Exclusive Opel Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 [] OMOC 5866 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shug Posted December 7, 2006 Author Share Posted December 7, 2006 It followed me home! [] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OMOC #5988 But I'm a name, not a number dammit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C476 XNX Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulmanta Posted December 7, 2006 Share Posted December 7, 2006 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 ?----- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shug Posted December 23, 2006 Author Share Posted December 23, 2006 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" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie Posted December 23, 2006 Share Posted December 23, 2006 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 [^] http://www.mantamagic.com OMOC N,Ireland Rep The New OMOC Northern and Southern Ireland Forum http://www.vxopel.com/phpBB/ id="blue"> OMOC 5706 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shug Posted December 29, 2006 Author Share Posted December 29, 2006 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! [!] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulmanta Posted December 29, 2006 Share Posted December 29, 2006 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--- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shug Posted January 3, 2007 Author Share Posted January 3, 2007 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 [] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 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 [] http://www.mantamagic.com OMOC N,Ireland Rep The New OMOC Northern and Southern Ireland Forum http://www.vxopel.com/phpBB/ id="blue"> OMOC 5706 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shug Posted January 3, 2007 Author Share Posted January 3, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Robbie the front xmember will look loads better if it gets the sandblaster at it [] id="quote">id="quote"> 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? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 That can be a pure $h1t of a job to do, there is a big bolt that screws into the ARB, if it siezed you will have to take the xmember apart and plonk it in a bucket of diesel for ages, to get it loosened, I have had problems with these a few times. When you get the bolts out of either side sometimes the old rubber bush is siezed into the arm. If this happens you can burn them out, do it outside lol it gets smokey. then you can get it all blasted and nicely painted up ready for the rebuild. [] http://www.mantamagic.com OMOC N,Ireland Rep The New OMOC Northern and Southern Ireland Forum http://www.vxopel.com/phpBB/ id="blue"> OMOC 5706 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shug Posted January 3, 2007 Author Share Posted January 3, 2007 Got one bolt out but my special tool, called I believe 'big ****ing hammer' does not appear to do the job of shifting the bush. My improvised bush removal tool (normally used as a bearing puller []) wasn't much help. The other side bolt is seized in good and proper. Hammered a socket on and used the biggest wrench I have and it wouldn't budge [] Its been soaked in wd40 profusely. I have to confess that motivation is waning because of the tedium of the underside. Got new panels delivered the other day, so when I get my hands on a welder I'll no doubt be spurred on again! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulmanta Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 The progress is looking good, you have to keep going on it now as you are doing so well. As for the big anti roll bar bush bolt that will not move i found that a decent amount of heat helped loosen it, i got one bolt red hot and it came out no worries, of course the bush melted as well but then I wanted to burn that out anyway. -----it's lonely here, there's no one left to torture----- ---paulnewport "at" breathe.com--- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manta Mal Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 id="size3">Hi Shug, I recently joined OMOC and new to this forum. Just read the whole of your Manta rebuild to date. I bet your pleased now on making the decision (prompted by other members) to go with a more restorable shell, rather than the 95% rusted origional. Or should that be 99% rusted!!!. Interesting to see the body shell turned on its side, without the aid of those roll over bars that clamp to the wheel hubs. Not seen that before with Manta 'A'. Was there any damage to the sill or wheel arch by doing this? as the shell seems to be just on timber posts? I have the front of my 'A' hoisted up to the roof of my garage, but can only get to half of the floor pan. Will have to turn it round to restore the rear end. Am thinking....On its side would be far better. My Manta build is to a similar stage to yours, will post the progress soon. Cheers....Mal OMOC #6022 Start your Manta restoration today.... before its too late! