In the 1960s and 1970s there was a problem with
front prop-shaft couplings, which had a propensity to crack
and break often with dire consequences. One of the first cars
we dismantled for spares was a 1300 GT that had gone off the
road when the front prop-shaft coupling had broken, the shaft
had dropped and dug into the road lifting the car into a nearby
ditch---a lesson was learned from this little misdemeanour.
The rubber coupling (part number 105.00.15.300.00) wasn’t
known for its longevity especially if the driver tended to
be performance orientated. Cars built with competition in
mind such as the GTA and TI Super were supplied new with a
‘competition cage’ to secure the rubber joint
by providing added strength against adverse centrifugal force,
and protection against breakage. This cage, a pressing, came
in two parts—numbers 105.16.15.032.01 and 105.16.15.032.02.
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In
the 1960s Alfa Romeo supplied this cage as a replacement part
for anyone building a normal 105 series Alfa for racing or
competition. Factory Direzione Assistenza sheet 1.34.192 dated
1/7/68 and headed Sportive advises the fitting of a ‘competition
cage’ before racing any 105 series car. |
By the early 1970s the competition cage was
no longer available but S.V.A.M. of Milan subsequently supplied
a spun aluminium version.
Nowadays we are seeing a resurgence of 105 series ‘racers’
that, thanks to the application of modern technology, are
producing far greater performance than in their hey-day. It
is essential under these conditions to again consider fitting
the ‘competition cage’ to secure the front prop-shaft
coupling under competition or fast road conditions. The latest
version is laser cut, prepared in stainless steel, and comes
in two parts fitting exactly as the original version of the
1960s. It has obviously been designed for present day race
conditions or arduous road use---a 1960s design using 21st
century technology. |
Rubber
couplings with bonded aluminium boltholes should be avoided,
as these are prone to corrode causing the rubber to part from
the aluminium resulting in a cracked or broken coupling---see
illustration. Of the various makes of coupling available
we recommend the more substantial Pirelli version to replace
the old original 105.00.15.300.00 coupling that was designed
almost fifty-years ago---and is still expected to be strong
enough for the present day competition environment.
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