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Shugs increasingly solid Manta A project


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quote:Originally posted by paulmanta

Astra van rear wheel bearings can be used for the front wheel bearings on a B or C manta, The A is different.

If i recall correctly it was about £8 each but i will check.


id="quote">id="quote">

Only 8 quid? Sweet, I'll 'ave some! [8D]

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

sigpic.JPG

I hae a few guid reasons for drinkin’

And yin juist entered ma heid

If a man canna’ drink while he’s livin’

Hoo the Hell can he drink when he’s deid!

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  • 2 weeks later...

This weekends efforts seem somewhat unsatisfying. Don't feel I got a lot done, but done lots of wee things that'd just annoy me later (and one big thing)

First up removed the rear axle using precision instrumentation.

axle.JPG

And the ever sorry looking remains:

shell.JPG

Don't have the key to the petrol cap tho. Is it possible to replace the lock barrel on these things? Managed to get the cap off the old car:

cap.JPG [:D]

And my proud achievement, my first ever weld!

weld1.JPG

and the other side

weld2.JPG

How is it?

(much more practice will be had before I go near the manta)

Also started stipping the axle and due to a non-cooperative shot blaster used good ol' elbow grease and rust gel on some parts.

It was actually condensation in compressor tank I think. Wasn't picking up shot cos air was wet. Which leads me to a warning.

If, for any reason, the tap on the drain valve has snapped and you decide to unscrew the the valve I can highly recommend you pay close attention to the pressure in said tank before beginning.

There is now a huge hold in the garage floor [:D]

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

sigpic.JPG

I hae a few guid reasons for drinkin’

And yin juist entered ma heid

If a man canna’ drink while he’s livin’

Hoo the Hell can he drink when he’s deid!

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  • 4 weeks later...

Threw myself at this near the entire long weekend (minus a trip to kinloss to pick up a gearstick!) and feel like I got bugger all done. :shake

Fired a flap disc onto grinder and attacked the underside of boot floor:

boot2.JPG

Turned attention to bad bit of chassis rail and cut out:

rot.JPG

and cleaned and painted it up

clean.JPG

Started to take old bushes out of suspension bits using the specialist tools at my disposal:

bushout.JPG

[;)]

and the filled inside of trailing arms with cavity wax, stonechipped and bushed:

arm.JPG

(photo before I stuck it in vice to finish it off!)

Little n large:

gearboxes.JPG

5 speed on left. Need to adjust mount so gearstick comes up through transmission tunnel in the right place.

And a wee problem with my good spare upper control arm

holearm.JPG

I don't know if I'll get away with welding it.

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

sigpic.JPG

I hae a few guid reasons for drinkin’

And yin juist entered ma heid

If a man canna’ drink while he’s livin’

Hoo the Hell can he drink when he’s deid!

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Shug you got alot more done than me, my grit blaster was playing up aswell, so I ended up using a drill and wire wheel. Managed to get my swan neck outer skin to align (well sort of, it's slightly twisted), just have to practise welding before I attack the car. Did you phone up about that A series out of Pratical Classic?

Rob

Membership No.5890

**Project resumed**

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Hi Shug, Some nice work going on there over Easter break. You seem to be working on several areas at the same time, like rear floor, front chassis rails and suspension bushes etc. Wish I could do that, as no time is wasted and the car should, in theory, be finished sooner.[8D]

Mal...OMOC #6022 malalsal@aol.com H9OP6tnFJvCgw3kz3xgONVPRv4v9t6WR0060.jpg Start your Manta restoration today........ before it's too late!

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quote:Originally posted by Manta Mal

Hi Shug, Some nice work going on there over Easter break. You seem to be working on several areas at the same time, like rear floor, front chassis rails and suspension bushes etc.


id="quote">id="quote">

I've frequently wondered if I might get more done if I focussed on one thing at a time!

Been taking an age to get bits cleaned up so I've sent crossmember and control arms and bonnet off to local dude to have them professionally blasted. He'll undercoat them for me as well so all I have to do is fire on the stonechip and reassemble!

