by Jack Chesley
For years my ’67 Giulia Super has been periodically plagued with a severe jerking and shuddering when backing up, especially uphill. I asked gearhead friends with similar cars, dealers and the AROC tech lines. Other than “they all do that”, the only suggestion was to reduce excess play in the drivetrain. So I replaced mounts and bushings and even swapped the rear axle... but the problem kept coming back and I never did have a clear idea what caused it.
Eventually, I came across an Alfa tech bulletin from 1965 for the Giulia 1300 series that suggested another fix...
... and now I finally understand. When there is too much fore and aft play in the transmission bushing, the whole engine/trans unit can move enough under load to cause the mechanical clutch linkage to alternately grab and release (just like the old mechanical brakes would do when the chassis flexed under hard braking).
The real problem started when we couldn’t get the proper 1600 bushing anymore and had to use the 1750/2000 bushing that was designed for the hydraulic clutch cars...
The actual Alfa part is, of course, no longer available, but, it turns out that a GM hood bump stop from around the mid-80’s (which cost almost nothing at my local junkyard) fits perfectly in the already existing hole in the rear of the steel cross member with a nut on each side, as in the drawings. I tack welded the inner nut to the cross member for ease of adjustment. Works like a charm.
[This article originally appeared in the Alfa Ricambi Performance Quarterly catalog/newsletter.]
[An alternative, though less-elegant solution to stopping clutch chatter is to stuff three pieces of rubber heater hose into the void of the 1750/2000 bushing.--RHH]
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