My long running Manta project

[mantachris]

Anyone interested in my other project, bought back in 1997 it's a bit of an on going thing and currently looks like this.....

http://www.lincsdriver.com/images/stories/featured-stories/ChrisT/4667170029_b6304e67e4_b.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/UCC09engine.jpg

[jesus-ninja]

Looks great. Not sure about the bike on the roof though.

Engine bay looks like it needs filling with something - another 4 cylinders? :D

[mantachris]

yeah, v8 would be great but it's a suprising amount of hassle to get one in there - looks roomy but chassis rails are quite narrow.

[Sidewaysfun]

Proper Old Skool, I love it.

Very clean mate, and that engine bay!!! :smitten:

[jesus-ninja]

yeah, v8 would be great but it's a suprising amount of hassle to get one in there - looks roomy but chassis rails are quite narrow.

Looks quite long though. Straight 8? :p

[Waveydavey]

More pics please.

[joey200sx]

More pics please, this looks awesome!

[zeppelin101]

Love this car, looks proper death race style in matt black! :D

[mantachris]

cheers for the comments I'll put some more details up later


Looks quite long though. Straight 8? :p

Think it must be the fish eye lens making it look big then, putting the vaux straight six in requires the rad moving forward, straight 8 might be pushing things a bit far.

[Dave270r]

Nice.

Always had a soft spot for Manta's. What are they like for reliability and tin worm?

[mantachris]

mines quite reliable, but that's because everything's either been refurbed or upgraded

they're very good for tin worm though:thumbs:

[CamInHead]

Hi chris I use to be in th OMOC and had a couple of hatches and a coupe. Have to say it looks 1,000 000% better without the BGW :thumbs:

Do you se much of clive's v8 nowadays ?

[mantachris]

yeah, BGW only worked from certain angles, ducktail FTW

Haven't see his V8 lately but know the guy who bought it and it's in safe hands - rarely used (shame) but cherished.

[SX_BIG]

fukin love these cars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

damn if i had enough money - i would buy one in a flash - one drove past today and i rubber knecked like a good'un :D :D :D

[Jonny Wilkinson]

+1 on the engine bay, mate. :nod: Niiiice.

I love Mantas but decent ones are rarer than hobby-horse poo now. I assumed it was the tin-worm that did for them. If not, where have they all gone ?

I had a 1987 GTE Exclusive as my first brand-new car and it was lovely to drive and fairly swift for an 8V. I did 83K miles in it in 3 years with, I'm ashamed to say, only one service at 40K miles. It never let me down :no:

I'd love another one but every time I look on Pistonheads there is just a couple of old minging 1.8 GT/J s and four Irmscher 400 lookie-likees :wack:

Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place. :confused:

[mantachris]

they are getting rarer but there's usually some for sale, prices are rising rapidly though
I like this - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2420309.htm
just needs hitting with the stick at the back and it'd be a sweet car

[mantachris]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0372.jpg

'Splitter' needs cutting back to flow with the rest of the bumper at some point - anyone guess what the lower part is from?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0367.jpg

Also think the sideskirts are to rounded for the rest of the kit, a bit of fibreglass should sort it. again, any guesses what they're from?

I'll have to dig out some old ones and build pics.....

[Jonny Wilkinson]

they are getting rarer but there's usually some for sale, prices are rising rapidly though
I like this - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2420309.htm
just needs hitting with the stick at the back and it'd be a sweet car

The interior looks like a GT/J to me and its been a bit too messed with for me (having a red top and the ubiquitous "exclusive" headlights).

That's what I mean though...where are the standard, unmolested ones ? We're only talking 20-25 year old cars here not 40-50 yr olds. :horse:

[mantachris]

the interior's brown - that's retro cool at the moment;)
yeah the later interior and recaros would improve it, externally it's only wheels and headlights
I wouldn't want to own one without a redtop in - sure you've got fond memories of your old 8v but 110bhp out of an engine weighing 1/2 ton:no:

[SX_BIG]

so bloody COOL!

[Jonny Wilkinson]

the interior's brown - that's retro cool at the moment;)
yeah the later interior and recaros would improve it, externally it's only wheels and headlights
I wouldn't want to own one without a redtop in - sure you've got fond memories of your old 8v but 110bhp out of an engine weighing 1/2 ton:no:

I was thinking more of a sleeper with standard exterior and a Z20LET tucked away under the bonnet.

The red top wouldn't stop me buying one but I'd just like to start with a clean sheet and there doesn't seem to be any of those around.

Anyway, this is about your car not my idle daydreams so I'll stop wittering now.

