail, switches die. Chasing electrical gremlins is 2-6 hours per issue, often requiring rewiring sections.

Estimated cost: $300-1,500