Andrew65 Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 (edited) NOT SURE THIS IS IN THE RIGHT SECTION. MY APOLOGIES IF NOT. I would appreciate your thoughts please?? I am checking through some NEW parts that I have stored away to check their suitability for my 86 GTE Coupe. QH Shock absorbers front QH 127304 and rears 127305. The good old web is very contradicting. Some say they are OK for GTE some say not. If they are NOT suitable then they I'll put them, and any of the following items, in the For Sale section. Whilst you're thinking about that one here are a couple of other bits. Can't find any concrete evidence on these but I am sure these are only suitable for earlier 2 litres but what do you think. Steering rack Gaiters Moprod SRG 815 Sump gasket set Clough & Wood DHC417 Rear brake hose Supra Automotive GHP 397 Hand brake cable Falcon FALFBC 458. Thanks in advance. Andrew Edited November 26, 2012 by Andrew65 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiney_norman Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Steering rack gaiters and handbrake cables were the same for all Mantas '75-'88, the sump gasket's the same for at least all 1.6, 1.9 and 2.0 CIH engines and I'm pretty sure the rear brake hoses were all the same '75-'88 too. I can't see any issues using shocks listed for a B on a GTE, the only difference is that the GTEs were slightly lower, maybe 30mm or so? Someone who knows more than I do will probably be along soon enough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exclusive Opel Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Have the handbrake cable listed to fit a Manta in my cross ref parts list. Trying a bit of cross ref'ing of part numbers for the shocks I came up with QH127305 as not for a Manta but QH127304 is. QH127304 ASCONA B (81_, 86_, 87_, 88_) 1.2 (40 kW ; 08/1976 - 02/1979) 1.2 S (44 kW ; 09/1975 - 02/1979) 1.3 N (44 kW ; 03/1979 - 08/1981) 1.3 S (55 kW ; 08/1979 - 08/1981) 1.6 N (44 kW ; 09/1975 - 08/1981) 1.6 S (55 kW ; 09/1975 - 08/1981) 1.9 N (55 kW ; 08/1976 - 08/1981) 1.9 S (66 kW ; 09/1975 - 08/1981) 2.0 N (66 kW ; 08/1977 - 08/1981) 2.0 S (74 kW ; 08/1977 - 08/1981) 2.0 E (81 kW ; 08/1979 - 08/1981) 2.4 400 (106 kW ; 07/1980 - 08/1981) 2.0 D (43 kW ; 08/1978 - 08/1981) MANTA B (58_, 59_) 1.2 N (40 kW ; 08/1976 - 07/1983) 1.2 S (44 kW ; 09/1975 - 02/1979) 1.3 N (44 kW ; 03/1979 - 12/1980) 1.3 S (55 kW ; 08/1981 - 08/1986) 1.6 N (44 kW ; 09/1975 - 12/1980) 1.6 S (55 kW ; 09/1975 - 12/1981) 1.8 S (66 kW ; 07/1982 - 08/1987) 1.9 N (55 kW ; 08/1976 - 12/1981) 1.9 S (66 kW ; 09/1975 - 12/1980) 1.9 E (77 kW ; 09/1975 - 08/1977) 2.0 (66 kW ; 08/1977 - 12/1980) 2.0 S (74 kW ; 08/1977 - 08/1984) 2.0 E (81 kW ; 08/1977 - 08/1988) MANTA B CC (53_, 55_) info 1.3 N (44 kW ; 03/1979 - 12/1980) 1.3 S (55 kW ; 08/1979 - 08/1986) 1.6 N (44 kW ; 09/1975 - 12/1980) 1.8 S (66 kW ; 07/1982 - 08/1987) 1.9 N (55 kW ; 08/1976 - 12/1981) 2.0 (66 kW ; 08/1977 - 12/1980) 2.0 S (74 kW ; 08/1977 - 08/1984) 2.0 E (81 kW ; 08/1977 - 08/1988) VAUXHALL : CAVALIER 1300 (44 kW ; 08/1977 - 08/1981) 1.6 N (44 kW ; 08/1975 - 08/1981) 1.6 S (55 kW ; 08/1975 - 08/1981) 1900 (66 kW ; 10/1975 - 03/1978) 2.0 S (74 kW ; 01/1978 - 08/1981) CAVALIER Coupe 1.9 S (66 kW ; 10/1975 - 03/1978) 2.0 S (74 kW ; 03/1978 - 08/1981) Only a quick check done so not guaranteed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Those shock absorbers are radial matic ie fluid filled as opposed to gas filled. Bilstein were the OEM supplier of shockers when GT/E's were new and are still available from Online Auto Sport Monroe used to do gas matic shockers for GT/E but are no longer available. You can even upgrade and fit the rallye shockers that were used on the works 400 cars but they are expensive at around £240.00 a pair. The QH ones you have will fit but the handling and ride won't be as Opel intended. I recently purchased a set of rear Bilstein yellow sport dampers from On Line and they ordered them direct from Germany. Took about a week to arrive. Hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew65 Posted November 26, 2012 Author Share Posted November 26, 2012 Thanks for the info. The original GM part numbers for 'GTE only' shocks are front 90113811 and rear 90113812. The do indeed differ from earlier 2 litres in that they are GAS filled. Listed as 'uprated' in the Vauxhall brochures. I'll probably now sell the QH ones as they'll be a better buy for someone with an earlier model. Searching some more I found these gas ones. http://www.vauxhall-car-parts.co.uk/acatalog/OPEL_MANTA_B_GTE_REAR_SHOCK_ABSORBER_-_72118776.html#a72118776 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris M Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 They are the ones. Original GTE shockers. They are a good price. Never come across this website before. Time for a mooch me thinks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exclusive Opel Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Those one from Vauxhall Car Parts have these numbers on them: 90399486 4 36 043 Can't ref these numbers at all. Although black, they are painted yellow underneath and have Bilstein stamped on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamchop77 Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 (edited) Had a set of KYBs on mine, they were gas shocks and were ok. Changed to SPAX on the front which made the handling alot better once they were set right. As for bilstein being the best i'm always slightly wary, used bilstein and spax in the past and i haven't noticed any difference between them. The one thing though was i put a rear set of billys on the grasser they were almost new, been fitted to a car that had a front smash. Used them and one failed after one season, leaking from the seal. Fitted a used set of spax and they lasted until i stopped racing. Just taken them off the car and i will be quite happy to put them on a road car, yeah they are a bit crusty but they work fine and there are no leaks. They have taken a serious amount of abuse!!!! I'm building a moggy minor and i've put coilovers on the rear, used AVO. Quit a few of the grassers used them because they were good, lasted well