by Tom Ducibella
AONE Director

Key Blanks

Those of you with Alfas and other makes of various ages may want extra keys made. Perhaps your teenager, neighbor, or ex-spouse would like to take your Alfa out for their own type of time trial. More likely, you may want another set sometime for yourself or present spouse. In addition, we all lose keys now and then, or want an extra set wired in out of sight, or may have had the ignition or door locks replaced. For example, take those ’71-74 Alfa GTV or Duetto door handles that were prone to replacement for mechanical or cosmetic reasons. In my case, I have both of those cars and like to have three sets of keys and not just two. Replacement door handles come with two sets unless you plan on putting back the old lock cylinders. Anyway, finding key blanks is as easy as going to your local hardware store. International Auto Parts indicates in its catalogue that it can supply Alfa key blanks IF you have the code number from the original key. However, it does not indicate what models are covered. I had the good fortune of finding a place in Boston that had blanks for a spectrum of old Alfas, Ferraris, Jags, and others. This included both ignition and glove box/trunk release keys. They were not expensive, probably because they did not have the factory logo and this place is a general locksmith outfit. Anyway, I got a bunch of keys for ’60s and ’70s Italian cars (nothing had to be ordered). They don’t sell uncut blanks. Walk-in service. Oh yeah, the place: Benton Locksmiths, 230 Friend Street, Boston, MA 02114, 617-523-0787, one block from North Station and the Fleet Center.

Putting Your Car Up for the Winter

It’s that time of year again. Those of you who do not drive your Italian hardware in Saltsville can improve your Alfa’s hibernation with the following, which have proven well for me for many years.

A. Remove the battery (or at least disconnect the ground). More importantly, charge the battery every two weeks. Idle batteries decrease their effective life-span. Slow chargers with automatic shut-offs (at normal full charge) are definitely best (Griot’s Garage sells a very nice one), since you hook it up and forget it.

B. Do your oil change just prior to putting the car up so that your fouled oil isn’t sitting all winter with time for the aqueous (from condensation) and oil phases to separate in insidious places in your motor. Do the filter too - on older Spica-injected cars, change the pump oil filter as well (but do not overtighten the nuts for the cover plate studs; use lockwashers).

C. Pull the spark plugs and spray a small amount of light oil into the cylinder heads. I’ve been using CRC Engine Store (one aerosol can lasts for years). I think NAPA or True Value carries it. Spray into the cylinder heads with a red plastic spray tube (I bend mine 90 degrees over the flame of our gas stove so that it sprays against the cylinder walls. Your engine loves this when you turn her over next spring (first, without plugs). Do not spray more than a thin layer.

D. If your garage is unheated, inflate the tires to about 36 psi at 60-70 degrees.

E. If you have a lot of miles on the odometer, run a bottle of Techron in the last tank before storage. It is terrific for cleaning your fuel delivery system and valve seats.

F. Leave the doors slightly ajar in the door jams. This allows the rubber tubular gaskets to return to near to their original shape and prevents cracking (in the cold).

G. For spiders, put the top up even though it looks better with the top down.

H. If you are retired and have time to kill, spray rubber suspension bushings with Wurth Rubber Care.

I. Check your antifreezability.

J. If you have rusty rotors after hibernation, check your garage out for excessive moisture. If you think you may have moisture, spray appropriate linkages and fittings in the engine compartment with a thin film of WD-40. It just burns off on the first ride in the spring.