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Shaping up lovely. '80s coupe with multi-cylinder transplant is right up my street. Starting with some Oz tin would have been easier and safer. I respect that you didn't
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Interesting , you may have another close to you soon as I sold mine last year to an Irish guy who lives in Perth .He collected it here and it was going to be for his use when he came back twice a year but said that he was so pleased with it that he was of a mind to ship it over .
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Great project & great bit of the country I could live in Perth quite happily.
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gtrea
Part of things
Posts: 70
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True, I imported my R32 GTR in 2005 and it cost about $2000 to have a couple of side intrusions bars fitted and a high mount brake light for compliancing.....plus all the other fees that go along with importing and licensing......another rort! Beautiful Manta that one I had heard it was coming over here a while ago, but never heard anymore about it. I think there's about 6 Manta B's in Australia atm, most if not all recently imported as there is a lot of workers coming over from the UK on 457 Visas, most of whom work in Mining Yes its lovely, great place to bring up a Family, but its isolated......very isolated
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1978 Opel Manta SR Berlinetta 1UZ-FE 2013 Opel Insignia OPC 2016 Skoda Octavia Scout +Vans and Trucks and stuff.....
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gtrea
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Hi mate, Great looking car and will be watching with interest. I'm especially interested as I used to live in Perth and went through the whole import rigamarole with my Cortina. Bloody AQIS. You were unlucky to have to be power washed, I somehow got away with that one but it is purely down to which way the wind is blowing. I had a heap of trouble getting my Cortina over the pits. They really went out of their way to find things wrong. The car had gone straight through an MOT before leaving England but they managed to find plenty of minor things to fail it on. I wouldn't mind so much if you didn't see so many bombs on the road in WA. Your car is being done to a high standard though so should be OK. One other thing, some of the late 70s monaros used common parts with the Mantas I think, side glass, maybe some running gear if you needed parts. They rang me and said this Manta was espicially dirty and required a 'special wash' and what did I want to do about it?...I said well I don't really have a choice do I!....he said you do, you can pay the money and we wash it, you can ship the car back to the UK at your expense, or we can have it crushed into a cube!
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1978 Opel Manta SR Berlinetta 1UZ-FE 2013 Opel Insignia OPC 2016 Skoda Octavia Scout +Vans and Trucks and stuff.....
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"You have a choice..."
Sounds like Fat Tony might be running the Australian import depot!
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lotdave
Part of things
only one gerry
Posts: 356
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Wow you must have really wanted a manta to pay what had to!! Still i fully understand i do love them myself i wanted a manta A as i had one years ago but ended up buying a hb viva or as you call them hb touran Nice work and engine choice ill be bookmarking this
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mantamutilator79
Part of things
I love the smell of kerosene in the morning….
Posts: 160
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Woooh. This has really caught my eye. I bought my original 1979 T plate Manta Berlinetta about 24 - 25 years ago. It started out exactly the same as yours (2.0 litre or 1.9 automatic) with the same blue cloth interior, although mine was white. After fitting a GTE bodykit and a few resprays from white to dark blue to aquamarine, I fitted a Rover V8 with upgraded BW 65 box, then progressed to a LT77 manual conversion. I have just completed my other Manta project, this time with a nitrous injected 4.2 Rover V8, but am itching to resurrect my 1st love, which is now stripped to a bare shell on a movable dolly.
Now, if you can pull this Lexus V8 conversion off, you will be my new hero!! This is the route I also want to take, but what is putting me off is the position of the sump and the fact that the Lexus/Toyota V8 is quite wide at the top end. Also, I'm not keen on the standard auto box so would like a 5/6 speed manual, but have read horror stories about needing to adapt the ECU to run a manual transmission? I'm also concerned about the Manta rear axle handling the power, although mine is an upgraded LSD unit. To strengthen the shell, I am fitting a full bolt in roll cage on reinforced platforms and will weld in chassis location plates to tie everything together.
Your wheels are the mutt's nuts!! What are the offsets? They suit the Manta so well.
So, you're bookmarked and watched like a wino in a liquor store!!! Keep me updated on your progress.
