1976 Opel Manta coupe. A long haul project. She moves!!!

[sutty2006]

I’ve many projects. This one I bought for £60 in 2008 because I was after an engine for my other later manta.

a lot of welding has been done. I’ll post up more when I’m less tired. But here’s today’s picture. I’ve turned it round in my unit today so I can have a go at repairing the wheel arch. I’m not a good welder, nor fabricator so I need ideas on how to tackle this. 
 

The original 1600 engine was missing. So I’m putting a 2.0 CIH in for now. 

[sutty2006]

Last year I made an effort to paint the engine bay myself. Colour is amber gold. I should have used that sealant coating because the paint reacted a few times. Third time lucky and I made it have it, 

[sutty2006]

Can a Mod please move this to the general autoshite area please. I done fucked up again boss. 

[dome]

Swap for Jag m9?

[Jifflemon]

that's a bit of awesomeness....

Although I'd be tempted by a more modern engine.

[sutty2006]

I did consider engine upgrades. But having a C20xe already in my other manta I want to keep this one as standard as possible. Getting the right components to run a newer engine is costly now, and I have all the bits I need to run a CIH. Wouldn’t mind putting an Isuzu 1.7td in for Uber cheep motoring but I can’t bring myself to lower its value anymore lol 

[Sir Snipes]

I didn't now (or simply forgot) they did a 1.6 Manta B. I've seen plenty of Cavs (incl. Coupe & Sportshatch) with the smaller CIH, though I as only really into GTEs.

Are you fitting injection or keeping it carb?

[sutty2006]

I’ll be keeping it on carb for simplicity. I did want to fit GTE engine and management but getting the bits will prove slightly harder. I’ve got a twin 40s manifold and a matching exhaust manifold and down pipe I could use but for now a standard Weber is what I’ve got for it. 

[sutty2006]

The original front axle on this car had its engine mounts swapped round. Luckily I saved a front axle off a 77 auto I broke a few years back. All the bushes and joints were fine so I cleaned it up and chucked two coats of chassis paint over it. Second hand springs off my other manta used. Reconditioned steering rack I bought about 10 years ago (had to change gaitors as they’d perished in my unit) new track rod ends. 

[dome]

4 hours ago, Sir Snipes said:

I didn't now (or simply forgot) they did a 1.6 Manta B.

I've been sniffing about on Leboncoin at these and you could get a 1.2 in Europe for maximum misery. I'd not care, all I want is a decent shell to start with, the engine I'll worry about later. 

it'd be fun* roadtripping a 1.2 Manta back from the south of France?

[sloth]

the late 1.2 used the ohc nova engine. 45bhp. though that means a nice 1600 16v from a corsa b gsi fits. 

do love the boot decals on these. 

[sutty2006]

They used a 1.3 ohc in some later B mantas, one of the guys in the club brought one back from Belgium a few years ago. I’d definitely rip the 1.3 out and replace it with a 2.0SEH but he’s keen to keep it original.... oh well lol. Some A series manta’s had the 1.2 in it. Very miserable indeed. 

[sutty2006]

A bit more done tonight. I bought a set of second hand calipers, backing plates and disks.. forgot I’d already bought new disks, but oh well. The backing plates are in good nick so I gave them a lick of BBQ paint and chucked one side on. Along with new pads. Got new hoses to go on but need a hose bracket for the chassis as the old one is missing. 

also took off 4mm of wob from the offside rear lower quarter. No idea why it had been wobbed it’s not that bad underneath it all. 

 

 

smol amount of welding required 

 

and I took the grinder to the wheel arch. What’s best to weld this up? Weld along the line or go a few cms above it? 
 

[omegod]

Would a Saab B206 turbo engine not fit rather neatly in that engine bay ?

[sutty2006]

B203 turbos do fit with some modifications. But that might be a future project for the red hatch I’ve got 

[sutty2006]

Any chance someone can tag a MODERATOR in this thread. It needs moving to the main autoshite area but all of my efforts to gain their attention have failed. 

[Floatylight]

@chaseracer@Mrs6C@brownnova

Sent from my SM-A505FN using Tapatalk

[Sir Snipes]

16 hours ago, omegod said:

Would a Saab B206 turbo engine not fit rather neatly in that engine bay ?

Anything in the GM family 2 OHC engine line, including the XE 16v performance engines as the found in the various GSI models of the mid/late 90s, can be made to fit as later Mantas were offered with OHC engines. It does mean many a Manta was scrapped to provide various RWD XE applications (kit cars, Escorts etc) with parts though. I don't know if that's still a sore point amongst the Manta community- it sure was back when I was into them.

[brownnova]

All moved for you @sutty2006 

[sutty2006]

7 minutes ago, brownnova said:

All moved for you @sutty2006 

Thanks mr Brownnova you’re a star. 
 

yes the 1.8 manta’s were robbed blind for their sump, gearbox, oil pickup and engine mounts. 
however the CIH engined mantas non of the components were compatible with the XE/SEH type of engines. 

[sloth]

thing is, the manta ohc bits are now extinct and rarely turn up. as for a b204 or b234, they fit but need a hand made sump, the mounts are best done like a mk2 escort world cup style, and you will implode a manta 1.8 box. use a bmw box, bellhosuing convertor and make your own mounts and sump. youll need a better rear axle too. volvo wouldbe my choice. 

[sutty2006]

Yup. I have a spare 1.8 box but I’m saving that for a rainy day with my 16v. So for now this B series is getting a standard engine and 4 speed gearbox. 

[big_al_granvia]

Mind my gaffer on yts had a e plate manta gte. Thought it was the dogs bollocks, went like shit off a shovel. 1.8 16 valve with jetronic injection

[sutty2006]

17 minutes ago, big_al_granvia said:

Mind my gaffer on yts had a e plate manta gte. Thought it was the dogs bollocks, went like shit off a shovel. 1.8 16 valve with jetronic injection

Did he put that engine in himself? 

[Shep Shepherd]

The Manta 'B' (not to mention the Cavalier Coupe and Sportshatch) is a truly wonderful car. I had the privilege of inspecting the very last one made at the Opel museum in Russelsheim in 2003. Its panel gaps were inconsistent, to say the least! 

[dome]

7 hours ago, sloth said:

thing is, the manta ohc bits are now extinct and rarely turn up. as for a b204 or b234, they fit but need a hand made sump, the mounts are best done like a mk2 escort world cup style, and you will implode a manta 1.8 box. use a bmw box, bellhosuing convertor and make your own mounts and sump. youll need a better rear axle too. volvo wouldbe my choice. 

Does an Omega box not fit the B204/234?

 

It was always at the back of my mind that the C20xe and Omega box in my Locost would fit in a manta quite nicely. It's sold now so the temptation is gone...

[sloth]

it does but over 250ft lb of torque they loose their teeth faster than an ice head.

[sutty2006]

There was an adapter available to use the RX7 gearbox on a c20let/XE but haven’t seen one used yet. 

[stuboy]

keep up the good work

[Corks finest]

Lot of them around in my youth, have only seen them on the road rarely,still pop up at charity days etc, lovely motor best of luck with her