294 replies to this topic

[Shug]

Blast off!
Got the sandblaster up and running at the weekend and had a go at the underside.

Nice and satifying to see clean metal on a Manta []


However, not all was rosy. I think the jacking point needs attention!


Chassis rail beside it needs patched as well.
One thing sandblasting does do, is reveal all manner of wee pin holes.
[]
Gonna take a while to sort all them.

I also decided to continue stripping the old shell. If you are of a sensitive nature to Mantas in distress, look away now!

First up had to decide how to get car lifted to get front crossmember out. Body not solid enough to jack. So. . . . .

Every manta owner should have one of these tools. Invaluable! []
Got the whole front bit off, including a 2 foot section of chassis rail where it connects to trailing arm cos it gave way before the bolt! [:0]
This left us with this:


Then wondered how to raise rear end. Se moved blocks back to under the middle of the car. Problem was, rear was heavier than front and so wouldn't see saw. So......


[]

On a three week break from it now. Overtime to fund the thing to be done!

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OMOC #5988

But I'm a name, not a number dammit!

[Devil Fish]

that last picture looks like a nasty accident!

South Wales Rep
OMOC 5643

[Robbie]

watch u don't damage that good bumper on the front []

http://www.mantamagic.com
OMOC N,Ireland Rep

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OMOC 5706

[Shug]

The good bumper has a 3 inch diameter hole rusted through it on other side and plenty rust spots []
The front cross member and arms seem to be, dirt aside, in good nick.
Steering rack still shiny and good!

Got wee bit more to do to underside then welding time!
Then half a year of sanding, filling, and sanding some more in preparation for priming.
Little confused about the variety of paints available. Some need lacquer, others dont. Some are 100 quid for 5 litres others 300!
How much paint does a Manta need?
So many questions.
Will be getting someone else to do topcoat, but I think I'll be doing it in primer and prepping it. Should help bring the cost down.

Oh yes, the car is sitting in a nice secluded area 20 miles north of Inverness []
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OMOC #5988

But I'm a name, not a number dammit!

[MANTAMAN]

One exists already,its just off the A30 near Penzance in Cornwall.

Brown tourist signs will but put up soon directing visitors to 'THE CORNISH MANTA SANCTURY'

People will be able to visit and see each Manta in its own container,demonstrations of the working ones will be made,they will be able to visit the workshop to see them under repair,the entrance fee and donations will go toward the upkeep of the species.

I'm sure it will become another popular stop on the south west tourist trail!

I've got piles of all sorts of Manta parts,i might even have something you need!
surplus parts bought,whole cars considerd. M/B 07947 640505

OMOC Member number 2658F
Ian Virco,area rep,Beds Herts and North Bucks.

[paulmanta]

*looks up and sighs*


The only thing is that it is true.....apart from the bit about charging entry, hmmmm.....

seriously though folks, if your on holiday my Manta sanctuary is always open for a cup of tea and a chat.

-----empty spaces, what are we living for ?-----

[Exclusive Opel]

[]



OMOC 5866

[Shug]

It followed me home!
[]


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OMOC #5988

But I'm a name, not a number dammit!

[C476 XNX]

Hi Paul,
I can vouch for that. Its strange Penzance has become an even more attractive holiday destination since the Manta sanctuary sort of marked itself on the map. Eden project nice, Tate St Ives, and the Barbarah Hepworth museum, but then again if you like your mantas it should be top of the list. Recently the new destination is Bury St Edmunds - Simon's workshop, with these cars you get around, I'd never even been to East Anglia. Leicestershire for some reason I'm never out of the place, most recent run to pick up a rear screen. Scotland next, which I think is where the car was trailered home from by Callum and Nate about four years ago.
Then there is Ireland still hoping to make the Easter weekend.
Rambling a bit now, starting to miss the car, but its tucked away having the best Christmas a manta can have, a bare metal respray and complete fettle, new engine as well.
Still haven't been spotted yet, I thought the M4, M25 and M11 on the way down would get get some sightings, have to wait now for the return trip.
cheers
Matthew
Have a cracking Christmas Manta bods




member 5811 i200 coupe

[paulmanta]

That pic of the sign posts is absolutely brilliant, my wife and i both love that and i have printed it out to pin on the workshop wall.

[][][][8D][8D][8D]

-----empty spaces, what are we living for ?-----

[Shug]

Moving swiftly back on topic []

This christmas I will mostly be dismantling the axles, and blasting more of the underside (that black goop is stupidly tough!)
Got a shiny new phone with a 3.2 megapixel camera and a flash so hopefully the pictures will be a lot better.

Just one thing tho.
Its christmas. Its scotland (the highlands to be exact)
If I may paraphrase Oates:
"I'm just going out to my Manta. I may be a while"

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OMOC #5988

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!

[Robbie]

Good to see you cracking on with the car Shug, you will have a big smile on your face when you get the underneath finished, []and the nicely painted rear axle and front crossmember back in [^]

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OMOC 5706

[Shug]

This week has been the "why the **** will you not work?" week.
After enduring a variety of failing devices at christmas, I go to my manta.
Time for some blasting thinks I. Fire up compressor, start blasting, hose falls off hopper.
Half hour fixing it back up and the compressor won't start.
Turn my attention to something else, and spend ages trying to remove a bolt and eventually give up and cheat by swapping the socket set for an angle grinder!
Eventually get old coil spring off and turn my attention back to the underside. Get compressor running again then shot blaster stops picking up shot.
Then the compressor stops working.
So out comes the drill with wire brush attachments.

Cut out dodgy jacking point, ground away rust with drill.
I think I need to completely cut out a section of chassis leg and weld in new bit.
Discovered some more small holes.
Been on the look out for a nice mig welder in january sales so as soon as I pick one up, assuming the welder works!, it'll be full steam ahead again!

Can't wait til the underside is finished! [!]

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OMOC #5988

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!

[paulmanta]

This is the thing with restoration, My workshop needs about an hours worth of tidying before I can even get to the car, the car underneath the A then needs to be moved out and then the ramp lowered and work can start, then after you do a few hours including lost tools/mig out of gas/cup of tea/fag/chat with people who come in and say "oohh, whats that then?" its time to pack it all up again, another hour gone there.
Total time taken to work on car 3 maybe 4 hours.
Faffing time 3 maybe 4 hours.
ahh. i love it.

by the way i have found the chassis plates to that shell !! i took then off for safe keeping and forgot till i found them by accident.


-----it's lonely here,
there's no one left to torture-----

   ---paulnewport "at" breathe.com---

[Shug]

Well, back in edinburgh now and got pitifully little done over the holiday. []
Heres a couple of random uninteresting pictures anyway.

Front axle off.
And yes, that is a bit of chassis rail attached to trailing arm! (it gave way before the nut did []





Off with its 'ead! Took rocker cover off to blast it. Some of them there rockers seem rather loose.


Before

After


Clean solid chassis. [8D]
Every manta owners dream []

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OMOC #5988

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!

[Robbie]

Hard to beat a big tank of Gas and a heater [] The underneath is looking good Shug great to see it nice and clean, Rust free,the front xmember will look loads better if it gets the sandbalster at it []

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OMOC 5706

[Shug]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Robbie

the front xmember will look loads better if it gets the sandblaster at it []

---

My thoughts exactly. If I can get the bloody thing working! []
Despite the manky appearance, the springs, xmember and upper/lower arms are in good condition.
By the way, how the hell do you get the anti roll bar out of the lower control arms?



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OMOC #5988

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!