monzta Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share Posted July 23, 2011 Thanks Stevie I have just discovered that the Kahn wheels are not available in 19" size, and that is a setback as i was certain that they did. But i should have made better research so only myself to blame. But i really do like the look of those Kahn alloys, so i will be going for 18" rears and 17" fronts. The car will just need to be lowered more. As i figure i need around 100mm lowering on top of the 40 that the car is already mounted with. So i need (grab a hold of something) to make -140mm springs for the rear It sounds crazy i know, but the fact is that due to the huge rear wheels the car has alot more clearance that ever before (even with original springs i think), so even though i will lower it drastically it will not affect clearence .. Or that is the theory anyways. Tomorrow i will remove the springs and use wooden blocks to try and figure out how much i will need to lower the car excactly to get the desired effect. I have written earlyer that i would be going for BMW M5 alloys, as they where cheap in those big size´s. But i would need to make alot of work as the car would need to be customized to adapt 5x120mm pcd wich in this case is a crap job that will cost ALOT! So i got a good bargain on the Kahns and i took it.. Will still be running 4x100 and remaking of the Carrlton GSi brakes are now a simple task as well as fitting the disc rear brakes. Sorted out many problems by choosing this way instead. And that i think is the essence of any good project. You plan as far as you can, but when you are building you should always have an open mind regarding the different solutions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted July 24, 2011 Author Share Posted July 24, 2011 So i have just made the muck-up lowering of the rear of the A Looks great i think, exactly as i wanted it to look. Clearance is not an issue all though i may need to make the exhaust go somewhere else instead of over the rear axle as there is very little room here ! There is a couple of cm´s to the bump stops of the rear axle but it is not much! I am thinking about making the exhaust go out the side just before the rear wheels in both sides through the panels ! Anyways, here are the pics. As you can see it is very low, but still the big 18" wheels makes sure that ride hight isn´t too terrible. Good clearance underneeth still! I used wooden blocks to make the new "springs" so now i have alot more data about the rear axle setup. This needed to be done now before i continue with the rust in the rear of the car around the rear flares, as they may have needed modding, but as it looks now there are no need at all to modify any parts of the rear flares, or inner parts of the wheel well. It will need just a single cm or more lowering at the rear end when i begin making the springs, but i will take on that later. Right now i know that it is possible to get the custom look that i want, and that was what this was all really about anyways, so i think it has been a succes so far Next up is waiting for the 17" to arrive, and get those fitted to the front. Regarding the front end i will make the same muckup using blocks of wood but i will need to remove the springs first. Then i will fit a front wing to see how it all goes along But i will propably also continue with the welding tomorrow, so there will be more photos soon Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieH Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Very nice , the wheels dont look out of place on the A its going to have a nice stance too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted July 24, 2011 Author Share Posted July 24, 2011 Yes they seem to fit the A very nice, will look better even when the rear disc conversion is done . This one (unfortunatly it crashed some time ago and has since been scrapped) had them in 17" and that was why i made them my second choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted July 25, 2011 Author Share Posted July 25, 2011 Just made another design in photoshop. This would also be a very nice option. Re-using the GT/E design on the side but with the green twist, matte black paintjob, green brakes and wheels painted matte black on spokes and green on the rim... I don´t think this is half bad ? Let me know what you think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieH Posted July 25, 2011 Share Posted July 25, 2011 Oh yes thats just the right amount of green on the matt black . lovely design work lets hope it ends up looking exactly like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted July 25, 2011 Author Share Posted July 25, 2011 Thanks Stevie Yeah i hope it will turn out exactly like that, if it does it should fetch a couple of trophys at the meets Anyways, heres todays work. Moved on with the firewall a real tricky place to work as the original welds was rusted away... Putting in some fresh metal Lower right hole needed some more metal work, just a small patch Welding welding welding.. After ALOT of grinding and welding and a fat cover of hammerite Loads of hammerite to cover everything in (will turn matte when dry I am fairly proud of this work it was a real piece of crap to repair, and im not finished yet! Will be moving on to the right hand side headlight brackets tomorrow, there is loads of work here, and will require alot of tinkering.