xecoupe Posted August 16, 2010 Share Posted August 16, 2010 Hi all, I have had a manta berlinetta coupe for a couple of years now and have had a lot of work done like welding, electrics, body work and recently the engine but have had the wrong people looking at it and carrying out the work........ until now! I drove 180 miles to ( Suffolk county mantas) to meet up with Simon Peckham on sunday morning, for those you who know him will know he is a really nice down to earth guy and the quality of his work is amazing. I just wish I had more money to put into the project . I nearly made it all the way to him, I think I was a few miles short when oil started spraying out followed by smoke and panic. Am glad I left home at 5.30 in the morning now to beat the traffic, but we got to his workshop in the end and this is where the real work will be carried out. I am getting some serious brakes, shocks and my 2.0 xe engine given a new life with throttle bodies. He also lent me his car for a few weeks while I sort something out which to me is a really great gesture ( thank you again mate) And as I was leaving Bury st Edmunds I went to fill up, putting £20 in the tank I was told I had an old note and could not use it, luckily I scraped the money together and drove the whole way home keeping it under 70 mph just to make it back. so it was a crazy day but so very much worth it. will write again soon when there is more progress and also post some photos along with it. take care all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiffy220 Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Well done mate, you can't beat Simon's work. He did a lot of work on my B series, (there's piccies on his website), and he is a top bloke. You will be very impressed when you get your car back. Look forward to seeing some pictures of the progress. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xecoupe Posted November 4, 2010 Author Share Posted November 4, 2010 Hi all here are some pictures from when i first bought my manta to a bad bonnet and spray job but hey it looks good in the rain. Simon Peckham has it at the moment down at suffolk county mantas doing some amazing work on it so soon as I pick it up will post more pics and some background info. cheers Adie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xecoupe Posted November 8, 2010 Author Share Posted November 8, 2010 Hi all here are a few more photos of the project, the brakes that will be fitted soon and the stripped out engine bay. hope to have more soon once the engine bay has been painted and newly painted engine fitted back in with all the trimmings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opelmantagsi Posted November 11, 2010 Share Posted November 11, 2010 all underway, engine bay looks reasonably rust free for a Manta, keep the photos coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xecoupe Posted November 12, 2010 Author Share Posted November 12, 2010 will do mate, Simon reckons the car should be back from the painters at the beginning of December ready to put the engine back in. I know its doing things in an awkward way but it comes down to Simon having the time to fit me in and money on my part. But at least I will have a new engine that will perform well, in an immaculate engine bay sprayed to the new colour with new uprated brakes and shocks, so it should start to look and feel like a new car. and will book it in for a full re paint early next year or as soon as I can be fitted in.so working my ass off to save as it is not going to be cheap, but so damn worth it. I want to keep this car for a very long time as I love it. hope all is well, keep in touch. Adie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xecoupe Posted November 27, 2010 Author Share Posted November 27, 2010 Here are a couple of photos of the engine bay prior to painting, with the sanding and filling underway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opelmantagsi Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 hey mate, how did you manage to get those pics up? this site has to be the worsed ever for figuring out how thats done. good job though your pics are nice an clear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiffy220 Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 (edited) hey mate, how did you manage to get those pics up? this site has to be the worsed ever for figuring out how thats done. good job though your pics are nice an clear Hi mate, uploading photos is easy, you just need an image hosting website account such as photobucket. There are numerous threads and comments on this site as to how to upload them. Have a look about on here, you'll find chapter and verse on how to upload pics. Most other forums I use are exactly the same. Try this link: http://forums.mantaclub.org/topic/24535-posting-pictures-help/ Edited December 8, 2010 by smiffy220 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary6303 Posted December 9, 2010 Share Posted December 9, 2010 hi xecoupe, nice wilwood brakes mate had them on my manta coupe ,4 pot superlites very light and powerfull, you will need the bridge bolts to hold the pads in better as they tend to click a little when driving if you only use the large split pins, you will also need a 90 degree union on the caliper because if you use a steel braided hose on full steering lock the pipe goes in to the coil spring and will fail an mot. one last thing you will need to remove part of the lip on the back of the top suspention arm as the caliper will touch on full lock,i ground the lip right back to the arm and welded a small flat strip of metal on the inside to keep the strength, hope that helps mate if you have'nt already got those parts.great looking car by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xecoupe Posted December 11, 2010 Author Share Posted December 11, 2010 Hi folks here are a couple of photos of the recently painted engine bay. Now the engine and all auxiliaries can be fitted. yay !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xecoupe Posted December 21, 2010 Author Share Posted December 21, 2010 Here is a photo of the engine been test fitted. It will be taken out and painted before refitting in the next few days. so not too long before it will be on the road. will have more photos soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve price Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 very nice indeed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xecoupe Posted December 21, 2010 Author Share Posted December 21, 2010 Cheers Steve, will hopefully have it back soon so I can drive it about and enjoy it. Should have loads more photos coming soon so will keep adding them. What are you driving at the moment? Cheers Adie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve price Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 boring merc b170 sport se amg my coupe is E540VBG in this section on going project steve keep them piccys comin m8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Abbott Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 Looks great. love the colour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stone119 Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 whats happened to the paint on the camcover ? looks like its had red paint spilt onit . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xecoupe Posted January 19, 2011 Author Share Posted January 19, 2011 Hi everyone, here are a couple more photos of the work being done in the engine bay. I think its looking amazing so far ( big thank you to Simon Peckham, for all his hard work so far) will have more photos as it progresses, and should have it home very soon to drive and enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2908642343 Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Looking good...... you must be chuffed. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve price Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 fantastic kep the pics coming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opel2000 Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Looking very nice is that. Lovely shade of Blue. Was thinking though, could you not have found a bigger radiator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xecoupe Posted January 20, 2011 Author Share Posted January 20, 2011 cheers mate i wanted to get away from black, will be fully painted in a few months depending on money of course, yeah the rad has an impressive girth cheers Adie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adz the stig Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 loving that blue. it looks the dogs! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xecoupe Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share Posted January 21, 2011 cheers mate, cant wait for the full paint job ( hopefully not to far away) and will get it back soon and be able to enjoy driving it again what are you driving at the moment? cheers Adie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adz the stig Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 a astra mk 4 still my first car tho. or a L200 when i can aford to put fuel in it at 1.44!!! drying for a manta now before me and the bird get a house i'll never get one if i leave it till after the house. i'll have to get carpets and stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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