Paul Barrett Posted February 27, 2010 Author Share Posted February 27, 2010 some piccies other sill now one had to make new repair panle here too, wasnt happy with what was there stripped out underseal from arch cut out more rot ready new steel, new panle about to be welded in inner repairs done, arch cut out ready for new reapir panel repair panel prepped and riveted in place ready for welding got distracted with seam seeling up other joint and then one of the chassis rails Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted February 28, 2010 Author Share Posted February 28, 2010 cheers guys, good comments mean a lot. me and ollie went to VBOA autojumble today, picked up a few bargains, another indicator in perfect condition £4! i ahve 2 now so sorted, paid like 20 quid for the other which isnt as good this lot for a fiver! all racetech gauges with a mini loom no sensors but hey at this price, even a real carbon faceplate lol load of alloy bends etc 2" and 3" measly toatl of £6! also picked up an airfile, just really to get in the corners of my door shuts where i need to grind down weld where i put in the sills, and some wire wheels for the grinder as getting through them quite fgast with all the rust to clean up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keith1200 Posted February 28, 2010 Share Posted February 28, 2010 Braw bargains I've nah idea wot yur day'ing with the beemer bits def interesting Keep up the good work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted February 28, 2010 Author Share Posted February 28, 2010 Braw bargains I've nah idea wot yur day'ing with the beemer bits def interesting Keep up the good work basically a way of coverting the manta to an indpendan trear suspension rather than traditional live axle, much easier than trying to find a suitable live axle to take the power of the engine im installing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted March 4, 2010 Author Share Posted March 4, 2010 been up the unit today...... tacked up arch and finished inner arch too cut out this section for a beefier box to go in for the diff hanger, it was hiding some rust inside it too threw some etch primer on most of the bare metal, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted March 27, 2010 Author Share Posted March 27, 2010 few pics, got a lot done today, weld weld weld! done a whole chassi leg and the floor pan on the drivers side, really pleased, even with visitors stopping by, toss welds on this diff hanger member, got new gas now argonshield light i prefer this was with the ****e free pub bottles i picked up cut shop rebuild new rail, jacking point, and floor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
costasa Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 Great job i hope to learn to weld like that. Your Manta is start to be in shape Keep putting photos Cheers Costa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted April 5, 2010 Author Share Posted April 5, 2010 righty, no pics im afraid as camera had a flat battery, dohhhhhh! anyhow, have finished both chassis rails and jacking points now, the car is off the rollover spit for work on the front end and then the rear trailing arms and then the engine mounting etc, then back ont he spit for final weld up and seal for painting etc, im really chuffed with what ive done over the easter hols Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted April 10, 2010 Author Share Posted April 10, 2010 (edited) update time, been working of fabricating the front valance, tried to patch it up but wasnt happy, so the sheel is now off the spit to allow me to properly work on it... one side cut out difficult angles to reproduce with basic tools, but time and patience, this had lots more work to get the ripples smoothed out other panel in tis early stages bit of CArD design for cutting up the new panles to shape old mank all cut out for the new stuff new in ready for welding, the ends need fettling to blend in with wings and lower valnce which i have a brand new one placed IC back in to make sure all is straight and will fit im hungry! shot of the inside as it stands, few more patches to weld in the seal Edited April 10, 2010 by novashed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted April 11, 2010 Author Share Posted April 11, 2010 finished the fron valance today, tacked up then fully tacked by welding in one spot then another to distribute the heat to prevent it warping too badly out of shape, gave it a good linish with a sanding pad on the grinder and then a skim of filler, also started mocking up the front airdam/splitter, trying something new with muscle car influence. right side has been ground down flat here additional plate to hold up the lower valance not a very clear pic, but plcaed the front bumper back on, and half the new splitter, which may work or it wont, will try my best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanMc Posted April 11, 2010 Share Posted April 11, 2010 Loving this topic - great fab work there mate. I'm very envious of your skills and your facilities! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2908642343 Posted April 11, 2010 Share Posted April 11, 2010 looking good..... Excellent thread. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted April 11, 2010 Author Share Posted April 11, 2010 cheers guys, the comments mean alot! its all practice, the more you the better you get, more like for me the more mistakes you make you faster you learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Abbott Posted April 11, 2010 Share Posted April 11, 2010 Looking good mate, keep up the pace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