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted July 26, 2011 Author Share Posted July 26, 2011 Just discovered that uploading photo´s to this project thread / diary really helps things move along. Wasn´t really up for it today, but i had written that i´d post more today, so that kicked me into action So its the right side headlight brackets turn ! First the front valance was removed. It´s really in good condition, only one little hole, nothing big, so if anyone is interested let me know ! Bumfilibaba Front crossmember, quite a nightmare, will return to this part later ! This is what it´s all about today. It´s quite tricky to do this car, as alot of it looks like this. No holes but loads of rust ! So it´s difficult to determin how much should be removed, but better safe than sorry i guess.. Figured changing this piece would be enough.. New piece fabricated, and fitted. Once again i used the cardboard method (aka cornfalkes box technique) and this time the Mrs had gotten some real nice cardboard for me he-he And this is how it looks like when its welded up.. Haven´t welded the back yet as this also needs changing.. So another big cutout commences, and here´s a tip. The entire nose cone is more or less only fastened in the sides on an A series, so be carefull when cutting this much out of the car, as you can experience issues later if you dont line everythin up again! Used the cornflakes box template from when i did the other side and mirrored it to make this new part. Beginning to look like a car again. Untill you take a look at the inside Lots of work here too, but the fresh plate for the headlight mounts are a real plus, was very glad it is over. Pretty straight, and i am very proud of the result, after all this is hand crafted sheet metal, i have no bending machines or anything! Will need a bit of filler though... Time to check up on todays damages. Actually i cut so much sheet metal today that i have got a blister from using the cutters That was it for today, tomorrow i need to do some work on my daily driver, so will propably have to wait till thursday to get more done to the old lady .. Cheers guys ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieH Posted July 26, 2011 Share Posted July 26, 2011 Awesome progress as usual Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted July 27, 2011 Author Share Posted July 27, 2011 Thanks Stevie Still a long way to go though, figure that i am around 15-20% done with the welding on the car by now And even when i get finished it will be a car that you should tend to once in a while as the rust will keep coming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted July 28, 2011 Author Share Posted July 28, 2011 Didn´t have much time today, but i managed to finish the headlight corner. Once again i used the cardboard method, and made a template. After the piece was made i fitted it and spot welded as i went along bending it into shape The piece is fitted and spot welded. Actually this was alot easyer as i had thought it would be. Turns out the hardest part was to remove the old stuff... There was alot of welding involved, i also needed to weld the rest of the headlight brackets as theese now had fresh metal to get fastened to.. More welding.. And even more welds The Mrs came along and thought you guys should have a bit of a laugh and i picture of yours truly How about those welding goggles..? Finished everything off as usual with a fair amount of grinding and a fat coat of hammerite. Almost done with the front end now. I still need to fix some holes in the battery box and now as it turns out i need to take a closer look on that front cross member. It is very rusty, but no holes. I am not sure what to do with it. A home made one will never pass an MOT here in Denmark, and a new one might be either impossible to get, or extremly expensive. Maybe the best choice would be to make sure there are no holes, repair the ones that may be found, and then grind it completly down and paint it ? Will see about that later. Plan to finish of the front end by grinding it all down and giving it all an extra layer of paint. I am really looking forward to that part Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rab Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Tell thi wife nae tae do that nearly spilt mi beer great project keep thi `CAR` piccies comin cheers rab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Abbott Posted July 28, 2011 Share Posted July 28, 2011 Nice work mate. The picture on the bottom looks great with the wheel spokes painted out to the edge of the rim to make them look bigger too Love the colours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted July 31, 2011 Author Share Posted July 31, 2011 He he Cheers RAB Thanks Kevin, much appreciated Just came home with the biggest hangover in f**** history have bin to my younger brothers 30th birthday we had it all, spirits, beer, wine, and a nice big barbeque, also we had giant boxing mits (my head and neck hurt like hell today) and giant sumo wrestling suits So i have done absolutely nothing about the A series this weekend. However the Mrs recieved the 17" Kahn´s in my absence so next step is the muck up lowering of the front end this week, and test fitting the 17" Kahns in front I am pretty exited about this as this will give a much clearer picture of how the car will look once