[mantachris]

I was thinking more of a sleeper with standard exterior and a Z20LET tucked away under the bonnet.



in which case you'd be better off getting a 'minging 1.8' as they've got the conversion parts you need to fit the LET (assuming the Z20 is the same as the C20 block?) like sump, 'box, mounts and a lower ratio axle too:thumbs:

silly question - I assume you've looked on the manta club website?
http://forums.mantaclub.org/

[mantachris]

so bloody COOL!

Thanks :thumbs:

[mantachris]

Here's a better engine bay shot from last years retro car show, courtesy of retroscenemag....

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4809859626_04153898bf_b.jpg

Although you need to know what a std bay looks like to get an idea of what's been done - THIS (http://www.performance-car-guide.co.uk/images/L-Opel-Manta-GTE-2.0-Engine.jpg) is about the best image I could find

Apart from the obvious (I hope) engine swap the inner wings have been smoothed out, shock turrets blended in, heater box removed, battery relocated and bulkhead area panelled off with ally. Brake servo removed (in the way of the carbs) and larger master cylinder fitted with remote reservoirs, all brake lines in euroquip braided hose.
Partial wire tuck, bonnet lifters and shiny pointy metal shock top covers.

[fergS13]

thats a really nice car there dude. the madmax style is too :cool:

have you not looked at dropping the v6 out of the omega in? me and a friend looked into ot when he had one i think it would be a verry snug fit. iirc

[Chriscooke]

I used to love mantas as a kid:nod: This one is going a fair way to making me want one again :nod:

[Tricky-Ricky]

Very nice, what sort of power is that making?

[mantachris]

It's a bit down on power at the moment, think the rings need replacing on one of the cylinders judging by the amount of smoke it makes but it's still making 178bhp.

Power Graph (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/mantapowergraph.jpg)

will rebuild soon:thumbs:

[mantachris]

thats a really nice car there dude. the madmax style is too :cool:

have you not looked at dropping the v6 out of the omega in? me and a friend looked into ot when he had one i think it would be a verry snug fit. iirc

Cheers, yeah it had crossed my mind but maybe running it on bike carbs rather than the std injection. trouble is I believe it's quite a tall engine - from what I've read the front cross member needs modification to get it sat low enough and a custom sump as well.
All doable if I had the facilities.....

[M.D.]

for the effourt of changing to bike carbs id personally just fit megasquirt 2 from extra efi. they will make you a kit and when you have wired the loom in itll just fire strait away as all the settings are done ready for you,

love that bay by the way, nice and clean

[mantachris]

yeah but i'd go for bike carbs for the way it would look and sound, not ease of fitment:cool:


Thought I'd show a few pics of how it's evolved over the years.
Back in 1997, not long after buying it as a std GTE
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/side1.jpg

After a little work on the exterior and a stage 3 head fitted
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/side2.jpg

A few years later, after having extensive floorpan welding and a 2.2 bottom end fitted to the stg 3 head.
Looking back it's a bit of a mess but it made it into the Total Vauxhall PVS'03 show report
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/PVS03-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/22eng.jpg

Then the following year with 16v motor + N2O
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/CL2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/rcs4.jpg

Not long after that I bought the SX so it got put in the garage for a few years and forgot about.......

[mantachris]

After a few years of SX ownership I was all set to sell the Manta but thought I'd 'just tidy up' a few bits to help with the sale but as I started digging the more I found to do and it quickly turned into a major rebuild....

Dropped the rear axle, addressed the rusty spring cups and trailing arms. fitted polybushes to trailing arms, panhard rod and ARB mounts. As Manta ARB drop links aren't available had to adapt mk2 golf ones and make brackets to suit.
Fitted a lower ratio diff from a 1.8 Manta for better acceleration.
Just re-furbed the drums, haven't bothered with the hassle of making up a rear disc conversion as I figure the 10" drums are plenty man enough.
Gave it a lick of paint....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/axle3.jpg

Instead of replacing the bushes for the cross brace that supports the torque tube I solid mounted it.
The bracket attached to the panhard rod is bring it back parallel to the ground - the rod's also been shortened to re-align the axle, a problem when lowered.

Fitted back in place along with stainless wire rope bolted between the chassis rails and spring cups to prevent the springs coming out when on full droop
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/underside1.jpg

New brake pipes, fuel lines and suspension bolts plus stainless diff cover bolts.

