Jessopia74 Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 Who put a tow bar on that car 🙈 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted May 30, 2020 Author Share Posted May 30, 2020 I did, to do this: 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...
Jessopia74 Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 And roof bars! Sorry Herman, but that’s just criminal 🙈😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanMc Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 Good stuff Herman - what are your plans for the truck? How is retirement treating you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted May 30, 2020 Author Share Posted May 30, 2020 Yes I know Jess, but when I didn't need the towbar I just dismantled the hook of the towbar and fitted an oval plate with a Belgian "B" on it so it was hidden. Gonna rebuild the truck, lowered the roof 18cm and looking for a one piece aluminium new roof skin. Must fit a new floor and reinforce it to fit a car in it. So this will be something like a RV truck/service truck. The truck is allowed to load 2000kg so it must be possible. Used to drive these trucks so this one will go just fine: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Retirement is still strange for me, worked always with deadlines cause those tanks had to be ready... Thanks for asking Ian. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessopia74 Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 17 minutes ago, H-400 said: Retirement is still strange for me, worked always with deadlines cause those tanks had to be ready... Thanks for asking Ian. Well if you are bored, maybe you want to take up a hobby 😂 like manta gearbox overhauling ? 🤣🤣 (PM me the address lol) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buz Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 11 hours ago, H-400 said: I did, to do this: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Hi Herman. I just usually put some paving slabs in the boot of my car to get some weight on the back axle 😜 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted May 30, 2020 Author Share Posted May 30, 2020 Hi Buz, yes it gives me a safe feeling in the winter, frozen roads? Bikes on the towbar!😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted May 31, 2020 Author Share Posted May 31, 2020 Hi everybody. Done some work on the front wings, the left side had some rust cause of stonechip but after repainting I noticed the colourcode was completely wrong! Used paintcolour of a silvermetallic Opel colour from the late 80's and looked ok on the coloursamples. 10 years ago the car had a total respray but yet I noticed the colour is the same as my 2009 Insignia. So again some sanding but this time I will buy the right colour. And I started with the other wing, cleaning and let it dry under the sun so my lovely wife sended me this pic with her phone: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Think you all can translate her comment... ( Gardendecoration) Have a nice weekend! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessopia74 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted June 4, 2020 Author Share Posted June 4, 2020 Doing a lot of bits but they don't show any progress, trying to fit the "400" boot spoiler but there is always some spaceon one side. So gonna use small wedge with a hole on the inside between the screw and the body to force it to the right direction. Looking for electricity to feed the electrical fan with a relay, switched by the front fog light switch. Some stone chip protection on the inside of the wings: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Sprayed and varnished some pieces that needed attention, this spot was rustfree (??) but to check it out you need to hurt the car: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. It's beginning to look as a car! The front outer lights have some particals of corrosion fallen from the alu bulbholder, blastet some away with air. Would washing with destilated water be a good idea? Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Grts, Herman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessopia74 Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Looking nice Herman 👍 I have flushed headlights out in the past with deionised/distillate water that you can buy for battery top up, but they was much bigger light units with larger openings. I used to dry best I could with gentle heat with hairdryer, then pack in a sealed box with dry rice to help get the remaining moisture out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted June 4, 2020 Author Share Posted June 4, 2020 Thanks Jess, got a canister with 5 liter destilated water in my garage. Gonna try that. And yet I'm 2 months retired and I need the brake tester (on the rolls) and that thing to check the adjustment of the lightbeam😁. Should I sign in again? Think they won't let me, too old... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessopia74 Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 15 minutes ago, H-400 said: Thanks Jess, got a canister with 5 liter destilated water in my garage. Gonna try that. And yet I'm 2 months retired and I need the brake tester (on the rolls) and that thing to check the adjustment of the lightbeam😁. Should I sign in again? Think they won't let me, too old... I just used to make my own pattern board using some white backed cont-board, surprising how good a job you can do with it. You can probably do the same with a whiteboard if you have one, that way you can change the pen lines to suit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted June 6, 2020 Author Share Posted June 6, 2020 (edited) One of the secrets of a wide body "400" is how the Capri indicators are fitted. I am a member of the German "Opel400Club" so some members have a wide body "400". Looked under the front spoiler/bumpers but it is hard to look at that place. So more than 25 years ago I fitted them as you can see this way: Fitted them under the screw that holds the inner metal frame and on the other side I fitted a bolt and made that on the outside invisible with filler. Used also some construction glue, the inside. You can see I used original Opel paperweights on the grills I gleud in: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. And the outside: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. And the car is back on his wheels! Some pics of the rear where I fitted original GM/Opel shocks with air suspension. Was a rare option but you can buy them also from monroe: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. And up: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Drove the car outside to check the clutch and brakes but noticed a sucking sound when I used the brakes. When I stopped the engine the sound was after some pushing away