After a set of springs now and found some discs and possibly a man who'll machine them on the cheap for me so the front axle will hopefully be finished when I'm next at it.

Off to canada for a week so won't get back at the car till may holiday weekend.

Also hope to get the chassis welded up and prep it so I can get some jacking points ordered. Once thats done I can stonechip the underside and finally put the car the right way up again!

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

sigpic.JPG

I hae a few guid reasons for drinkin’

And yin juist entered ma heid

If a man canna’ drink while he’s livin’

Hoo the Hell can he drink when he’s deid!

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You want to try some of the Deox-C for your rusty bits Shug. No blasting needed and they come out looking almost new. You do have to undercoat them yourself of course though.

Cheers,

Joe.

Please log into this site from the Home page folks. It helps to keep it as the first Manta site listed on Google.

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Already used deox-c.

Its not the rust that needs shifted, its old paint and other crud.

Lot quicker this way. When I go back to it, it'll be all ready for me.

Which reminds me, I need yet more dynax 50. And maybe their degreaser too.

You sure you ain't on commission with them? [:D]

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

sigpic.JPG

I hae a few guid reasons for drinkin’

And yin juist entered ma heid

If a man canna’ drink while he’s livin’

Hoo the Hell can he drink when he’s deid!

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  • 4 weeks later...

The bonnet didnae fare too well at the blasters. Loads of wee holes popped up over it.

Either I get stuck in with a leading kit or find a new bonnet.

Boot lid has a few wee holes but on the whole is pretty solid. Suspension parts came up a treat. All sprayed up now. All I need now is to get my discs redrilled and front axle rebuild can be finished!

Picking up the gas for my welder today (gasless mig sucks!)

Weld a few bits on underside, then order the jacking points so they can be welded, then stonechip underside and then I can FINALLY put the car upright again! [:D]

I would show the pics, but darned if I know where I put my phone cable. Again....

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

sigpic.JPG

I hae a few guid reasons for drinkin’

And yin juist entered ma heid

If a man canna’ drink while he’s livin’

Hoo the Hell can he drink when he’s deid!

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Its been one of those days.

So busy all day and when you look back on it....

I sprayed the crossmember with a coat of stonechip.

Exhaust manifold done in yon heat paint thingy stuff

and removed wheel bearings and sleeves from hub and installed new sleeves. (and lets just say my method will NEVER EVER appear in a haynes manual [:D])

I'm overwhelmed by the progress [:(]

Would have helped if local air products dealer, who are open all week, actually handed out gas on a sunday. So there first thing tomorrow and hope the welding department aint on holiday.

Gasless wire sucks. A lot.

[xx(]

On the bright side, I had a cracking bacon roll, or three [:I] on a morning break.

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

sigpic.JPG

I hae a few guid reasons for drinkin’

And yin juist entered ma heid

If a man canna’ drink while he’s livin’

Hoo the Hell can he drink when he’s deid!

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Got my gas, and metal and was already to patch after I trimmed back just abit.

Of course that wee bit showed rust underneath so once I cut the wing off the car (cos someone had glued and welded it on) I find a slightly rotten A pillar. So had to start cutting that out and cleaning it all up and will have to fashion a repair panel.

Got fed up and left it for now. Taking a 3 week break so I don't just burn the thing. [xx(]

My estimated completion date has just gone back by 1 year. This bloody thing will be the death of me. [B)]

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

sigpic.JPG

I hae a few guid reasons for drinkin’

And yin juist entered ma heid

If a man canna’ drink while he’s livin’

Hoo the Hell can he drink when he’s deid!

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Found the phone cable so heres some pics.

Sprayed up all the suspension bits in stonechip:

arms.JPG

Once I cut back old jacking point and prised the wing off this is what I saw:

apillar.JPG

apillar2.JPG

corner.JPG

wingend.JPG

So out came the snips, angle grinder and grit paper:

cut.JPG

So much for my plan to have body finished and axles fitted by end of june. [xx(]

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

sigpic.JPG

I hae a few guid reasons for drinkin’

And yin juist entered ma heid

If a man canna’ drink while he’s livin’

Hoo the Hell can he drink when he’s deid!

