Caprica Jonny Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Hey Guys, Time is getting close to me hopefully getting my hands on a GTE Coupe!!! I would just like some advice on problem areas with body work / interior / engine... Anything I should look out for.... any tell tail signs?? Cheers Jonny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickappy Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 rust.. lol.. the later mantas like to rot,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caprica Jonny Posted April 6, 2014 Author Share Posted April 6, 2014 Any hidden areas that need a good eye over lol... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickappy Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 A posts, chassis legs-look for blisters n cracks. inner sills, jacking points at front, rear lower inner arches where it meets the sill. and if its got a sunroof look close for blistering(and filler here as they do rot due to a bad design with the drainage. behind headlights, battery tray and under washer bottle. my advice is buy a mig welder if u own a manta:))) looks for bad repairs too in all these areas.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upk Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Check this out and you will see the extent rust gets in. Also the chassis swan knecks rust from the inside out so look carefully! http://forums.mantaclub.org/topic/23539-manta-b-project-underway/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapierdave Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Hey Guys, Time is getting close to me hopefully getting my hands on a GTE Coupe!!! I would just like some advice on problem areas with body work / interior / engine... Anything I should look out for.... any tell tail signs?? Cheers Jonny The first thing is to say what your potential budget is. Any thing under say £3K & your GTE coupe will possibly need some minor body restoration, under £2K & the restoration bills will be rising. The day of the cheap Manta coupe have long gone but there still good value for money compared to the equivalent Ford. Project cars can still be had for around £1K but be prepared to be handy with a welder. Mechanicals are pretty reliable, interiors are pretty hard wearing but the bolster on the drivers side seat will probably be worn, dash boards can crack. Certain spare parts are now becoming difficult to find but there are still secondhand bits around. If money is no object then buy the best Manta you can find, garage it when not in use & it will give you years of pleasure. If money is tight then consider a hatch as they are generally cheaper than there equivalent coupe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantadoc Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 problem areas with body workEvery single panel of a Manta rusts. When they were 7 years old floors sills and chassis rails and roof on sunroof cars were the problem areas. Now the youngest Manta is 23 every inch of steel work should be checked and even then they can be a sieve under rubberised sealer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caprica Jonny Posted April 6, 2014 Author Share Posted April 6, 2014 http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/opel-manta-gte-310184-3-year-rebuild-from-bare-shell-2-yrs-ago-in-vg-cond/1053690606 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caprica Jonny Posted April 6, 2014 Author Share Posted April 6, 2014 That's what I have me eye on, hope it's all its cracked up to be!! Shame about the colour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantasrme Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Well it will be distinctive and you won't loose it in a carpark From the pictures there's a couple of bits in the engine bay out of place and the suspension ride height is way too high for a GT/e But other than that it looks good. Its got a long list of good its on it, but its a long way from Yorkshire to have a look at it. It might well be a known car to the Scottish members on here though, or one of them might be local enough to have a quick look at it for you. There's a lot of risk buying a car without seeing it, you never know if the pictures are current or taken when it was rebuilt etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caprica Jonny Posted April 6, 2014 Author Share Posted April 6, 2014 Thinking of taking a day or two and tripping up there this week. I have been burned before with my navara, just very cautious now... Probably to much in away of not going for stuff, but there's risk in anything I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB15 Posted April 7, 2014 Share Posted April 7, 2014 Take the Road Trip mate. That is a very good manta for the money as far as Coupe's go for. The paint job is rough and a horrid colour So keep money back for a paint job + a set of lowering springs. The photos are current If I wasn't out of work the now I'd be buying her myself , Gun it white , lowered down with a nice set of wheels - Perfect. The old boy that's got the car has tons of spares , (nice guy) All the best Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caprica Jonny Posted April 7, 2014 Author Share Posted April 7, 2014 Cheers Kev, Thanks for the advice..... and everyone else input!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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