RE: Stock GTV okay for track?

[Scott Fisher <sfisher71@domain.elided>]

--- "McCarty, Richard" <RMcCarty@domain.elided> wrote:
> hello all-
> 
> Where do I get a set of these original mag (I assume
> magnesium) wheels ?. I believe mag wheels were stock

> on the GTAs, but my GTV came with the usual
> stamped steel wheels.

The owner's manual for my '74 Spider shows
illustrations of the Spider and GTV with the
factory-optional "turbina" wheels, so called for the
many thin radial ridges that look like "spokes" or
"vanes" -- as in the vanes of a turbine, hence the
name.  

The ones I have on my Spider are made by Cromodora (I
just checked).

I'm not sure I have any pix of these up on the Web
anywhere, and Google turns up no images for "cromodora
turbina" (which may only mean that the pictures out
there have misspelled keywords...) but surely someone
can point you to a URL of a car with these wheels
mounted.

Why they're cool: they're VERY light.  I was literally
able to lift mine with one finger before the tires
were mounted on them.

> I bought a set of the Cromodora aluminum 5 spoke
> wheels this past summer ( they look great ) and it
> made a big difference in
> the handling and steering feel of the car.

Indeed, and somehow my eyes think the so-called
"Daytona" 5-spoke wheels (named for their association
with the Ferrari Daytona) look better on a 105 coupe
than the turbinas, but that's a purely personal matter
of taste.  The 5-spoke star wheels are also 6" wide,
versus the turbina's 5.5" rim width, which allows
wider tires with better sidewall geometry.  In theory,
they might be a better choice for a track-day car for
that reason.  

I don't know the relative weight, though, and you can
really feel the difference in unsprung weight.  Less
so on the GT than the Spider, if only because the GT's
chassis stiffener (the big curved metal thing that
covers your head in the rain) means that the GT is
less susceptible to cowl shake from heavy rims and
tires.  Going from widened steel wheels with 195/70
tires to the turbinas on my Spider made the average
shake, rattle & roll effects of hitting moderately
bumpy roads drop by a perceived 50% or more.

I will also second the motion, made by others, that it
is eminently worthwhile to replace the suspension
bushings before you take a car on track.  I recently
replaced the front control-arm bushings on my non-Alfa
Giugiaro-designed coupe, and the difference is
astonishing.  Admittedly, this is because the original
bushings had pretty well perished, but if you haven't
replaced the bushings in your GTV for more than, oh,
ten years or so, do this before you go on track. 
You'll like it.

--Scott Fisher
  Tualatin, Oregon
  1974 Spider
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