mantamike Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 (edited) just a little Intro, I'm Mike, live in The Netherlands and have been tinkering around RWD opels since just before I got my driving license. Seeing that my 16v coupe has been sitting dormant for a while I still had the itch to have an other oparational manta again and as I have a soft spot for the Hatchback variety I kept searching the interwebz for a suitable car. After viewing 2 other hatchbacks wich were either a bit pricey or rusty I found this mancona on the web and thought ooh yes I like asconas too so that's a good combo! After viewing the car and seeing it was quite good rust wise and we agreed on a good price I bought the car. Here's some pics of when we picked it up. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. The car had a few issues which I sorted out , placed a thermostat, new voltage regulator in the dash, put a dark wide mesh grille in, bolted the passenger seat down(UK driver seat) put some lowering springs in the back to level out the stance and put wheels on it with the correct offset. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Because the paint was flaking off in several places and there was different colours everywhere I decided to paint roller the car in 2K paint. Colour is going to be like this golf but high gloss, colour is RAL 7016.Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Fitted my banded steeliesProject images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Got a nice ascona sport front spoiler at an auto jumble, which in combo with GTE sideskirts and three piece rear spoiler should make the car look a bit more sporty. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Seeing the banded steelies fit nicely I decided to refurb these. The went in to an ultrosonic bath and then blasted twice, once with steelgrit then with sand.Just out the tub: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. And 2 coats of primer: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. After that some silver Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. And bought a nice black rear seat from a good local manta parts supplier .Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Then some black on the wheel centers Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Bought some bargain H4 headlights, gonna spray the plastic insides black, take the orange lenses out and put orange bulbs in. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Popped some rubber on the wheels, needed some assistance from Mr Brakecleaner and Mr Lighter Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. After that not a lot of progress, but bought some nice recaros Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Again not a lot of progress but bought some stuff, a welder for the couple of holes that it's got and a decent rad becaus there's a small 1600 rad in there at the moment Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Steelies are on and a different bonnet as the ascona diesel one had quite a bit of rust on it, hoping to smere some paint on it soon. Piccies: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Slight change of plan, going to touch up the bad bits with simular colour paint and weld some bits in and place the rad because I was going on a tour with the dutch manta club. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Welded up some holes and took the interior out for the welding. Takes a bit of getting used to with the settings on the welder. Rotten Battery tray Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Big hole Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Whaheey, found beer tokens under the carpet! Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Fitting some steel Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. No more hole Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. So got out some more rust, it's not the most pretty repair but I'm learning and at least it's solid again. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Inside of the headlights in black. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Finally smered some new paint on, colours not exactly right but better than it was. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. And some pics of the colour in the daylight: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member.Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Didn't do a lot else this summer other than tour outings a couple of car meets and to youngtimer vestival in gemany and 45 years of manta at the dutch manta club. I've finally got myself a workspace for the car and a lift so i can get the car inside and start the further repairs on it and it's new colour. Here's a pic of the car when I was at the youngtimer vestival in Germany Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Found something nice on the interwebz the other day: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. It's a nice 2.2E, but only the forth conrod bearing had gone on it, so for al the conrods the crankshaft had to be grinded to 0,75 and for al the main bearings to 0,25. The forth cilinder con rod had also turned slightly oval so thats needs to be made round again. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. It's also going to need a rebore and new pistons, further plans are to use the cilinder head and other bits of the 2 liter and I want to run a 2.4 motronic injection system on it. Cleaned out the new shed after doing up the hous, got the mancona in and tested the ramp. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Edited December 19, 2015 by mantamike 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Abbott Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 Fantastic. Another Mancona hatch Very nice 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANTAMAN Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 Hi Mike, welcome to the Forum, We spoke with each other at the gate of the OMON Concours at Hoogenweg this year, I am the English Guy with the Gold 1.8 Hatch. got this picture of you arriving - Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. I do like those Banded 1.8 GT steel wheels, i think you should stay with the green colour of the rear half, individual car in an individual colour. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantamike Posted December 20, 2015 Author Share Posted December 20, 2015 I remember speaking to you Ian, thanks for the foto. The colour on the rear half is ok, but its not completely my cup of tea. And the wheels came off a cavalier mk3 or an astra mk3 I think because they are 14 inch, so not the standard 1.8 13's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANTAMAN Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 And the wheels came off a cavalier mk3 or an astra mk3 I think because they are 14 inch, so not the standard 1.8 13's That is clever, front wheel drive offset is wrong for Mantas, ET49 and Mantas need around ET30, so when you get them 'Banded' this can be adjusted. Banding and offset adjustment opens up a lot of possibilties with various steel wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantamike Posted December 21, 2015 Author Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) Yep it does, there's a fellow over here who has got a 400 rep drift car with 5 stud axle's and he's got banded 17 inch insignia steelies on it. But with my wheels the ET stayed sort of FWD like but because the wheels got widened to 8J, the ET more or less works out, they do still go quite a bit inward of the wheel arches Edited December 21, 2015 by mantamike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantamike Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 (edited) Right, sod the 2.2, I've stuck something else in there: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. just kidding just got a new rocker cover for my senator and put it on there for laughs. not much else done but stripping it down for the bits that need welding and for the paintjob. washerbottle area is quite rusty. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. A panels look alright minor rust wehere washer bottle is, other side's a bit worse but still pretty intact for manta standards. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Edited January 5, 2016 by mantamike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantamike Posted January 28, 2016 Author Share Posted January 28, 2016 It's a manta so it's got?? Thats right! Rust! A posts some holes Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Sills have been repairdd with a sheet metal plate and lots of filler, so these will need to be replaiced. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Doors and rear side windows out. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantamike Posted January 28, 2016 Author Share Posted January 28, 2016 Found out the car has a serious case of double sill syndrome, a previous owner just sh*t some sheet metal over the rotten sill leaving the old one underneath to rot further. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Got myself a spotweld drill, works like a charm! Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Disconnected everything, lifted the ramp and rolled the job lot out from underneath, the swan necks need some attention and I also had some clutch issues so this was the quickest way for both. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantaray Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 That is how I remove all Manta engines. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 19 hours ago, mantaray said: That is how I remove all Manta engines. Then you're exceptionally lucky as I can never get the seized chassis rail bolts out... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantamike Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 3 hours ago, Snowy said: Then you're exceptionally lucky as I can never get the seized chassis rail bolts out... I was dreading those too! But luckily this time mine were covered in some coppergrease so they popped oit a treat! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantamike Posted February 1, 2016 Author Share Posted February 1, 2016 Welded in a temporary cross brace in the door opening for strenght when the sill comes off Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. And some fresh sills Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantamike Posted February 3, 2016 Author Share Posted February 3, 2016 Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Lots of rot and Half AN INCH!! of filler on the wheel wells, so I've ordered new panels for that too. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Abbott Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Rust is the enemy, not filler Nice work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantamike Posted February 5, 2016 Author Share Posted February 5, 2016 But the dodgy repair underneath the filler is whats bothering me, better to properly repair the car now, than to have do more welding in a couple of years. The paint had already cracked where the filler was really thick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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