and aren't bad on price. HTH Chris Edited November 27, 2012 by lamchop77 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew65 Posted November 27, 2012 Author Share Posted November 27, 2012 Spoke to the guy at Vauxhall Car Parts site and he said there had been an amount of interest recently in the shox and only had one left! Not surprising given the price. He also said the parts came directly from Vauxhall. Not expecting any more in sadly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dynamytedan Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 (edited) best sump gasket to suit the ohc engines gm 90500532 (6 52 602) rubber and baffled Edited November 28, 2012 by dynamytedan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Power Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Had a set of KYBs on mine, they were gas shocks and were ok. Changed to SPAX on the front which made the handling alot better once they were set right. As for bilstein being the best i'm always slightly wary, used bilstein and spax in the past and i haven't noticed any difference between them. The one thing though was i put a rear set of billys on the grasser they were almost new, been fitted to a car that had a front smash. Used them and one failed after one season, leaking from the seal. Fitted a used set of spax and they lasted until i stopped racing. Just taken them off the car and i will be quite happy to put them on a road car, yeah they are a bit crusty but they work fine and there are no leaks. They have taken a serious amount of abuse!!!! I'm building a moggy minor and i've put coilovers on the rear, used AVO. Quit a few of the grassers used them because they were good, lasted well and aren't bad on price. HTH Chris Interesting one, I also race autograss (class 9 special, east mids champ in the past) and I have also used avos, but only because they were cheap!!! They certainly are not (in standard single adjustable form) a very special item! Also I would say that having fitted new spax adjustables and new bilstein B6 shocks to a manta, there was no comparison, the Bilstein behaved better no matter what fiddling was done with the spax items. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamchop77 Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Theres always an exception to the rule!!!!! And it always seem to be me!! I know that billys have a good rep so i wouldn't say there no good, far from it. Just going off my experience of using them. So from your experience grassing what do you reckon the best coilover units are? Building a trackday moggy that will have a custom wishbone front end, sierra rear (for the time being!!) and will be powered by either a 2.3 or 2.5 CIH, so want something decent fitted to cope. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Power Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Lol, coilover comparisons are a big can of worms!! As far as I know, most of the cheaper ones use similar (if not the same) valve shims etc, so on paper avo, gaz, protech etc are basically the same (as in their basic standard units) on the grasser I use fox rear shocks and leda front shocks, but leda don't do em anymore, and fox are really long travel units for off road use. For a track car on a budget, I'd be inclined to go for protech, but build the car up with bars in place of the shocks until the end, then weigh it and work out your spring rates etc, then speak to protech,as they will customise their units to suit your application. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamchop77 Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Oddly enough that is exactly what i was planning! The rear is held up by 2 lengths of tube at the moment. Knew fox were the prefered shocks but did think they may no be suitable for track use. I'll have a look at protech, thanks for the info. Usually have to have a bit of a guess at spring rates as i dont have a corner weight gauge (its worked so far!!) Think i may have to invest in one. Do you calculate spring rates to old fashioned way, or do you know of any good sites online that have them. Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew65 Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 Thanks for the info. Shocks are now in the parts for sale section. Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Power Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Oddly enough that is exactly what i was planning! The rear is held up by 2 lengths of tube at the moment. Knew fox were the prefered shocks but did think they may no be suitable for track use. I'll have a look at protech, thanks for the info. Usually have to have a bit of a guess at spring rates as i dont have a corner weight gauge (its worked so far!!) Think i may have to invest in one. Do you calculate spring rates to old fashioned way, or do you know of any good sites online that have them. Cheers Chris to be honest, we/re pretty much rule of thumb on spring rates, just helps to know the front end and rear end weights to give a rough starting point. You'd be amazed by the number of race cars out there with rates MILES away from what would be best! The best springs for propping the car up, propping it up in corners, and then propping it up allowing for unsprung weight, are things that nobody ever seems to agree on! Heavier cars are "easier" (i.e. error margin is wider!) and low unsprung weights make it easier too. Hardest is high unsprung weight attached to light end of light car, such as live axled caterham etc, and the rear of a manta is not easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamchop77 Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 I just use the Allan Staniforth books for ref and calculate from there. Thanks for the info tho. By the way some stunning motors your producing at the moment....every respect. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retro Power Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Cheers Yep mr staniforth's work sits on my shelf in the office at work!!! very useful, and refreshingly down to earth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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