costasa Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 Fantastic work, your work is motivational and i hope to do the same in mine. Keep the good work and fill us with pictures Costa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted April 17, 2010 Author Share Posted April 17, 2010 well monumental day today, engine in ready for moutns to be made etc!!!!! only spent 4 hours on her as had to screed a floor this morning, but any progress is good, so more chopping ........... subframe slung back on, block hangin ready block in, so decided to lop out more metal lol, i knew the trans tunnel would never be big enough so marked up where i wanted to cut and let the sparks fly! more scrap! plate for nearside engine mount, nice thick plate steel omega box in, where ive cut the tunnel out has suited me fine first time, im allowing a little more room for when i eventually build the bellhousing to suite a bmw box in the future as can be seen im going to have to make up some lowering blocks for the ARB as it fouls the box considerably, handy it being there for now to hold the box up! fitted first time, made bolt holes slightly larger but more luck than anything placed the top half of the engine on to check measuremtns for bonnet clearance, its going to be tight, may have to bulge the bonnet or notch out the subfame a touch, as space is tight escpecially for the sump, which is more important than asthetics so if it is easier to just fabricate a bulge in the bonnet then so be it. plenty of room either side, more than i had bargained for hence the tight ramshorn turbo manifold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantamike Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 :thumbupGreat to see the turbo lump going in! Is the R25 Omega box a straight bolt on to the saab lump? Keep up the good work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted April 17, 2010 Author Share Posted April 17, 2010 cheers mike it is a striaght bolt on, but its only a test for the box, as i dont personally think it will hold up to the abuse, hopefully it wil and im proved wrong, but the figures stack against it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantamike Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 Great! I love plug and play gearboxes this saab engine swap is starting to sound interesting, and they must be cheaper than an LET Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bendy Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 This build is coming along quickly, good work! And the saab engine is certainly interesting, the swedes manage to get pretty big reliable horsepower out of them motors Whats the torque rating of the omega box? Is it a hydraulic clutch job? most bmw boxes will be hydraulic. maybe a strengthened type 9 and off the shelf bell housing adapter would be an option? it mat surprise you what it can handle, could just be a question of how long it will take it for depending how it gets driven! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
czwh42 Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Great! I love plug and play gearboxes this saab engine swap is starting to sound interesting, and they must be cheaper than an LET A few guys on Migweb are doing/done turbo conversions using the Saab Turbo motor. I've seen prices as low as £350 for a Saab turbo engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted April 23, 2010 Author Share Posted April 23, 2010 A few guys on Migweb are doing/done turbo conversions using the Saab Turbo motor. I've seen prices as low as £350 for a Saab turbo engine. yeah still abundant, well 2ltr ones are finding a 2.3 is a bit harder but price wise compared to LETs and tuning them, no brainer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
czwh42 Posted April 24, 2010 Share Posted April 24, 2010 yeah still abundant, well 2ltr ones are finding a 2.3 is a bit harder but price wise compared to LETs and tuning them, no brainer Are the internals of the Saab engines as good as everyone says (i.e. decent crank, rods, pistons, etc, etc) ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted April 24, 2010 Author Share Posted April 24, 2010 Are the internals of the Saab engines as good as everyone says (i.e. decent crank, rods, pistons, etc, etc) ? yes they are, with proven figures from stock components, heres an inetresting build http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1193496&page=2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Barrett Posted April 25, 2010 Author Share Posted April 25, 2010 to update, have positioned the engine now where i want it, or should i say where it will fit. a lot further back than i had anticipated, but this is good for weight distribution, but some serious thoguht and work will need to go into the sump design, as i dont wish to go down the dry sump route for expense sake. no pics im afraid, butt he mounty are welded up and in primer one thing i will defiantely ahve to do is bulge the bonnet, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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