Spitandpolish Posted July 3, 2016 Share Posted July 3, 2016 After a year of looking out for a car, i finally took the plunge and bought my first Manta for over 25 years. Looks solid overall, but there are a few areas that will need some welding pretty soon. The car is very original and I plan to keep it that way, or at least so it can easily be returned to original. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robah Posted July 3, 2016 Share Posted July 3, 2016 Is this the low mileage car ex-Military owner car from Ebay? Very nice purchase anyhow 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitandpolish Posted July 3, 2016 Author Share Posted July 3, 2016 Yes, that's the one. It's been off the road for a long time and will need some mechanical work as well as some sections of the chassis rails welding. This is out of my league as a repair so I will need to find a local specialist. When it arrives next week, I will pop a few more photos up. Looking forward to getting started. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robah Posted July 3, 2016 Share Posted July 3, 2016 You never know there are some talented Manta Owners in your neck of the woods who maybe able to point you in the right direction. Very nice and looking tidy car welcome back to Manta ownership. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapierdave Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 Hi Mark Glad to see you've got yourself a Manta, how bad are the swanecks ? try to put some piccies up soon of the areas that need attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitandpolish Posted July 4, 2016 Author Share Posted July 4, 2016 Thanks Dave, the car will be here on Tues next week. Will get some decent photos up ASAP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitandpolish Posted July 13, 2016 Author Share Posted July 13, 2016 Car finally arrived yesterday, now in its new home: 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. Priority is to get the car through MOT, and having the chance to jack it up and have a better look, to worst looking areas are the front chassis rails, from the inner wing to the bumper 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 swan necks have some blistering, but don't look as bad as some I have seen: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. There are a couple of isolated blisters on the straight sections of the rails, but the floor looks good. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. The sills are OK except for the offside outer, which has a proper hole in it about 6" long Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. There is also a hole in the inner wing that will need to be dealt with, that's roughly 2 inches across. So, it's another rusty Manta. But it's my rusty Manta! Other than that the car is complete, very tidy and original, comes with about a dozen MOT cents to verify 33k miles from new with one owner. I need to get the welding done first, so any advice on whether the extent of rust here is repairable or whether new sections should go in would be welcome? (Sorry about the photo quality, iPhone or iPad seems the easiest way to post here.) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRealExile Posted July 13, 2016 Share Posted July 13, 2016 3 hours ago, Spitandpolish said: it's another rusty Manta. But it's my rusty Manta! Well said Retropower have the sills so far as I'm aware and some of the chassis repair panels, better to renew where you can than patch if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitandpolish Posted August 7, 2016 Author Share Posted August 7, 2016 A slow start to this project, partly due to the search for a local welder. Hopefully have that sorted now for early Sept. a quick refurb of the inside of the new bonnet, before fitting. 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...
robah Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 38 minutes ago, Spitandpolish said: A slow start to this project, partly due to the search for a local welder. Hopefully have that sorted now for early Sept. a quick refurb of the inside of the new bonnet, before fitting. 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. Can I ask what materials you have used for the bonnet? as the heat shield and adhesive backing has come of mine and I was looking at tidying it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitandpolish Posted August 8, 2016 Author Share Posted August 8, 2016 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.I used the heat insulation below, it's thicker than Dynamat, with about 8mm of neoprene self adhesive backing. The backing is however a bit crap, and the surface metal needs to be very clean. I rust treated the surface rust with Bilt Hamber, primed with zinc and used a couple of rattle cans in Polar white. I then made paper templates as the 1m sheet is barely enough. I also used Evostik spray on both surfaces, let it tack for 5 mins then stuck it down. It's not going anywhere! 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitandpolish Posted August 28, 2016 Author Share Posted August 28, 2016 (edited) So slow progress, but i have now found a welder / bodyshop and all booked in for first week of October. In the meantime lots of bits to tidy 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. Amazingly the car has the original cardboard radiator panels 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 August 28, 2016 by Spitandpolish Typo 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitandpolish Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 The car went off for a little welding today and a repaint of the inner o/s wing and battery tray. Before it went the carpets came out to reveal the condition of the floor: 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. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Very pleased with the condition, just one hole the size of a 2p coin, in the outer corner of the passenger footwell. hopefully it should be back in a week, with its first MOT in years Before sending it off, i needed to change the Thermo Time switch, which was faulty. So changed all of the sensors as a precaution 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 TTS was not easy to find. The reproduction part numbers are: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. The technical differences for the three types available seem limited, but presumably mean used ones can be taken from a range of other makes. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapierdave Posted October 1, 2016 Share Posted October 1, 2016 Glad to see its all coming together Mark. Can you PM me your email address & i'll set you up on the area mailing list for meets & events. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitandpolish Posted October 22, 2016 Author Share Posted October 22, 2016 Good news and bad news at the same time does seem to be standard with old cars.... On the positive, the car pssed its first MOT for years, with no advisories and the welding work is to a high standard, photos to follow. Even more positive, drove it home for the first time, dives really well, stopped to fill up with fuel on the way. Arrived home to find this: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. So, can these tanks be restored, or is it easier to replace it all together? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitandpolish Posted October 22, 2016 Author Share Posted October 22, 2016 Bit depressing, its still going! Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Anyway, the inner wing and battery tray used to look like this 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. Now we are looking like this 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...
Danny D114BCW Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 They can be reconditioned, the breathers on the tanks perish and snap off although I can't exactly make out the issue with yours. We do refurbished tanks fully guaranteed too but we need your old tank though. Danny 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitandpolish Posted October 22, 2016 Author Share Posted October 22, 2016 Thanks Danny, i need to drop the tank when I can, and have a closer look. It turns out that the 5mm breather line has fallen away completely around most of the tank, this is what I currently have left: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. When the tank comes out I will know if I need a refurbished one on exchange. Can you give me an idea of cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robah Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Looks like a case of the modern fuel eating at the rubber pipes. I had something similar on my fuel lines in which I had to replace them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny D114BCW Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 drop the tank and rust treat it etc if it's solid to prevent future headaches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCarlos Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 I've a recon tank in stock ready to go , £250 exchange plus postage charges 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitandpolish Posted October 24, 2016 Author Share Posted October 24, 2016 17 hours ago, MrCarlos said: I've a recon tank in stock ready to go , £250 exchange plus postage charges Thanks Mr Carlos - Will drop the tank and inspect first, and take it from there! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitandpolish Posted November 13, 2016 Author Share Posted November 13, 2016 So, managed to get the tank out of the car, after a bit of a battle with it and syphoning several gallons of fuel out.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. Just looks like every hose is perished to nothing. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. The major problem seems to be the sender, which was working fine, but the wiring tag broke off during removal. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Does anyone know if these are still available? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantadoc Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 (edited) Deleted Edited October 15, 2017 by mantadoc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANTAMAN Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 If the little brazed on 'L' shape pipes have not rusted off and the there is no other corrsion, particulary where the tank straps go under the tank then you can give your tank a clean up and paint it then put new breather pipes on it. The sender can be repaired with it removed from the tank, the tag that broke off is the earth so another could be welded on or even make a tag that is bolted on by one of the bolts that holds the sender in. I did the same for my Gold hatch tank a few years ago - 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. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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