markyspark Posted July 30, 2019 Posted July 30, 2019 The prospect of a retro project was too much to resist after several years of my lads & me egging each other on and cooing at Manta B's... the blind purchase was made, I stode in awe as the hatchback span off trailer with front brakes binding, Shit i thought this is going to be interesting... This is my 86 GTE, bought in January 2018 having been off the road since about 2001 starts & runs having 100k miles on the clock the Manta seems to have been well maintained during its time but despite this the last 17 or so static years since have made things crusty. The guy had enjoyed years of ownership and she certainly gave as good as she got in the trading paint stakes, overall a straight Manta with a bit of rust here & there, very original & complete, just a few dodgy mot patches, should look the part one day... 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. 6 Quote
Pcrosss35 Posted July 30, 2019 Posted July 30, 2019 Good luck with the restoration. Similar situation to me. I can't wait to get mine back on the road. 1 Quote
markyspark Posted July 31, 2019 Author Posted July 31, 2019 Cheers Paul, all the best with yours too, think its going to be a couple of years before it gets together again but its gonna be worth the labour 1 Quote
markyspark Posted July 31, 2019 Author Posted July 31, 2019 Some high lights of last years progress with engine removal(enlisted my dad), stripping of shell, fabrication of rotisserie/ & elevating. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. In hindsight should really have got the underside grit blasted in November but ive kind of got wrapped up in honing welding & fabrication technique! so need to get some areas underside blasted back as its going to be a while before the underside is ready, also would have removed/compressed front springs while suspension was under cars weight as the removal of these was tricky and have read this is the way to do it. 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. Framework constructed to hang the back, links thro to underside with 10mm stud. 1 Quote
markyspark Posted August 3, 2019 Author Posted August 3, 2019 Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Having a busy start to this year didnt really get as much done on the shell as i wanted, got decorating at home done (box ticked) & lads moto engine top end rebuild sorted, then..back to the manta, some progress on other bits ..this is after session in the electrolysis tank/bin..... Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. And now after more time and then a dunk in citric acid as below Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. left in the sun so tree debris also mixed in ! Then a coat of hydrate 80 just in case. though there is no sign of corrosion left, im going to enamel them when ball joints changed. The de rust process is working while you get on with other stuff 😧so thats a definate plus right? 1 1 Quote
Monaco Blue Posted August 4, 2019 Posted August 4, 2019 Looking forward to following this one... 1 Quote
markyspark Posted September 25, 2019 Author Posted September 25, 2019 Hi all, Progress i feel has been slow.. blind sided by the extent of this job really, but trying to remain focused on small areas is difficult... Decided to tackle two floor patches early in the year..first needs revisiting when i do the sills, the second was better as welding "routine" such as cleaning, degreasing & tweaking become "usual prep". I decided to head forwards from rear n/s floor towards the front where lots of corrosion was chilling around the jacking point, this journey was going to meander down the A post behind the corner wheel arch corner"joiner" part then drag me into inner wing repair and small patch behind the headlight area.I am not going any further forward at the moment althought the nose cone needs work.... 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. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. yes maybe the underseal should be stripped first but she has rested for 17 years so any undersurface rust would be visible, stripped back gave bilt hammer until a larger area can be epoxy primered in one go? as its quite slow progress this seemed to be a way to protect small areas short term from flash rust?? or maybe 1k can etch primer is ok?? Nice repair panel from Retro power anyhow! Thanks, Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. 3 Quote
Jessopia74 Posted September 25, 2019 Posted September 25, 2019 Very similar to my black coupe issues. I have started to buy & collect some panel sections from donor cars as The patching required would take a massive amount of time once I dig into the rot. Quote
markyspark Posted September 25, 2019 Author Posted September 25, 2019 Yes makes sense, think we will need to call dial a donor! Quote
Jessopia74 Posted September 25, 2019 Posted September 25, 2019 Are your scuttle to window pillars ok? My Drivers side is completely shot in the corner where rubber sits. Probably will need a part of the scuttle too. Quote
TheRealExile Posted September 26, 2019 Posted September 26, 2019 Carl has a scuttle on Ebay at the moment. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Opel-Manta-GTE-B-Series-1-8-Scuttle-Panel-Good-condition-Cut-Off/123722031470?hash=item1cce68616e:g:UbsAAOSwg35aru~f 1 Quote
markyspark Posted September 27, 2019 Author Posted September 27, 2019 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. Probably be ok with a couple of patch here, Quote
Jessopia74 Posted September 27, 2019 Posted September 27, 2019 That is not bad, looks like a little repai patch and some cure rust will be enough 1 Quote
