Newbie! needs parts!

['69 Rekord C Coupe]

Hey everyone.

Ive just signed up here on my quest for:

Opel Monza/Senator "A" Speedo dial

A guy in holland has helped me out with parts for my Rekord C and now i have a chance to help him back.

So if anyone has one of these they can spare (or a instrument panel in any condition) let me know.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

[ghcoe]

Hello,

Welcome to the forum.

I believe the Monza/Senators here in the states were not true Opels. Bodys with different motors I believe. So not sure of part interchangeability. Even if the speedo interchanged it would be in MPH and not KPH.

You might try these forums. They are are in the UK and Ireland.

The Ireland forum actually has a Commodore - Monza - Rekord - Senator section.

TotalOpel - Opel Owners Club of Ireland

This one is mostly for mantas but they talk about other Opel models too. Maybe they could help as well.

Opel Manta Owners Club

Hope this helps.

George.

[Gary]

I think I have one. I'll check my "stash".

George - I have an '84 Senator and it is a true Opel.
Another member here Has a Monza or 2 in CA. The Bitters were a different body built on the Senny's platform.

['69 Rekord C Coupe]

Originally Posted by ghcoe Hello, Welcome to the forum. I believe the Monza/Senators here in the states were not true Opels. Bodys with different motors I believe. So not sure of part interchangeability. Even if the speedo interchanged it would be in MPH and not KPH. You might try these forums. They are are in the UK and Ireland. The Ireland forum actually has a Commodore - Monza - Rekord - Senator section. TotalOpel - Opel Owners Club of Ireland This one is mostly for mantas but they talk about other Opel models too. Maybe they could help as well. Opel Manta Owners Club Hope this helps. George.

Ahhh! ive just realized this is an american forum! dam! lol. Im a member on both of the forums you listed. The thing is with this country guys is that the U.K government has decided that old cars are a threat to the enviroment and a drain on the economy so there are only a hand full of old cars left which means getting any parts is a joke. You lot are soooo lucky! i'd slit a throat or two for a '71 chevelle or a '69 Charger!

Originally Posted by Gary I think I have one. I'll check my "stash". George - I have an '84 Senator and it is a true Opel. Another member here Has a Monza or 2 in CA. The Bitters were a different body built on the Senny's platform.

Ahhh, sweet! cheers Gary! what a stroke of luck, i didnt even know opels made it over there, yank cars are loads better than european ones, so how come you guys love the opel GT so much? you have the '72 corvette stingray over there which is the bigger better version. Cheers!

[Gary]

There is a supplier, GM6 Spares, in Cornwall, U.K. who has a lot of Senator parts The owners name is Derek Thomson.
Email: Derek"at"gm6spares.fsnet.co.uk.
eBay store: eBay Store - GM6 Spares Co

Gary

[lezliewk]

Don't know about the Stingray being better. It was just a Opel GT that ran away with weight lifter and was feed some steroids

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by '69 Rekord C Coupe Ahhh, sweet! cheers Gary! what a stroke of luck, i didnt even know opels made it over there, yank cars are loads better than european ones, so how come you guys love the opel GT so much? you have the '72 corvette stingray over there which is the bigger better version. Cheers!

The GT has a very appealing and elegant design, not as brutish as the Corvette of comparable year but still a very muscular design. I'm not familiar with the reliability of Corvettes but I am familiar with the dependability of the CIH Opels. I really don't have to do much to them. The motors seem to run forever and I frequently hear about people starting up motors that have been neglected for a number of years. Then there is the cost effect nature of them and a community that is more about fellowship than about profit. Many of the people on this form act as long time friends when in some cases, they've never even met.

Slap a nice GT next to a Corvette at a car show and see if more people don't ask and look over the GT more. They're uncommon, most people have either never seen one or can relate better to the GT for the fact that they either owned one or someone they knew owned one.

[ghcoe]

Sorry to hear the government is cracking down on old cars. Makes it hard for everyone. Hopefully that is just the UK and not other European countries.

George.

['69 Rekord C Coupe]

Originally Posted by Gary There is a supplier, GM6 Spares, in Cornwall, U.K. who has a lot of Senator parts The owners name is Derek Thomson. Email: Derek"at"gm6spares.fsnet.co.uk. eBay store: eBay Store - GM6 Spares Co Gary [/URL]

Hi Gary thanks, i tried him before i registerd on here but not been getting replys from him until this morning so hopefully its sorted. Thanks.

Originally Posted by lezliewk Don't know about the Stingray being better. It was just a Opel GT that ran away with weight lifter and was feed some steroids

Lol! yes you can tell! the opel GT has always had a huge european fan base (my dad included) never really saw it myself. Im an opel man through and through but love my V8's!