Moving round the front, stripped the front crosmember/suspension to find cracked wishbones and a few other items that needed sorting.
Got some better lower wishbones, cleaned them up, welded in some bracing and poly bushed them
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/wishbone3.jpg

Repaired the upper wishbones as they weren't too badly cracked.
Polybushed the rest of the front, apart from subframe to upper chassis rail - not available so solid mounted and as with the rear replaced all the bolts with new, using stainless in low stress areas.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/Frontsusp3.jpg

Already had larger discs (vectra V6) 285mm I think, and 4 pot calipers (volvo 240) on custom brackets, just cleaned them up and repainted.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/Frontsusp4.jpg

[CNHSS1]

got a full set of Manta Fr wishbones and pr of brandnew progressive rate uprated springs which i could sell if you needed them?
drop me a PM or email if of use

[mantachris]

cheers for the offer but mine are good now, replacement lower ones were very good condition and only one upper had a slight crack, welded in some metal rod which should hold it....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/upperwishbone3.jpg

[mantachris]

I bought the discs and brackets as a kit from hi-spec brakes, designed as a big disc kit for an Astra with std 16v calipers decided to take a chance I could make it work on the Manta as the Volvo calipers are a direct fit so should work with the brackets.
Comparison of std solid discs (about 9") agains the vented V6 discs, which had to be re-drilled to fit the manta hubs
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/V6discs2.jpg

and stub axles with caliper bracket fitted
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/Picture65.jpg
Bracket just needed a bit of machining to get the caliper in line with the disc. Finished off with some green stuff pads for the volvo calipers.

Midway through re-furbing the stub axles I realized they were different, the track rod end and lower ball joint holes were in different positions - one was obviuosly from an earlier model with different suspension geometry so had to go about sourcing another GTE one.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/stubaxles5.jpg

That would go someway to explaining the funny handling it's always had:rolleyes:

Gearbox rubber mount had turned to jelly so as replacments are scarce I made my own by extenting the bracket and using an engine mount.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/gearboxmount2.jpg

Replaced the std engine mounts with the same as above.

Like the S13 the steering column has a rubber bush in it which had seen better days, suprisingly you can't get uprated replacements, measured up an S13 one but they're too small, tried solidly mounting the two parts of the column with a block of ally but found back on the car there is a slight mis-alignment between the angle of the two so a flexible joint is needed. Eventually found one to fit from an old beetle of all things
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/VWcoupler.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/VWcoupler2.jpg


Next onto the bodywork, floor was still solid after the welding work I had done a few years back
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/22newfloor.jpg

But wheel arches were in need of repair and a few other patches needed attention
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/Rust-PSR2.jpg

As I was re-fitting the bolt on arches opted to just cut back the rot and weld up rather than try replacing the arch.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/Rust-DSR3.jpg

Bottom of the doors both needed replacing so, as it was just the lower edge I opted for repair rather than replacements
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/doorrust1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/doorrust3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/doorrust5.jpg

Didn't turn out too bad, considering it was my first attempt at re-skinning a door.

[mantachris]

With the rust sorted it was time to move onto the bodykit.
As you might have gathered from this project, not a lot is available for the Manta off the shelves in both tuning and styling - there are set route to go down and not many deviate from it.

The front bumper started life as a Mantzel Elegance one, only I re-designed the middle section and added a splitter. This had seen better days so kept an eye out for something suitable on ebay.
Got very lucky and found this courier damaged S15 'drift' bumper for for about £10 - was tempted to try and fit it to the SX but talked myself out of it. Also, from the same guy, got a set of S13 sideskirts, not as cheap as the bumper but still a bargain.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/S15bumper.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/S13skirts.jpg

Cut the lower secttion off the bumper and with a little trimming it fitted straight on (sort of). The sides stepped out far too much though so had to be cut and reshaped.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/bumpersides1.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/bumpersides2.jpg

After a bit more work and replacing the fog lights with indicators it turned out OK
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0156.jpg

The arches are from an RS turbo, stretched a little bit. being fibreglass over the time they'd been on had sunk a bit so needed a little attention. Also cut them up into sections so the lower parts could be fitted to the sideskirts/bumpers, fibreglassed over the open ends to give a bit of strength.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0166.jpg

Sideskirts needed extending a bit and then had the arch lower sections attached.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0201.jpg

Rear bumper is is part of the Mantzel kit and is virtually untouched apart from the arch sections fitted. Although the top edge had sagged quite badly which required some bracing and filler to get level again.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0171.jpg

The rear lights are custom made, had a mate with a fancy machine cut circles out of the original clusters so I could fit round lenses in them. These were tinted and originally were indicator, brake/tail, reverse (fog in the other side)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0213.jpg

With some cunning wiring I've done away with reverse and now have twin tail/brake lights but the inner ones also double as rear fog lights:thumbs:

Been keeping an eye out for wheels on ebay during the project, preferably Borbet A's but a set of Borbet T's came up for sale locally so got them, 9x16" and 7.5x16". the 7.5" were far too narrow so kept looking. Few weeks later I spotted a couple of 9x16" Kerscher Carmonas, chucked on a bid and got them very cheap.
Decided to run the borbets up front and kerschers out back, both ET15 with a 10mm spacer.