markyspark Posted May 10, 2020 Author Posted May 10, 2020 busy autumn but some areas progressed ,ok its not ideal but the footwell blob looks strong, felt lie giving up at times but i may have enjoyed doing this bit i admit getting that corner together was a triumph, but im just a rookie. im totally endebted to club build threads & everyone here back. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. some derust on tank 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. cleaning & hydrated 80 D and now looking better think its really pretty good overall, Got box section from work before lock down so need to start the swan necks , built a jig..after instruction, thank you Carl also for chassis rails & lots other parts , nose cone will now be fixed easier off shell. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. now to get the n/schassis leg off & hopefully holes all still good alinment im happy, 2 years ago i bought my Manta in February off the road since 2001 lets see if she is back in use by the 21st anniversary? 7 Quote
MrCarlos Posted May 10, 2020 Posted May 10, 2020 You've made a lovely job of that jig 🙂 Looking forward to seeing it crack on 1 1 Quote
markyspark Posted August 14, 2020 Author Posted August 14, 2020 Lots of cutting etc done since last post, started on n/s removing the corrosion Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. gotta love unpicking welds Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. preloved legs! & swan necks are great fit (i couldnt make them as well!) Once n/s leg was in place i stalled cos the Arb mount was slightly different to the original so consulted my manta sage and then removed o/s cos that one seemed further off the mark, so...as i had accidently bought chassis leg covers last year decided to cut back some more & have a good derust internal forward leg & retain original arb mount with a bit of jiggle and plenty swear words rebuild the forward leg looking sweeter 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. So now to get some time on her again ..cos 3 weeks since last session im afraid, going to return to n?s once have the jacking point in place & leg is tied into the cross centre menber, any thoughts on the need to seam weld all these rebuilt areas? 🤔 4 Quote
Jessopia74 Posted August 14, 2020 Posted August 14, 2020 I stitch seem if it would be beneficial to replacement strength , but as oem is spot, so if it’s cosmetic only, then. spot. Spotting with a mig would be superior too. 1 Quote
H-400 Posted August 15, 2020 Posted August 15, 2020 Looking good! I would spotweld it, if you are going to use the car as a normal street car. I used inox-spray where the overlay is of the metal seem. It conducs the electricity of the mig and is used on projects as ours, and protecs the hidden parts where no paint can go. Looks you used the same rails as I did from Eckhart? 1 Quote
markyspark Posted August 15, 2020 Author Posted August 15, 2020 12 hours ago, H-400 said: Looking good! I would spotweld it, if you are going to use the car as a normal street car. I used inox-spray where the overlay is of the metal seem. It conducs the electricity of the mig and is used on projects as ours, and protecs the hidden parts where no paint can go. Looks you used the same rails as I did from Eckhart? Thankyou Herman, you are correct the eckhard swan necks are big help here, thought having these would bring me help with all front alignment and a definate asset to the car, Upol is probably similar weld trough zinc primer will dismantle n/s & treat before welding up Cheers think im going to need another can! Quote
markyspark Posted April 14, 2023 Author Posted April 14, 2023 Been tinkering when the enthusiasm is there!.Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member...lots still needs doing.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
Jessopia74 Posted April 15, 2023 Posted April 15, 2023 A little progress here and then when you got time us still progressing. All good 😎 2 Quote
cam.in.head Posted April 15, 2023 Posted April 15, 2023 yes this is the key.works for me either way. you can spend whole days doing bits and gets lots acheived but sometimes get a little disheartened by the scale of work to do or you can break everything down into half hour jobs eachday. nipping in the garage after work when you come home to cut out a rustysection for example. the day after clean the area toshiny metal. theday after make a template. theday after make a section. the day after weld it in. the day after grund it smooth. etc etc . all smallish jobs as such in small time sections but at the end of a week you have another area repaired ! all adds up and moves you forward. ive been watching a youtube channel called yorkshire car restoration.watching them work is fascinating and gets you realy into it.sometimes a little too much and makes you want to redo some stuff again !. one lesson i learned is not to try to make a repair piece in one go if its not practical and to make sections that will fit together. maybee thats how you all do it anyway but i used to try to make full repairs from one piece of sheet. another trick ive now got that i wish i had done years ago is to use a small sandblasting gun on any rust which will be a permanent fix rather than the various rust killers which arnt. also (as were all recently discovering) dont be tempted to replace perfectly good original parts that are still ok with "new" spurious aftermarket stuff which tends not to last especially rubber components. 2 Quote
markyspark Posted April 16, 2023 Author Posted April 16, 2023 yes i totally agree, am chipping away at the tasks, just slowed up recently and need to "put some gas under it". My plan is to finish the fuel lines on O/S and then turn the Manta around to access N/S, going to spray the engine bat first when the weather warms up to give some jobs to do in the winter. Next big task is the rear cill and arch area, hoping my son is going to be able to lend a hand welding as ive developed a tremor in my right hand which hinders welding,(i hate welding upside down too!) the next big bit...Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Cheers Guys. 4 Quote
cam.in.head Posted April 16, 2023 Posted April 16, 2023 any step forward is a step in the right direction. to be honest it all fun stuff thou isnt it. and the end result will be worth all the effort. 1 Quote
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