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1976 Opel Manta coupe. A long haul project. Engine running!


sutty2006

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1 hour ago, stuboy said:

what tale?

Wondered if anyone else knew,  seemed to be folklore in Opel circles.

Many years back, someone was restoring a Manta "A". 1973ish. Needed a front valance, so went to his local Vauxhall/Opel dealer. Dealer did a part search and found 3 left in Europe, as they had been out of production for many years.. chap says, get me all 3. I'll  keep a spare, and someone in the club will surely appreciate one.

Dealer puts an order in to Europe parts network, Europe parts network computer sees it as a fast moving part, and sends a message to panel manufacturer to keep up with demand and they press 500 new ones.  There's probably 495 sitting gathering dust somewhere.

 

Might be shite, but heard the story a few times.  Its the only new panel you can get for an early Manta so I've heard.. just wondered if anyone else heard the same story..

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I’ve not heard that one before so not sure about that one! 
 

Last time I went to a Vauxhall dealer (circa 2008ish) and mentioned the word “manta” the parts guy replied with “sorry mate we threw the books out for them years ago”.

 

nice one, cheers. 

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30 minutes ago, DVee8 said:

I do really want one of those bumpers! Someone once offered one up for swap for a standard one, in Carmine red too but never heard owt back. 
 

today I have been mostly servicing the red 16valve hatch. C035A6CE-2DBF-49E2-8CB6-10579EC1FAB3.thumb.jpeg.664f9157fd7fc31f590ea46d215d5450.jpeg

 

and doing work on the 2.0 engine. Got the sump off, it’s a bit dented so I’ve found a spare but need to take it to work to give it a good clean (ran out of brake cleaner). Also put the engine on my bench with the help of mr crane. And replaced the crank seal 

B19177D7-C09B-4A64-A605-072CF63E2851.thumb.jpeg.2967613b195536b5cdb203d76b824faf.jpeg

 

the old fashioned way

90DC8717-483A-4656-8162-B1292AECD201.thumb.jpeg.af90265a2f1324d47bea07edae47ba17.jpeg

small slither of grease round the spring to keep it in place 

 

9E6F0766-4E13-4A01-8589-F87376D63708.thumb.jpeg.f613953d008f919e6c6620969753ccbd.jpeg

 

and hey presto! 
 

35643576-E865-4B7E-86D8-7D082C98C514.thumb.jpeg.9273b52e533bd9852c5d8a88b3b58274.jpeg

 

also started cleaning the block and head. Soooo many layers of paint! 
 

55CB6EBA-AF22-4207-8829-E374A8D1DCD4.thumb.jpeg.7c7575559fbe41c92039a1312435fd21.jpeg

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9 minutes ago, andy18s said:

I need to pull my finger out and find 1 here before pfices get too silly

I did find a couple of 2dr Asconas,but no-one wants them,dk they?

#sarcasm 

Where are you nowadays Andy? Been a while since I saw you last. 
 

a little more done on the engine. Got bored n started to paint. Taken almost 3 layers of paint off it. Black, red, black. 

7815A13D-4AF5-4567-8632-F7AE642F36AD.jpeg

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1 hour ago, andy18s said:

I need to pull my finger out and find 1 here before prices get too silly

I did find a couple of 2dr Asconas,but no-one wants them,do they?

#sarcasm 

That ship has sailed sadly! Been watching the market for a while and it's only going one way🙁

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1 hour ago, dome said:

That ship has sailed sadly! Been watching the market for a while and it's only going one way🙁

Watched a you tube video earlier about some car auction down south. There was a red hatch GT. Guide price 16-18 grand. FFS. 

Nobody wanted 1.8s, or hatches when I had my Mantas.. I was a Manta snob and would only be seen in white GTE Coupes.. and even they were a months wages... as an apprentice 😭

80s cars are the new property market and everyone involved with inflating the stupid values on them can fuck off. 

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I remember that saga Andy. 
 

I got into mantas years ago because they were cheap and cheerful and I couldnt afford a mk2 escort. Glad I did, the two mantas I own cost me less than the price people ask for a 1.8 gearbox. I’d rather they were worthless, because I’ve no intention of ever selling them. 

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  • 1 month later...

More work has progressed on this project over the last few days. If it’s rusty, it’s been painted. Sourced a set of correct engine mounts to go on it. Original alternator turned out to be scrap and I was given another, which I had tested - good. 
 

74D52CB2-4794-4A48-8D48-941F7D601C5B.thumb.jpeg.27e4b36a4a0fcf6f689617d2b6923a2d.jpeg

 

then I set to stripping the gearbox to replace the gaskets. Rear gasket involves stripping the internals out, which is a pain, but I managed it eventually.

 

85CE4C83-B5EF-47A2-A6C6-E9D9C75C26E1.thumb.jpeg.3f3960ea08169e4750600dee1ed701bc.jpeg

The selector shafts are an interesting concept. 

605AE7FD-67D8-4876-8585-5DBD72F6D439.thumb.jpeg.bab5f09792708dec0d8e94b9a9a0d0b1.jpeg
 

and it’s all rebuilt with new gaskets. 
27E25992-B24D-41D1-B85F-2B7ACD9B97E0.thumb.jpeg.75bfd2a56871478bd962949159f7ebcd.jpeg

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Still waiting for parts. Clutch came  on Friday. Wrong. Guy thought I wanted a 9 inch but a 9 inch won’t fit any flywheel I have. Nor will it clear the 4 speed box. 
 

now I have an 8 inch clutch coming Tuesday night. Slightly more expensive. But at least it’s brand new old stock. 
 

so until that’s here, I have to get it ready for putting the engine in. Turned it round in the workshop. 
 