I had been running a BGW on the rear, which from certain angles looked OK but it didn't work from others. Made up some lower mouning brackets to get it closer to the boot which looked better but still not quite there.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/spoilerlegs2.jpg

Tried running without a spoiler but again, looked good from some angles, not so good from others.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0219.jpg

I'd have to make something then, a ducktail perhaps, a nice and simple shape that might just work - and having seen the rocket bunny S13 knew how good they could look.
Made a frame work with 5mm rod and welded sheet steel in
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0281-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0285.jpg

A bit rough round the edges but it did the job. just needs a bit of filler over it.

[mantachris]

Tax was up for renewal end of Jan so decided to SORN it and get a few jobs done.....

Engine needs removing for a little re-build so this is how you do it in a small council garage with no power or engine crane....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/stripdown1030.jpg

manifolds and other bits removed....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/stripdown1130.jpg

head off...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/stripdown1145.jpg

more ancillaries removed and block separated from 'box ...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/stripdown1230.jpg

Clutch removed from flywheel to make block slightly easier to haul out the top of the engine bay.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/stripdown2830.jpg

How to remove flywheel bolts without crank turning....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0191.jpg

There's a bit of scoring on a couple of bores, hardly noticeable with fingernail so should hone out OK - a sign that something's not right though.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/scoredboresno3.jpg

Will be stripping it down some more to investigate.

Bought some lightweight pulleys for the crank and alternator..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/allypulleys.jpg

New crank pulley is 665g compared to the old one at 1.584Kg:thumbs:
Also thinking of replacing the flywheel with a 3.1kg ally one, replacing the 7.3kg std version.



Had an idea for a battery box, the ally one I've got I made several years ago and is functional but not pretty.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/oldbatterybox.jpg

So bought this.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/ammobatterybox.jpg

Perfect fit for the battery and compliments the tool box I found at the workshop.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0171-1.jpg

Didn't like the colour though, especially the lid which has had some thick textured paint sprayed over it, so out with the black paint and a stencil it now looks like this.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/ammoboxblack.jpg

Much more in keeping with the rest of the car



Also had some inspiration for the tail pipes.
Back box before......
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0176.jpg

Take half a meter of 3" stainless tube, cut in half (at an angle), slice an angled section off one end, re-weld back on the other way round and weld in a section of slightly smaller tube....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0178.jpg

Repeat for a second one and insert in old tailpipes.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0181.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0180.jpg

Was going to make them removable but I'm now thinking I could probably run with them all the time so probably going to weld them in place.

[mantachris]

Exhaust tail pipes welded in place......
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/bosopipes3.jpg

Alternator's been moved to the other side of the engine to free up space, made a temporary bracket when I first did it (quite a few years ago), decided to make something a bit better looking and more functional.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0214.jpg

Lightweight flywheel - 4.1Kg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/lightflywheel.jpg

and to go with that some ARP bolts and a Techniclutch clutch for a Calibra turbo - I know Techniclutch have a bad name on this forum but speaking to people that have used them in lower powered applications they haven't had a problem.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/techniclutch.jpg

Piston 3 had a seized compression ring and broken oil ring, certainly explains the smoking....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0220-1.jpg

Bores given a good honing to remove scratches (still visible but not to the touch)....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/honedbores.jpg

Pistons cleaned up, broken rings replaced...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0228.jpg

I had been using a regal auto 1.9mm MLS HG to compensate for the head skim (.55mm) and block decking but after some research this time I'm using 2 Z20LET MLS gaskets combined to give the same result.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0241.jpg

Bottom end back together...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0239-1.jpg

Would have got further but found the flywheel bolt holes to be larger than the std ones.

[Bahnstormer]

I'll be keeping an eye on this, I love Mantas and this one looks awesome! :thumbs:

[mantachris]

New 12.9 grade caphead bolts for the clutch cover obtained and clutch bolted in place I could continue.....

That's the engine all back together then.......
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0254.jpg

Battery box in place, tool box needs stripping and painting to match now.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0259.jpg

These bits arrived.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0253.jpg

So along with a couple of lengths of 40mm CDS tubing I could make up some door bars.
Foot plate welded to one end......
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0274-1.jpg

Bolted through the wheel well, 12.9 grade bolts, to another plate with captive nuts welded on......
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0277.jpg
Had to remove the (empty) speaker pods. Just clears the window winders and the armrest/door handle.