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Grief....

I never had the wings off it as the previous owner had welded them in place, it was on my list of stuff to do but i didnt think that ming would be in there.

Still its got to be better than the last shell.......

Mind you the shell i bough has needed lots of floorpan and jacking point welding too, and a load in the chassis rails, old cars like to rust.

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A pile of sheet metal is better than the old shell [:D]

Its not a huge setback actually, was just shattered after 3 straight days at it and feeling like I didn't get much done.

My new shocks and springs turned up today so when I get back from holiday should have the front axle finished off. Assuming I can get the old bushes out of the arms. I think fire is the only way.

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

sigpic.JPG

I hae a few guid reasons for drinkin’

And yin juist entered ma heid

If a man canna’ drink while he’s livin’

Hoo the Hell can he drink when he’s deid!

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  • 3 weeks later...

Well, it was a combination of fire, crafty use of bolts and pipe and a big ******* vice that shifted them thar bushes.

Fortunately the new ones went in easily.

Oooo, this is looking dangerously like progress!

axle.JPG

Just need some rubbers for the ball joints and I can finish it off. Got some vented 256mm discs machined for it and the cavalier calipers fit on rather sweetly.

And does anyone know where this goes?

loom.JPG

Can't say the old car is looking at its best the now tho:

oops.JPG

chicken.JPG

Sometimes I look at it and think it could be saved.... [:o)]

:lmao:

Anyone know how the wiper arms come off? Haynes book of lies method doesn't seem possible.

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

sigpic.JPG

I hae a few guid reasons for drinkin’

And yin juist entered ma heid

If a man canna’ drink while he’s livin’

Hoo the Hell can he drink when he’s deid!

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  • 3 weeks later...

Its a good thing theres a swear filter on this site now....

I managed to completely remove the wing with a crowbar, tin snips and an angle grinder. Some minor damage caused which now needs repair but it was the only way, and as you will see, had to be done.

Chop chop:

wingon.JPG

wingoff.JPG

Now, what could be so bad that I'd have to damage a not cheap wing to get at?

Sit down folks:

apillar.JPG

jackpoint.JPG

apillar2.JPG

light.JPG

innerwing.JPG

wingbrace.JPG

Currently wondering whether to repair, or just replace the whole a pillar and inner wing support bit.

Moving on to something positive:

discs.JPG

A slight improvement!

And a real tangible sign of something resembling progress!

axle.JPG

Thats it all for probably 3 months cos of billing, 4 weddings (no funerals tho!) and going to see asylum seeking albanian leperous lesbians fight off capitalism through the medium of dance.

Or the edinburgh festival as its officially known. [:D]

(honestly tho, there are some good shows on)

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

sigpic.JPG

I hae a few guid reasons for drinkin’

And yin juist entered ma heid

If a man canna’ drink while he’s livin’

Hoo the Hell can he drink when he’s deid!

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  • 1 month later...
quote:Originally posted by Shug

So much for my plan to have body finished and axles fitted by end of june. [xx(]


id="quote">id="quote">

Best make that october I suspect. Its hard going.

Ordered an air cutting tool so should hopefully make things a little quicker.

Still can't get the brake drums off rear axle tho. [V]

What I need most tho, is a decent bit of time to get stuck in for a few days continuously. Fortunately, wedding number 2 is about 3 miles from the car so I'll panic the missus by saying yes, nearly ready when I'm clarted in grease. Nip back in my kilt for a quick blast whilst the photies get done [:D]

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

sigpic.JPG

I hae a few guid reasons for drinkin’

And yin juist entered ma heid

If a man canna’ drink while he’s livin’

Hoo the Hell can he drink when he’s deid!

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  • 2 weeks later...

Suffice to say my suggestion didnae go down well with the missus. Got very very very very little done. Just one thing really.

I actually welded something.

It stayed on.

No blow through holes.