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6 minutes ago, dome said:

Did the transmission tunnels change between the Manta B and C? I remember the getrag in my old GT/E as being a big lump of a thing.

 

Yes the 4 speed and 5 speed models had different tunnels. Some people fit the 5 speed and modify the linkage so they can keep the 4 speed lever. I’m not too fussed about that. 
 

current work in progress, strip and rebuild carburettor. 345A1AED-1625-4F31-A7BD-B5BAE8C8B252.thumb.jpeg.69c99c3f2c99495c23cd865166d3be13.jpeg

 

it looks messy in there!! 
 

9B09E9C8-FCE4-4260-930A-B12076BA98F0.thumb.jpeg.06fcb008435350cbf3725bcee797e738.jpeg

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On 3/16/2021 at 11:36 PM, Barry Cade said:

Wondered if anyone else knew,  seemed to be folklore in Opel circles.

Many years back, someone was restoring a Manta "A". 1973ish. Needed a front valance, so went to his local Vauxhall/Opel dealer. Dealer did a part search and found 3 left in Europe, as they had been out of production for many years.. chap says, get me all 3. I'll  keep a spare, and someone in the club will surely appreciate one.

Dealer puts an order in to Europe parts network, Europe parts network computer sees it as a fast moving part, and sends a message to panel manufacturer to keep up with demand and they press 500 new ones.  There's probably 495 sitting gathering dust somewhere.

 

Might be shite, but heard the story a few times.  Its the only new panel you can get for an early Manta so I've heard.. just wondered if anyone else heard the same story..

I know someone who had loads, I'll ask him.

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While cleaning the carb I noticed something “not quite right”. 
 

what’s this? 
 

AC35FCBC-E345-427E-AFAD-3D0DBC35C9C5.thumb.jpeg.71b361bc158974b6279b961f015587fd.jpeg

tiny little metal tube.... did some image searching 

465AF06D-96DE-4F77-A4DF-F66128E79E50.thumb.png.384b8006cc323eea8ad5604c03d77189.png

 

ahhhh there it is. 
 

E246ECA1-3B2A-419B-A9CB-B9821C45A8BB.thumb.jpeg.7b6ca43b29385c9f319d2c3dd93fe2ae.jpeg

and there it isn’t. So that gets sent in with a hammer. 

B2637C5F-1B3C-4012-AAEB-2E777CEC8984.thumb.jpeg.951c078c812b61e1939057eef7f7eea2.jpeg
 

Took the power valve out, that’s seized solid. Great. So ordered one of those for £20 off eBay. Webcon want £31 plus £7 postage. Get fucked.

 

4C3D3DCA-DC9A-437E-901F-64CFECB3E2C7.thumb.jpeg.bef9da3205255ed9c69253fc7647f19a.jpeg

 

carried on with the needle. Took it out and the new one is the same. 2.00. Great. 
 

91341756-70A5-46E2-9364-1AEFA82A85CE.thumb.jpeg.44c550b44cf5939688c30fd8e497f5b4.jpeg

 

and now I’ve got the floats in a tub of petrol to see if they leak in. 
 

817FFEF3-396E-4DFD-A013-05E33B6A1393.thumb.jpeg.eafd05d7345590a7058b3a634218ae61.jpeg

 

no that’s not my piss, it’s old mower petrol 😂

 

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19 minutes ago, sutty2006 said:

While cleaning the carb I noticed something “not quite right”. 
 

what’s this? 
 

AC35FCBC-E345-427E-AFAD-3D0DBC35C9C5.thumb.jpeg.71b361bc158974b6279b961f015587fd.jpeg

tiny little metal tube.... did some image searching 

465AF06D-96DE-4F77-A4DF-F66128E79E50.thumb.png.384b8006cc323eea8ad5604c03d77189.png

 

ahhhh there it is. 
 

E246ECA1-3B2A-419B-A9CB-B9821C45A8BB.thumb.jpeg.7b6ca43b29385c9f319d2c3dd93fe2ae.jpeg

and there it isn’t. So that gets sent in with a hammer. 

B2637C5F-1B3C-4012-AAEB-2E777CEC8984.thumb.jpeg.951c078c812b61e1939057eef7f7eea2.jpeg
 

Took the power valve out, that’s seized solid. Great. So ordered one of those for £20 off eBay. Webcon want £31 plus £7 postage. Get fucked.

 

4C3D3DCA-DC9A-437E-901F-64CFECB3E2C7.thumb.jpeg.bef9da3205255ed9c69253fc7647f19a.jpeg

 

carried on with the needle. Took it out and the new one is the same. 2.00. Great. 
 

91341756-70A5-46E2-9364-1AEFA82A85CE.thumb.jpeg.44c550b44cf5939688c30fd8e497f5b4.jpeg

 

and now I’ve got the floats in a tub of petrol to see if they leak in. 
 

817FFEF3-396E-4DFD-A013-05E33B6A1393.thumb.jpeg.eafd05d7345590a7058b3a634218ae61.jpeg

 

no that’s not my piss, it’s old mower petrol 😂

 

Is that an anniversary snap on screwdriver?

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