The other end attached to existing half cage.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0283-2.jpg
Cage needs removing to completely weld round the bracket and to weld in a better nitrous bottle support bar.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0278.jpg

After a little adjustment (ie a couple of inches taken out so it sits closer to the bumper) the tailpipes look like this......
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0281-2.jpg

Tool box stripped and painted, just needs some stencilling.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0273.jpg

[GmasterT]

Sweet! Proper car :D Ive got a 3.2 V6 lump I could do with getting rid of too ;)

[ADZS13]

That looks ghetto. Like it alot, needs that little eyebrow taking off over the isnide front lights though. Both holes should be round

[mantachris]

Cheers:thumbs:
The eyebrows went a long tme ago, ditched the headlight surrounds completely now, recessed the lights a bit and fitted flyeyes film.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SPM_A0004.jpg



Sweet! Proper car :D Ive got a 3.2 V6 lump I could do with getting rid of too ;)

haha, don't tempt me.....

[mantachris]

Along with adding door bars I've been fitting other stuff to the cage, brackets to go between the main hoop and seat belt mounts at the top of the B pillar....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/beltbrackets.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0299-2.jpg

Made some other brackets (rather than buy them at £6 each) to attach a cross bar behind the seats....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/Cagebracket3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0301-1.jpg

And some more to hang the nitrous bottle from the harness bar...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/nitroushangerbrackets.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/nitroushanger.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/finishedcage3.jpg


Despite the rebuild the engine was still smoking/breathing heavily so after a compression test came up good decided it must be the valve stem oil seals so set about making something to compress the valve springs with the head still on the block, this, along with string down the bores to hold the valves, did the trick....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0358.jpg

7 out of 16 split, that would go some way to explaining the problem
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0376.jpg



Been adapting the bodykit also, cutting down the splitter so it doesn't stick out quite so far and extending the centre section uprights out a bit....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0364-1.jpg

Attached some ally angle to the sideskirts to square the edges up a bit, to match in with the rear edge of the front bumper.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0379-1.jpg

And dropped the front edge of the rear bumper to flow with the sideskirts....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SPA_A0383.jpg

How the other side looks for comparison....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SPA_A0382.jpg



Fitted longer studs to the front hubs so I could put a bigger spacer on there, rears could do with going out a little too....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0385.jpg

[ToddS14A]

a guy around the corner from me has one of these with a c20let in, ment to be over 300hp, sounds amazing. I'll try get pics but its never parked on the road lol

[BBB]

I presume the nitrous bottle is really well secured once in the harnesses? That's a lot of mass to have free moving otherwise.

[mantachris]

Yeah, the chain is welded together so it's not actually swinging and the other clamp is welded to the cross bar so it can't move anywhere

[BBB]

Cool :thumbs: Didn't want you getting a 5kg torpedo in the back of the head on a fast run.

[twaiter]

love these cars and engine:thumbs:

[jesus-ninja]

'tis a thing of great beauty :nod:

[ToddS14A]

a guy around the corner from me has one of these with a c20let in, ment to be over 300hp, sounds amazing. I'll try get pics but its never parked on the road lol

This is the only one i can find, i'll try get some better pics as my mate is gonna do a photo shoot with this soon
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/4351/19510210150442806845123.jpg (http://img844.imageshack.us/i/19510210150442806845123.jpg/)

[mantachris]

^^^^That's a bit nice :thumbs:

All painted, needed a bit more prep work really but no time before retro show next sunday

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0407.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0410-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0411-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0408.jpg

[mantachris]

Monthly update-

Photo from RetroRides stand at Retroshow....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/IMAG0232.jpg

Bolt holding alternator adjuster sheared on the way back from the show so a quick redesign of the bracket moving it forward so less stress put on the bolt.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0427.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0436.jpg


Made a cap to replace this nasty looking plastic one on the washer bottle.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0431.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/Washertop4.jpg


And fabricated some new engine mount brackets to replace the std ally ones as I didn't think they'd be up to the extra vibration caused by the hockey puck mounts.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0457.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/mantachris/16v%20project/SP_A0460.jpg

[mercedessx]

I seriously love this , not normally my bag but feck me that is awesome :eek:

[S14 Stu]

Awesome, again not a vaux fan at all but gotta love the mantas. Been having dirty thoughts about an ascona I've seen basically rotting away too, its begging to be restored and made bad ass:D