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shug Posted January 8, 2007 Author Share Posted January 8, 2007 Its actually sitting on a pile of cardboard thats on the timber. The shell doesnt weigh a huge amount and seems ok on its side. Replacing the sill anyway. There is no rear wheel arch on it at the moment. I still reckon the first is savable tho [] Just needs a weeeeeee bit of welding and a rub down with wet n dry [] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shug Posted February 3, 2007 Author Share Posted February 3, 2007 More progress! No pics, unless you really want to see paint drying [] Got sandblaster working again and carried on the underside. Almost finished half the underside but progress is a bit quicker after remembering I had a tin of nitromors [:I] Got fuel tank off old shell and its a little rusty in patches, no too bad, immaculate in others and has one wee hole which I hope will repair on a corner. Health and safety folk stop reading now!!! I used an angle grinder to help remove bolts and pipes from fuel tank [}] Feelin a lot more positive about it all now as I have to confess I was starting to feel a bit down about it all. But now I've got stuck back in, all is well again! My aim is to have it ready for scone in september. I think Billing is a tad optimistic, tho if I make it there with this manta, I demand car of the show just for making it! [)] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OMOC #5988 hmackay at opel-manta.com 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shug Posted February 5, 2007 Author Share Posted February 5, 2007 Ok, I can tell you're all dying to see the paint drying and I didn't take the pics for nothing [] To begin with: Halfway: Pretty colour! (it dries black tho [] ) Like the left here: Smooth as a babies erse. Dismantled bit more of old one. Fuel tank: Anyone reckon its savable? The poor remains, diminished a bit more: Now, anyone still reading? Wanna see my holiday pics? [] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OMOC #5988 hmackay at opel-manta.com 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 Shug I like the underneath of the car, no dirt, no crap, and no rust, just how a manta should be, hopefully that will keep the rust away for a long time, A few more coats of paint etc it will look the mutts nutts [^] Be nice to those poor remains of the old A and dismantle it for ever lol [] http://www.mantamagic.com OMOC N,Ireland Rep id="blue"> OMOC 5706 Please dont shoot me it,s only an opinion not a demand Email robbie @ mantamagic.com (without the spaces) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shug Posted February 6, 2007 Author Share Posted February 6, 2007 quote:Originally posted by Robbie Be nice to those poor remains of the old A and dismantle it for ever lol [] id="quote">id="quote"> If I can ever figure out how to get the dash out in one piece I will! Removed every bolt and screw I can see and the damn thing still won't shift! Any easier with the windscreen out first? Was a bit cold (as you might have guessed) to do too much outside! [] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OMOC #5988 hmackay at opel-manta.com 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i240 Dan Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Whats the blue stuff on the underside, is it Krust or some other corrosion inhibitor. Dan Member: 5612 http://www.mantaclub.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6321 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shug Posted February 6, 2007 Author Share Posted February 6, 2007 Hydrate 80 from http://www.bilthamber.co.uk * Dries black. Its top stuff. (* copyright Joe, 2007 [] ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OMOC #5988 hmackay at opel-manta.com 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 should just have the 2 bolts, one each side at the bottom, then there are the 3 bolts along the top of the dash, , dont forget to undo the bolts/screws that hold the air moulding to the dash, these are the ones that guide the air up through the air vents. That should be about it Hugh. http://www.mantamagic.com OMOC N,Ireland Rep id="blue"> OMOC 5706 Please dont shoot me it,s only an opinion not a demand Email robbie @ mantamagic.com (without the spaces) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manta Mal Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Hi Shugs, nice bit of rust treatment there, should last for years[] As for the fuel tank, I would say beyond repair, would not want to risk a fuel leak. If you cant find a better tank example or something similar size, then pehaps a fuel tank in the boot, have seen that done a few times. Mal.....OMOC #6022 Start your Manta restoration today........ before it's too late! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upk Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 Hi Shug, i have a manta A fuel tank in good condition that is surplus to my needs. If you want it then for £30 we can do a deal! I will be visiting friends in Glasgow on the 23rd feb as i am planning to get very drunk at the scotland v italy game on the sat ( so the £30 is for a very good cause) and take in the autosports show on the sunday. If you are interested in the deal just drop me a line and we can arrange to meet up. kev (aka upk) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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