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gtrea
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Wow you must have really wanted a manta to pay what had to!! Still i fully understand i do love them myself i wanted a manta A as i had one years ago but ended up buying a hb viva or as you call them hb touran Nice work and engine choice ill be bookmarking this The Manta is a itch I have always wanted to scratch....I have spent AUS$18'000 already and expect to spend another $6'000, which will turn out to be $12'000! It sounds expensive, and it is, but you can lose more money in depreciation on new cars.....ask me how I know haha Love your Viva, yes they were the HB Torana here Wheels are 15x8 on a +20 Offset As for the engine, get the front sump version (there is a front, Mid and Rear) and from my calculations I reckon it will slot right into the Manta. The 1UZ is light, only 20kg heavier than the Opel Lump, not a lot longer than a 4, loves to rev, good on fuel compared to old school V8's, cheap and plentiful to buy, will start first time every time, and delivers a standard 300HP which in a Manta which will weigh just on 1100kg (est) should go alright. Here is a little spiel I wrote for another forum Be warned though, Lunch was my best subject at school, not Maths, so I could be way out!
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1978 Opel Manta SR Berlinetta 1UZ-FE 2013 Opel Insignia OPC 2016 Skoda Octavia Scout +Vans and Trucks and stuff.....
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gtrea
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Feb 17, 2014 11:22:22 GMT
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Its been a few weeks, but I am still plugging away at this thing. The suspension is at a mates house having the strengthening plates welded in, meanwhile I have been prepping the engine bay and other areas for painting. All underbody now complete with underseal, as well as chassis rails, and front end.....I like this stuff :yup: Strong durable and for the most part you do not see it. I am not a good worker on cars really, and am easily distracted, the brake drums have been annoying me for a while, so dropped tools and cleaned them up, and painted in satin black paint. I am going to try and rock the drum brakes for a while, unless the engineer says otherwise, as I do not want to over invest in this diff by adapting Discs to it, I have a full refurb kit coming for them to. Then I decided I might like to try some filler. .....And then I was reminded of these. I'm not going to use them but need one for the boot, as a pretty spare, so....
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1978 Opel Manta SR Berlinetta 1UZ-FE 2013 Opel Insignia OPC 2016 Skoda Octavia Scout +Vans and Trucks and stuff.....
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ewokracing
Part of things
Snuffling for food in a river
Posts: 502
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Feb 18, 2014 22:47:34 GMT
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Nice. Have given up on PerformanceForums so I'll keep a look out on here.
Typical Australia Bullplop with the 700 bucks for a guy with a Karcher. What a scam!
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Feb 18, 2014 23:03:46 GMT
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I used to sit on the fence with manta's. This has confirmed which side of the fence I'm on. Top quality work, keep it coming! Big J engines are always a good shout!
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gtrea
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Haha PF will do that to you Ok, Flying along now with this thing now! Engine bay, etch primed and primed. Still need a little filler here and there and some spray puttying. Same with the interior, although not bothering with imperfections here, it will be painted body colour, then Dynamatted anyway. Measure twice, buy once........ Core width 740mm, chassis rail width 690mm Tis a big radiator alright...won't overheat!.....got a bloke cutting 25mm off each end for me tomorrow, should sit snug then. Booked in with my mate for the long weekend (not this one, next here in Perth) to fit the engine, so need engine bay painted and front end all back together by then
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1978 Opel Manta SR Berlinetta 1UZ-FE 2013 Opel Insignia OPC 2016 Skoda Octavia Scout +Vans and Trucks and stuff.....
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Contrary to popular opinion, I do have mechanical sympathy, I always feel sorry for the cars I drive.
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gtrea
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Mar 20, 2014 10:53:17 GMT
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Best I update this thread! I would love ITBs nososwift but after the car is licensed and road worthy I also have already bought some relevant clothing The 2nd day of Autumn and theres a definite chill in the air (36 degrees here in Perth) so went out to my Mates today to finally get the engine out ot the wreck which I left at his house in October. Hose all the snakes and bitey things out of it, also emptied a can of Mortein inside! The car has never had front wheels, so I have never had a look underneath, I need a front sump 1UZ for the Manta.......... WTF....I had read the internet, its never lied to me before!!!!!.....Soarers are supposed to be front sumps, then and only then did I realise Soarers are the SC400 not the LS400....I had somehow read the internetz wrong :sad: I hate Toyotas! No matter motors still coming out.......Out with the plasma cutter Hook the engine up to the Tractor and lift her out Now the engines out I can measure the Transmission, something I could not find an answer to on the internet. Mantas Transmission tunnel starts at 300mmm in width, the widest point of the 1UZ Auto Bellhousing is 340mm :mad:
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1978 Opel Manta SR Berlinetta 1UZ-FE 2013 Opel Insignia OPC 2016 Skoda Octavia Scout +Vans and Trucks and stuff.....
