The last "real" Alfa gearbox (was: Transmission oil)

["John Hertzman" <johnhertzman@domain.elided>]

Tom Sahines added "He is right" to Henrik Hasager Johansen's statement that "I
do beleive that what Tom Sahines refers to is the 750-101-102-105-106-115-116
series of Alfas, the ones where the instruction manual specifies Shell
Spirax."

Certainly correct insofar as HHJ was saying that was what Tom Sahines meant,
but not strictly correct in the remainder, the reference to "the
750-101-102-105-106-115-116 series of Alfas, the ones where the instruction
manual specifies Shell Spirax."

It is undoubtedly an academic quibble at this point, as most of the cars with
Porsche-type synchronizers have the newer synchronizer rings either as
original equipment or as an upgrade fitted during a transmission rebuild, but
the 750, 101, 102, and early 105 cars, as well as the 1900 (and I assume 2500,
2300, 1750 etc) specified Dentax for the transmission, although they also
specified Spirax for the rear axle and steering box. I believe the change from
Dentax to Spirax came with the 1967 cars, but I am not sure about late '66 and
early '67 production; all I can say with certainty is that my 1967 Super
specified Spirax, but the Duetto owner's manual ("Spider 1600 Instruction
Book") specifies Dentax.

Probably most if not all of the early cars fitted with the Porsche-type
"cambio unificato" have had their synchronizers upgraded at some point, but I
would not assume that a corresponding upgrade was available for the Borg
Warner synchronizers used in the earlier (or "real Alfa") gearboxes of the
750, 1900, and earlier cars. I would certainly consult with the appropriate
vintage guru before putting Spirax in one of these cars.

When I had my first Alfa Dentax was about as rare as Spirax seems to be now;
gas stations had never heard of it, but I was able to buy a five-gallon pail
(for around $7, to the best of my recollection) from the local Shell
distributor who stocked it for truck fleets.

Cordially (and certainly with no disrespect to either HHJ or the venerable
TS),

John H.

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