[8D]

From this:

rust.JPG

rust2.JPG

to this:

welded.JPG

Ok, its not much, but I'm still chuffed with my first practical application of a mig welder. The weld wasn't pretty, but darn strong and with an angle grinder and a huge pile of stonechip I made it look semi presentable [:D]

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

sigpic.JPG

I hae a few guid reasons for drinkin’

And yin juist entered ma heid

If a man canna’ drink while he’s livin’

Hoo the Hell can he drink when he’s deid!

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  • 2 months later...

Hmmm, only took another 3 months to get from last post to here (did include a lotta welding tho):

black.JPG

Mmmmm, Dinitrol [:D] (your fault robbie, I was gonna use waxoyl)

Where does this bit go?

oldfront.JPG

And now for another month away from it. Be a miracle if I ever get it finished in the next 2 years [xx(]

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

mcrae.jpg

Be the change you want to see in the world - Gandhi, India

Quit whining and shift yer **** - Shug, Edinburgh

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Dinitrol rocks, use the dinitrol corromax 3125 for up the box sections and the narrow cavitys,

I,ve lost track of the shell now pop a few pics up of what the whole car is looking like, ekkkkkkkk another 2 years, means u'll be mad drunk on the whisky next year again lol

http://www.mantamagic.com

OMOC N,Ireland Rep

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Please dont shoot me it,s only an opinion not a demand

Email robbie @ mantamagic.com (without the spaces)

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quote:Originally posted by Robbie

use the dinitrol corromax 3125 for up the box sections and the narrow cavitys,


id="quote">id="quote">

[:0] Bilt Hamber Dynax s50 I'll have you know.

(you can point the gun away from my head now Joe [;)])

The shell kinda looks like this:

side.JPG

but has a nice shiny black underside and proper jacking points and new chunks of chassis leg. And front valence is stripped, and wing was painfully removed.

Just waiting for delivery from opel GT source then I can finish the rear axle (stripped, blasted, cleaned and primed) and on it goes!

Just need a few bolts to finish front axle as well.

And now for a stupid question:

A coil spring has coils close together at one end, and more spaced out at the other. Which way up does it go?

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

mcrae.jpg

Be the change you want to see in the world - Gandhi, India

Quit whining and shift yer **** - Shug, Edinburgh

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  • 4 weeks later...

Progress!

I built something! And it seems to work!!

axle.JPG

I welded something too. No pictures cos it ain't the prettiest but will be hidden by the wing so who cares!

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

mcrae.jpg

Be the change you want to see in the world - Gandhi, India

Quit whining and shift yer **** - Shug, Edinburgh

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  • 1 month later...

Got a weeee bit done over xmas.

Firstly, turned the thing the right way up!

bare_shell.JPG

Finished building this:

axle.JPG

and this:

frontaxle.JPG

And rear applied with no small amount of swearing and cursing!

rearaxlerear.JPG

rearaxleon.JPG

Next up, had a look at the inner wing.

apost_top.JPG

Shocked to find it was rusty! [:0] [}:)]

prewingbrace.JPG

So chop chop!

halfcut.JPG

halfcut2.JPG

halfcut3.JPG

halfcuthole.JPG

Then clean up and weld:

cleanwing.JPG

patch.JPG

finishedwing.JPG

Now theres no fire risk to tires, on with the front axle:

fronton.JPG

And we have something that looks vaguely like a manta!!!

car2.JPG

Cleaned up nose a bit and heres how it looks at the moment:

car.JPG

Next up will be welding on the rear wheel arches, driver side sill, spare wheel well and couple bitties inside boot and tiny patches in interior.

Engine block to be cleaned up and head going to be re-conditioned and possibly 'fettled' [}:)]

Then a spot of sanding, couple wires and pipes, a seat or two, some glass and a dash of paint and its finished.

Easy, eh? [:D]

Oh, and in case anyone was wondering: no, those aren't the wheels I'm gonna be using. Haven't chosen any yet and those were just handy to hold the thing up!

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OMOC #5988

hmackay at opel-manta.com

mcrae.jpg

Be the change you want to see in the world - Gandhi, India

Quit whining and shift yer **** - Shug, Edinburgh

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