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gtrea
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Mar 20, 2014 10:56:25 GMT
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Manta Tunnel Width Some rough Manta dimensions The Manta Trans tunnel is around 300mm at its widest point.220mm wide around the Selector, (500mmm back from Firewall)180mm wide (600mm back from Firewall)740mm into the Manta trans tunnel (A340 gearbox length) takes you to the Handbrake bulgeManta trans tunnel is about 200mm deep at the selector, about 260mm deep at the fire wallI think the easiest option really is to graft the Soarer tunnel onto the Manta, job done. Its the sump thats curse word me off the most atm.....oh and this :mad: There's not a lot of Lateral movement I can do with the engine, due to size constraints. Having slept on it, I think jacking the box up underneath where it will sit and then cutting the tunnel where required for clearances to suit is probably the easiest option, sort of like this Probably a 100mm section just off the firewall for the bell housing would need to go then the odd hole cut along the tunnel, or Massaging with a hammer:) Or this is a Soarer Trans tunnel. Cut that out of my wreck, Lay over existing tunnel, measure up, weld in.
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Last Edit: Mar 20, 2014 10:57:12 GMT by gtrea
1978 Opel Manta SR Berlinetta 1UZ-FE 2013 Opel Insignia OPC 2016 Skoda Octavia Scout +Vans and Trucks and stuff.....
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gtrea
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Mar 20, 2014 10:59:25 GMT
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Anyway I got my Radiator back after having 25mm cut from both ends, I also took some photos down of 1UZ front and rear sumps to see if he could maybe move rear bowl to front, but realistically he said not viable, to hard, to costly Slides down nicely just infront of swaybar mount, bottom radiator hose will mount under swaybar Original (iconic) Manta Radiator support end plates will will rewelded on in wider position for support and to give impression of originality Enough room for Thermo(s) Other than that just more body work, the car is VERY straight, just a few dings to fill Decided to buy another complete engine with a front sump, as sourcing the sump on its own was impossible $990 from ebay $150 postage Done
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1978 Opel Manta SR Berlinetta 1UZ-FE 2013 Opel Insignia OPC 2016 Skoda Octavia Scout +Vans and Trucks and stuff.....
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gtrea
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Mar 20, 2014 11:00:18 GMT
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Just more body work atm on this thing. Whole car has now been etch primed, primed, spray puttied, filled, and now i'm blade puttying....followed by more of the former.. Results are pretty good, finish from the gun is good, to the extent I am considering painting the car myself :eek: I was always going to paint the engine bay, cabin, boot, door jams etc, but leave the outside to the experts......but now don't know :confused: Paint has certainly increased in price since the last time I painted a car, my local paint shop now charges almost $100per/L for acrylic...It was $50per/L before (admittedly 10 or so years ago) Luckily the internet came to the rescue, 4 litres for $190 +$19 delivery....sorry local guy. Other internet purchases lately include: New window chrome trim front and rear Nice hose clips for the fuel lines under car External Walbro GSL392 pump Sound proofing Central locking kit with VAG type remotes, and boot release
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1978 Opel Manta SR Berlinetta 1UZ-FE 2013 Opel Insignia OPC 2016 Skoda Octavia Scout +Vans and Trucks and stuff.....
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gtrea
Part of things
Posts: 70
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Mar 20, 2014 11:01:11 GMT
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Anyway my 2nd motor arrived this afternoon, on a truck with no tail lift, the motor had a tag on the side saying 60kg...yeah nah.....you can imagine the rest. Once off the truck straight into the garage, and straight into the car! Home alone again but could not wait so had to curse word around on my own. First things first Lifted car as high as I could and went thru wheel arch It literally 'just' touches on each chassis rail as I lowered the car, but fitted Motor needs to come up and back about 30mm in these pics Steering arm Booster Radiator Swaybar Glamour
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1978 Opel Manta SR Berlinetta 1UZ-FE 2013 Opel Insignia OPC 2016 Skoda Octavia Scout +Vans and Trucks and stuff.....
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Mar 20, 2014 11:02:54 GMT
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Nice, nice and nice...!!!
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***GARAGE CURRENTLY EMPTY***
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