Originally Posted by Phoenix The GT has a very appealing and elegant design, not as brutish as the Corvette of comparable year but still a very muscular design. I'm not familiar with the reliability of Corvettes but I am familiar with the dependability of the CIH Opels. I really don't have to do much to them. The motors seem to run forever and I frequently hear about people starting up motors that have been neglected for a number of years. Then there is the cost effect nature of them and a community that is more about fellowship than about profit. Many of the people on this form act as long time friends when in some cases, they've never even met. Slap a nice GT next to a Corvette at a car show and see if more people don't ask and look over the GT more. They're uncommon, most people have either never seen one or can relate better to the GT for the fact that they either owned one or someone they knew owned one.

Yes the styling is alot more modist and prudish in comparison. i grew up with CIH engines and have alot of experience with them in fact between me and my dad we must have about 5 of them plus a garage full of bits. but to be honest i dont rate it at all it was a good engine in its day but its slow, heavy and chews cam lobes like you wont believe. I have one in my current project '69 opel Rekord C Coupe but im ditching that for a small block V8 as i am fed up of the tired CIH.

I have a few different opels and im suprised that opels are so popular over there, what are common models you have over there?

Originally Posted by ghcoe Sorry to hear the government is cracking down on old cars. Makes it hard for everyone. Hopefully that is just the UK and not other European countries. George.

Yes unfortunatly it is just here, (probably because we have the weakest economy in europe!) Tell me about it everyone loves old cars over here but no one knows where to start doing one as you cant go to a motor factors or a scrapyard for parts like when i was growing up. you have to have specialist contacts abroad, you guys have it so easy with your GM warehouses full of o.e.m parts! you're all so lucky! lol.

[Phoenix]

The GT is probably, no joke, 10 times more common than any other model of Opel here. Probably the most common after GTs are either Manta As or Ascona A wagons. Next common are 2 Door Asconas and then least common of all 4 doors. We got Kadett As and Bs but the As are pretty rare around our parts. Wagons seem to be either most common or equally common as fastbacks as far as Kadetts go and sedans least common of all Kadetts. These are the regular cars imported.

We only got Fuel Injection in 75 on Asconas and Mantas and there was no 4 door Asconas, or Rallye/Luxus' in that year. We only had 1.1 and 1.9 engines in GTs and 1.1 only in 69 and 70. Mantas and Asconas never had anything other than a 1.9 lower compression engine. Kadetts had all kinds of 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 engine variants, 1.5 in 68 only, and 1.9s in 68 and up.

In addition, 50s and 60s Rekords and Admirals were imported in low numbers as well as Bitters. There are other models that have made in to our shores and each model can be counted on one hand. I've heard or seen of Kadett Cs, Manta Bs, Ascona Bs, Record and Commodore Cs, Senators and possibly 1 or 2 other models.

OGTS and private importers have made Getrag 240s and 2.0, 2.2 and 2.4 engines very accessible, almost as if they were a rare option in the states.

['69 Rekord C Coupe]

Originally Posted by Phoenix The GT is probably, no joke, 10 times more common than any other model of Opel here. Probably the most common after GTs are either Manta As or Ascona A wagons. Next common are 2 Door Asconas and then least common of all 4 doors. We got Kadett As and Bs but the As are pretty rare around our parts. Wagons seem to be either most common or equally common as fastbacks as far as Kadetts go and sedans least common of all Kadetts. These are the regular cars imported. We only got Fuel Injection in 75 on Asconas and Mantas and there was no 4 door Asconas, or Rallye/Luxus' in that year. We only had 1.1 and 1.9 engines in GTs and 1.1 only in 69 and 70. Mantas and Asconas never had anything other than a 1.9 lower compression engine. Kadetts had all kinds of 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 engine variants, 1.5 in 68 only, and 1.9s in 68 and up. In addition, 50s and 60s Rekords and Admirals were imported in low numbers as well as Bitters. There are other models that have made in to our shores and each model can be counted on one hand. I've heard or seen of Kadett Cs, Manta Bs, Ascona Bs, Record and Commodore Cs, Senators and possibly 1 or 2 other models. OGTS and private importers have made Getrag 240s and 2.0, 2.2 and 2.4 engines very accessible, almost as if they were a rare option in the states.

Wow, you know quite alot about the opel range, wereabout in the U.S is the opel scene strongest and were are you from? i really wanted a Kadett C fastback they have some real potential! are you farmiliar with the "C20XE" and "C20LET" engine? these are what i have....

