Regarding the alternator issue, My alternator would seize up if i didn't use the car for a few months and when I started it, the belt would smoke. It was simple enough to put a spanner on the pulley nut and free it off with a couple of turns. Once freed it worked perfectly for many more years. It might save you the pain of replacing it!
Well I'll tell Tim to give that a go as he seems to have taken a liking to the car ! (He did always want a Subaru Legacy Turbo Estate but I said the Legnum was better )

But he's put his back out so nothing going to happen until new year when he clears his garage of all the stock he has sitting there
he says he's going to repair it subject to amount of welding required - which is fair enough.
If he don't want it I will have it

Mike