so I was thinking there is something wrong with the brake-servo. Then I realised the bottom side of the dash is removed, also the covers around the steering collumn and the fuses... Maybe I am imagine things... Have all a nice weekend! Edited June 7, 2020 by H-400 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted June 9, 2020 Author Share Posted June 9, 2020 Fitted a damping mat on the floorpan, the insulating mat is after 38 year looking as a patchwork. Some pieces are fixed with insulation of trucks etc.: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. The carpets on their place, repairing a kickpanel and wanted to fit the rather new pioneer stereo. Gets power on all the needed wires, mass also but stayed dead. Checked the fuse behind the Din-plug but was good. So I tried the old stereo of my Vectra and that one worked ok, one speaker is failing but that can not be difficult: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Today I had enough of wires and looms, sealed the thin gap so I I hope the back of the lights stay dustfree: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. The GSI has got a face again 😄, had to use shims between the brackets of the frontbumper. The gap between the bumper and the wing was left 3mm and right more than 10mm, and fiddled a bit with the black trim to let it look acceptable. Repeaters work also: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. With closed bonnet, needs also some adjustment: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Have a nice evening all, Herman 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
®evo03 Posted June 9, 2020 Share Posted June 9, 2020 Herman, this may interest you, when taking a break from work, hrs and hrs of reading! https://historicdb.fia.com/cars/list?search=opel manta 400 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted June 9, 2020 Author Share Posted June 9, 2020 Thanks for the link, had that info of the M-400 and A-400 but there is a lot more to find! 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
®evo03 Posted June 11, 2020 Share Posted June 11, 2020 You can download the homologation papers, didnt know manta 400 rear chassis section at rear springs where raised, i have done this to a nanta without knowing it was done before! Weird eh! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted June 15, 2020 Author Share Posted June 15, 2020 I use long bolts to fit the front bumper, they are easy to find with a spanner If you need to remove the bumper. I can recommend that when your Manta needs to be towed away: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Checking for rust, spraying some Dinitrol after fitting the skirts: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Painted the trim that surrounds the windows, and fitting them: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Cleaning before putting the rear window in the car: 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 needed that special tool to put the plastic trim into the rubber, made it myself with thick steel wire and a vise-grip: Grts, Herman 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 Had some work on the Corsa of my son, one of his friends slammed the door and the glass fell down. So my son was rather angry, and when we opened the doorcard and I said him we would solve this problem in the morning. I showed him how to fix something like that, he workes in a Mercedes garage but some times he needs his old man... He always wanted an oldtimer for himself. I said to him you can drive the GSI when I take the "400" to meetings and have together fun with those two Manta's. So this is what he bought: A Nissan Sunny Coupé '88! He even asked me to give my opinion so what can a dad do in this case? That car looks ok, the chassisrails also and the interieur is as it's just out of the showroom. Engine runs nice and the car has got 120K's on the klock... Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. The GSI: The interieur is back in the car, looks nice: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Fitted the widscreen wiper engine and wipers and some other things: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. The rear bumper on it's place, together with the black thing (?) between the rear lights: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Did this years ago and also with my "400", cutting the rear "400"bumper so it doesn't touch the body: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Grts, Herman 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanMc Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 She is looking great Herman - fantastic work as always! I like your Son's new car too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 Thanks Ian, the car had a complete paintjob about 10 years ago. Still looks good but has got some minor "patina" after that time. And my son is happy with the Nissan, needs MOT so made an appointment together with the Manta. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRealExile Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 I had a Sunny when I was a student, paid 80 quid for it, lasted me a full year and didn't spend a penny on it....bought a newer car (mk2 Cav) which failed on me right away, couldn't figure out what was up so got the mechanic out who spotted the Sunny and asked if I wanted rid... he gave me 80 quid off my bill 😁 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 This was my first car, beginning of the eighties! Was already in the army and also a spanner monkey but I solled it cause it spend more time in my workshop and not on the road: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. A Datsun Silvia! Next foto of today: We both father & son working in our cars, I noticed the Nissan has got a full independed suspension at the rear but has got some flyrust so work has got to be done before MOT! ( I took the pic, you'r all looking at my son, I'm not that thin anymore 😄) Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Gonna use the upper switch of the front fog lights to activate the electrical fan in front of the radiator. That will be used to switch a relais on that will power the fan with the source of the electrical heated rear window. Hope my English is good enough to explain... Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Fitted 10 years ago a 21W bulb in the light cluster as a rear fog light but this time we go LED: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Everything works but not happy with the dim ligts. Cleaned them with deminerilised water but the corrosion looks too bad, hope I can find a solution but more about this later: Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Enjoy your weekend, grts Herman 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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