done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted August 3, 2011 Author Share Posted August 3, 2011 Time for another update. Won´t get that much done this week as my daughter is here this week on summer holidays , and i will be spending friday to sunday to attend Copenhagen Classic Grand Prix, one of the only last "real" GP´s held completely historic (on normal streets, and with hay bales and everything. Anyhow, got the 17" Kahns home, and wanted to make the muck up lowering of the front end of the car.. And let me say it, it was a biaaarch to get that spring out... My god.. Complelely stuck in there, and rusty ! So i gave it some more slack and it was still stuck ! So i gave it some compressors / spring clamps Still stuck in there like a brick in a wall ! So i took off the anti roll bar... That made it a tad more loose, but not much. At this point i was very desperate, and i wanted to set the car on fire ! So i did (what you should never do with springs!) i gave it the angle grinder on the last two coils just beneath the clamps. It went "doingg" and everything was loose ! So finally i could proceed with making some wooden blocks so i could lower the car appropiatly in the front. Didn´t get to finish it though as i had to come in and have dinner I learned some great things about my project today though.. I need some more lowering on the front end of the car. There is plenty of space to the bump stop so that will not be a issue no matter how much i lower it I will need wheel spacers in the front (maybe depends on what happens when i turn the steering wheel regarding clearence to the front wings) I will need some other tyres, those tyres look UGLY! Look like tractor tyres when you can see the threading like that on the side, and i will propably need some tyres that are smaller ... I have some nice looking 205/40 on stock, but i don´t like that the rears have a lesser profile than the front ones, that looks wrong some how ! So either i get smaller ones on front, or bigger ones on the rears (those are 215/35 18) I have also learned that the B series rear axle is perfect for the rear tyres and rims regarding width, but i am not sure yet. If i can´t fit spacers in the front i will maybe choose a A series rear axle again as i want the front and rear wheels alligned... I don´t want it to be VERY vissible that there are bigger diameter rims on the rear than on the front. I want people to look at it and say "wow how did he get that effect).. But i like the overall look of the car, the project will definatly happen now, and this is definatly also the style that i will be aiming for ! Just wanted to show you the front brake discs that will be fitted (when they have been redone of course). Those are massive 296mm discs from the Carlton Gsi 24V Almost a direct fit ! And finally i discovered that the rear axle will need new gaskets and oil rings ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted August 15, 2011 Author Share Posted August 15, 2011 So ready for another update. Have had a bit of work lately so time hasn´t been plentywise regarding the A series rebuild. But yesterday i started fixing the last parts of the engine bay. Oh and another thing that kept me away was the Copenhagen Historic Granp Prix that i just had to see. And let me tell you guys, that it is worth every penny ! If you ever consider spending a weekend in Copenhagen, you should really consider this ! Let me show you why A genuine Ford GT40 from 64. It was a historic racecar made by Ford and was raced at Lemans by Jackie Ickx ! Was owned by a Swede who spend the last 10 years to restore it !!! History on 4 wheels, and the sound was amazing ! Der Rote Sau (The Red Sow) the earlyest of the AMG racers, outstanding sound from a 6,8 ltr V8 with 350bhp. Also history on 4 wheels even though it was a replica. You blokes must recognize this. A Jaguar E type V12 powered racing car. Only a handfull left in the world ! And more British racing history from Jaguar !! It was really a great experience seeing all theese cars racing on the normal road (part of the inner city was used as racing track) and unfortunatly the dubious track also required some accidents like a original Mk1 BDA Escort that was completely crushed, and also a MG from 1937 took a nasty hit ! Anyways, returning to my own project. Not much left in the engine bay now, started fixing up the battery box. A real piece of crap this is.. Again the original welds was rusted away.. Out with the old and in with the new. Needed to change part of the inner wing as well. Changed part of the inner wing, found a couple of more holes in the inner wing, but i will take care of this when i move inside the car. New edge to the battery box. Need to weld this up from inside the car, and this require i need to remove the dashboard (was really hoping i didn´t have to do that...) And hello what have we here. Guess i need to take off the brake servo as well. Loads of rust beneath it ! Eeek ! Will take care of this Thursday... More to come chaps. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted August 22, 2011 Author Share Posted August 22, 2011 Just got my webers today. Needless to say i was pretty shocked. The story is that i put in an add for a set of 40mm´s double carbs, brand regardless and got a mail from a guy who had a set of 40 webers. They had been running on a Volvo B21 untill recently (so i new they where not some oily pieces of crap that had been lying on a workshop floor for 15 years). He wanted 120£ for them. I said that it was a deal, that is a pretty good price for a set of running webers... So imagine my suprise today when i opened the box and took a look at this I have no doubt that theese would fetch me around 400£ or more on Ebay. They are bloody new ! And they have trumpets on them, and they can easily cost 100£ or more.....! I think that this is very close to beeing the deal of the year for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted August 26, 2011 Author Share Posted August 26, 2011 (edited) Okay, after removing the dash, and after removing the brake servo i was really discouraged... There is alot of rot under the battery box, and around the pedal box and the brake servo! Alot of rot here ! Not the biggest cutout but it is in a complicated area ! After cutting out and cleaning i started welding in new sheetmetal from the inside of the car. I have a bit of an overlap so each patch will get double welds. It is very hard to see on the pictures but i am very close to the hole for the steering coloumn ! Beginning to look a bit like frankenstein But i am getting close now. Need an additional two pieces and i am finally done with the front end ! Also my welder really began welding good, i turned up the Co2 a bit and that made a world of difference (from 10 to 15psi) Will fix the rest of this after the weekend, then i will clean the entire front end totally and grind everything down so it can get some matte black paint. Will be moving on to the inside of the car after that. Edited August 26, 2011 by monzta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alf Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 Hi Monzta, Don't be discouraged, you're doing great work and saving another Manta, what could be better? I recently did my battery tray, for such a small area, you don't half have to remove a lot of stuff!! I'm lucky, my steering wheel is on the correct side of the car!! I look forward to my weekly updates on this thread, please keep them coming, you may not realise it, but you give inspiration to people like me, it keeps me going when I feel like giving up, great work!! Cheers, Alf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted August 26, 2011 Author Share Posted August 26, 2011 Hi Monzta, Don't be discouraged, you're doing great work and saving another Manta, what could be better? I recently did my battery tray, for such a small area, you don't half have to remove a lot of stuff!! I'm lucky, my steering wheel is on the correct side of the car!! I look forward to my weekly updates on this thread, please keep them coming, you may not realise it, but you give inspiration to people like me, it keeps me going when I feel like giving up, great work!! Cheers, Alf. Thanks Alf, thats very comforting, and greatly appreciated Was in a quitting state of mind i guess, it was just a depressing sight to go into the workshop so i have stayed away for a couple of days But today gave me back a bit of spark, even though the repairs of today was utter crap to fix, its now almost done so i can move on to other places of the car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steel Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 (edited) great work m8 i think everybody goes through stages of ,why do i bother, but when you lay a perfect weld bead or get a panel gap just right or take an idea thats in your head and transfer it to steel .and it works.it more than makes up for moments of doubt my own project is about small victories along the way otherwise ide go insane Edited August 26, 2011 by steel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted August 26, 2011 Author Share Posted August 26, 2011 great work m8 i think everybody goes through stages of ,why do i bother, but when you lay a perfect weld bead or get a panel gap just right or take an idea thats in your head and transfer it to steel .and it works.it more than makes up for moments of doubt my own project is about small victories along the way otherwise ide go insane I can relate to that and thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevieH Posted August 26, 2011 Share Posted August 26, 2011 Don't let it get you down Monzta you'll soon look back on this and laugh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monzta Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 Time for a little update. Progress since the last time.... ZERO My Daily driver, a small 1978 Derby mk1 coughed up its puny 1,1 engine, and i ended up having to take the Manta out of the garage and do a rather big engine swap from a Mk2 Polo. Now the Derby has a 1,3 litre unit with 75hp (originally 45hp) and a 5 speed gearbox as well. Upgraded frontbrakes etc. Ended up sucking all the money out of my wallet, and this little project is not even finished yet (even though i am very close now)... So i have done absolutely nothing to the Manta But but but, i will soon have it in the garage again, and then i will continue where i left off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray70 Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Thats good to hear, I was wondering why there was no new pics being put on here for a while. I will look forward to seeing some new progress ray70 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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