oldwheels Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 I Thought I would put my project on the forum hopefully to encourage others to save more Manta's, I have owned it for a couple of months and have been working fairly constantly on it. Unfortunately due to my position this will be a low budget and hopefully ongoing project, In view of my circumstances my car will not be able to compete with many of you guys on this forum who both own and are building some stunning cars, Anywhere here goes, Was looking for a while and as we all know Manta's are becoming harder to find, being unable to travel far the search began.... This example appeared on ebay, the seller was able to deliver so yes I purchased it blind, foolish maybe but what the heck I thought, I realised it was probably a load of work but then it is 27 years old. As seen on ebay And it arrives, my wife is checking it out more to follow soon 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droop snoot hp firenza Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Nice looks really straight, I'm doing a budget resto to, as I do not want a show car, just want a nice tidy usable car, as I intend to use all year round, I will try my best at treating the underneath primers and wax oil, so hopefully it will last, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkautos Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Nice looks really straight, I'm doing a budget resto to, as I do not want a show car, just want a nice tidy usable car, as I intend to use all year round, I will try my best at treating the underneath primers and wax oil, so hopefully it will last, ye you can't beat wax oil, the best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Hi there and I am glad you have bought the Black Manta as it looked as though nobody wanted it and its really nice to know that you are saving it. I will follow this thread with interest. I have fulfilled my dream of owning a Manta last September the 28th and I have been using it daily ever since. Mine needs work underneath and it has come to the right home. You are definitely right when you say they are getting fewer and I think its great when people save them. Looking forward to seeing your Manta progress and enjoy it! Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
®evo03 Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 (edited) As someone once said, you can be the best welder in the world, but without a manta your nothing! The hardest part of any project is getting the actual car, and the more complete, the better. Things are improving with chassis legs now available, repair panels, and this club is a big help. You can pick up second hand panels from club members etc. and learn a lot from what others have done. great place for advise, as most have been there, done that. I can see the future being projects getting more challenging, which will increase the need for repair panels. scrappy mantas are going to fade out eventually, so what ever parts have been saved and stored my owners, that's it, (eg. lights, bonnets, wings, doors, seats, interiors.) things that cannot be reproduced.(easily) silly wee interior bits like door lock surrounds, grab handles, but that's where the club members help. Maybe the biggest problem is lack of solid roofs. door skins and wings would be good to, also quarter panels! apart from that, they are a very good, reasonably cheap project. Your is a excellent colour and a pretty neat interior, they clean up well too! sure it needs a bit of welding, but it is pretty straight, and original. So what's the plans full restoration? keeping it original? good luck with your project, enjoy and take plenty of pics. nice roof rack, first time ever seen one, like it! how buy a surf board dude! Edited February 22, 2015 by brady Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANTAMAN Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 The same goes for this Manta that i said to Droop Snoot, metal and paint can be sorted with a little skill and time, even if you do not do the whole job yourself. but finding missing parts / trim and re-holstering would cost lots of extra money, it looks like you have a good driver seat for instance. I am all for someone getting a Manta into a reasonable condition and using it, Heck i even went to Billing in my red 1800 hatch 'Britney' complete with replacement white doors !!! but it was on the road ( unfortunately it suffered a gearbox failure and joined the back of a very long que of cars waiting to be repaired ) Just as long as this Manta feels the road under it's wheels again and you enjoy it that whats matters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldwheels Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 Thanks for all the constructive comments It looks a lot better in the photos than it is in the flesh Any way it is in my drive And now it is in its new home Don't laugh but that is my excuse for a garage and that is where it is going to be worked on yes I am mad As I said I have owned the car for a couple of months and been working on it so I am well ahead of these pics Perhaps below are the reasons that no one was interested in it on ebay Rear valence Nice mot repair from long ago Apparently the car was dry stored for 8 years Rear of front wheel arch Now where has my jack gone Interesting history, T 200 stickers x 3 £25.11 + vat purchased from Victory Vauxhall in 1999 got receipt to prove it Now to finish Cheap car tax on this manta, disc as left in windscreen by previous owner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggressor Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 good luck with it bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plumster Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Cor.... well best of luck, use the guys on here for help, whatever you are about to have a go at one of these nutters will have done it in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Best of luck with it and enjoy it your seat looks mint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
®evo03 Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) rear valance is still available as a repair panel, so is bottom corner of quarter panel. contact retro power, they also do sills I seen a lot worst, some projects on here would give anyone nightmares. your jacking point looks ok ish, Ive seen a lot worse on here. what is your engine bay like, behind headlights and battery tray. Did you look at your swan necks yet. Even if all of the above needs done, I still think its a decent project, worth saving. how is your sunroof? roof skin looking? Edited February 23, 2015 by brady Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldwheels Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share Posted February 25, 2015 Well time for the work to begin lots of horrors to find I do not doubt, under the bonnet is fairly sound just neglected Rear of both sills have been repaired not very well, will try to do a better job,Started with N/S Swan neck did not look to bad at first glance [/uR It got worse when it met the grinder Repaired Now to the sill, I purchased full sills with door steps, the sill was solid apart from the rear but I replaced the complete sill. Rusty sill nice new sill not easy as I can not fully open the door Then there is the repair to the floor after removing sound deadening it did not look to bad once again the Grinder and hammer soon changed that, cut all the rot out treated with rust treatment and repaired and then the same with the the rear of the wheel arch Finished I realise my repairs are not of Restoration quality but I know that I have removed as much corrosion as I can and while not attractive they are strong, In hindsight my only regret is the swan necks when I repaired them I did not realise that reasonable replacements were available, I think in time I may revisit them 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droop snoot hp firenza Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 looks ok to me, you will have it on the road in no time, if you keep going like that. keep it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB15 Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Looking Good Mate , You`re Garage is Perfect , I`m Working Outside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Keep up the good work, mine has the same horrors as those underneath, swan necks etc. The repairs you have done look really good I don't have the ability to do that so I will be taking mine to Mantasport when I need work doing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANTAMAN Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 I realise my repairs are not of Restoration quality but I know that I have removed as much corrosion as I can and while not attractive they are strong, But you would have to go crawling under the car or lifting the carpets to see them, Soon you will be doing the most important thing, Out enjoying your Manta BTW - is it a race between you and Droop Snoot to see who can do the fastest turn round of a poorly Manta? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
®evo03 Posted February 25, 2015 Share Posted February 25, 2015 Race is on. Joys of retirement, eh! excellent work, all looking good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldwheels Posted February 27, 2015 Author Share Posted February 27, 2015 Thanks for all the comments Well Manta-kev I will not complain about my small garage again, one thing I am to old to work outside My bonnet I think has been used as a workbench or perhaps a dance floor I really would like a 400 Bonnet has anyone got a S/H one in their stores they no longer require, new one is out of my price range For got to take pics to busy working, we all know what a rusty repaired wheel arch looks like old one cut out new one welded in, quick skim filler Broken spring Back on its wheels 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonymanta Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 Looking really good there - keep it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemanta Posted March 2, 2015 Share Posted March 2, 2015 you want to try and keep the filler dry as it soaks up water like a sponge and can give you problems later on. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldwheels Posted March 3, 2015 Author Share Posted March 3, 2015 Well I have come to a conclusion, working on a Manta is like having a long piece of string full of knots of all types some easy to undo some hard but always more knots Take the swan necks, the rust is a major problem, so first lets remove the Crossmember braces, oh dear someone welded the repair patch to the bolt head, but worry not the nuts have undone but to make life interesting the bolts have decided to permanently join to the steel sleeve inside the rubber bush after much grinding, banging, swearing and every thing else, arms removed. why is it I can use grease, then the next issue I have another broken spring I suppose it made it easier to remove the spring When removing the crossmember brace from the crossmember I noticed that the bolt in the lower wish bone did not turn, once again Nothing would shift that bolt only option to grind head off and also the rear then lever out of the crossmember and I ended up with this problem on BOTH sides Spring broken at the top and the bottom Shame the spring on the other side was not broken, I do not like coil springs have heard plenty of horror stories so very carefully clamped and then a jack under the wishbone and all was well New bushes, bolts and lots of coppaslip, lowered springs and an easy job for the next person to remove That is what I mean about string and knots 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim nolan Posted March 3, 2015 Share Posted March 3, 2015 nice work on this !!! thats a decent manta and you are getting on well with the repairs ! gonna be a good solid coupe when your finished ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRAZYDAVE Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Well I have come to a conclusion, working on a Manta is like having a long piece of string full of knots of all types some easy to undo some hard but always more knots Take the swan necks, the rust is a major problem, so first lets remove the Crossmember braces, oh dear someone welded the repair patch to the bolt head, but worry not the nuts have undone but to make life interesting the bolts have decided to permanently join to the steel sleeve inside the rubber bush after much grinding, banging, swearing and every thing else, arms removed. why is it I can use grease, then the next issue I have another broken spring I suppose it made it easier to remove the spring When removing the crossmember brace from the crossmember I noticed that the bolt in the lower wish bone did not turn, once again Nothing would shift that bolt only option to grind head off and also the rear then lever out of the crossmember and I ended up with this problem on BOTH sides Spring broken at the top and the bottom Shame the spring on the other side was not broken, I do not like coil springs have heard plenty of horror stories so very carefully clamped and then a jack under the wishbone and all was well New bushes, bolts and lots of coppaslip, lowered springs and an easy job for the next person to remove That is what I mean about string and knots Typical Manta I had the same problem with swan neck bolts on mine. I set fire to them with the blowtorch to hopefully burn the rubber out and free the bolts from the sleeve but only achieved the former, grinding the bolt head off was the only option in the end. Great work there I'm enjoying reading your updates 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sutty2006 Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Nice to see this one getting some love. I considered it myself.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Your Coupe is taking really good shape and the progress is going strong too. I remembered when it first came on eBay and it was listed as an i200. Where are you now in the restoration? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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