'79 Vauxhall Cavalier GL
(which is an Ascona B with a Manta B frontend only available in the UK, only one left in existance with factory sunroof)

'69 Opel Rekord C Coupe
(typical american muscle styling only sold in germany and holland i have the only UK spec right hand drive)

'89 Vauxhall Astra Mk2 GTE
(Basically the UK version of your '89 Pontiac lemans, i have just finished this project it has taken 4 years and has cost £20,000 to complete it has been called the best in the country by magazines and enthusiasts and is pumping out 330BHP on a N/A race spec engine with nitrous)

What cars do you have?

and i see you want an Ascona 2dr, if you need parts let me know!

[Phoenix]

I've got to get a 2 Door first. I want to make it into like a mini M3 with ground effects and a wing. I have a daily driver, rolling resto 73 GT manual 1.9, a very nice bodied 71 Manta Ralley clone (manual with a 1.9) and another 73 GT shell that is 95% rust free. I'd give up a testicle or 3 for a Rekord C Fastback myself.

Most of the greatest concentration of active Opel owners seems to be SoCal and the Eastern Coast. Take a look at our Members Map. I live in Georgia, which is arguably THE most active group in the States but its also a group with some of the most active members on this site. Here's our social group.

I'm familiar with Red Tops and their variants though they're super rare here because they had to be imported privately and not even OGTS goes into it. MY fellow GA Opeler, Heimue has a Kadett B and a true Kadett C both with NA Red Tops. Do a search for Jagermeister and you'll see it.

[wklopf]

Originally Posted by Phoenix In addition, 50s and 60s Rekords and Admirals were imported in low numbers as well as Bitters. .

In the 50s and 60s there were only Olympia Rekord and Caravan models imported. No Admirals! The large Opel at that time was the Käpitan, not the Admiral. Also, I know of no 1.2 liter Kadetts ever being imported officially into the US. I am unaware of when the Bitter came on the scene. But, what would I know? Well, in 1961 I purchased a VERY slightly used 1961 Opel Rekord. I was going to add that it was a two-door, but, If you were here then, as I was, you would know that the two-door was the only Rekord model offered in the US. Station wagon models were Caravans, not Rekords. GM quit importing Opels after the 1962 model year and resumed in 1964 with the Kadett, which had a 1.0 liter engine. In 1966 they brought in the Kadett B. In June of 1966 I purchased a new four-door Kadett, after a tornado had done its dirty work on my Rekord. The Kadett B originally was offered with two versions of the 1.1 liter and eventually several versions of this engine had been offered. Then they went to the 1.5 and 1.9 engines, but I know of no instance where a 1.2 liter engine was offered in Kadetts in the US. Bill

[Phoenix]

You are correct about the 1.2. I was confused for some reason. I may have been mistaken about the commonality of the Admiral but I have seen a few in the states. I'm more familiar with 68-75 cars as they're the most that I've seen. Should have referenced THE Guide.

Drivetrain Guide

['69 Rekord C Coupe]

Originally Posted by Phoenix I've got to get a 2 Door first. I want to make it into like a mini M3 with ground effects and a wing. I have a daily driver, rolling resto 73 GT manual 1.9, a very nice bodied 71 Manta Ralley clone (manual with a 1.9) and another 73 GT shell that is 95% rust free. I'd give up a testicle or 3 for a Rekord C Fastback myself. Most of the greatest concentration of active Opel owners seems to be SoCal and the Eastern Coast. Take a look at our Members Map. I live in Georgia, which is arguably THE most active group in the States but its also a group with some of the most active members on this site. Here's our social group. I'm familiar with Red Tops and their variants though they're super rare here because they had to be imported privately and not even OGTS goes into it. MY fellow GA Opeler, Heimue has a Kadett B and a true Kadett C both with NA Red Tops. Do a search for Jagermeister and you'll see it.

Sweet! you have some nice motors there! i'd love a Manta A theres a guy who lives down the road from me who has 3! I see what you mean about the 2dr ascona go to google images and search "opel ascona 400" if you work towards making it like one of those u'll be halfway there, what engine are you thinking for it?

Ahh so your all in the south, cool you guys know your s**t about cars down there! arnt there loads of muscle cars in the south?

Didnt the U.S market do a "red-top" varient, you might want to think about shipping one in, there are loads over here and are quite cheap if you tidy one up and a few choice mods they are blisteringly fast and will bolt into any vauxhall/opel shell!

Originally Posted by wklopf In the 50s and 60s there were only Olympia Rekord and Caravan models imported. No Admirals! The large Opel at that time was the Käpitan, not the Admiral. Also, I know of no 1.2 liter Kadetts ever being imported officially into the US. I am unaware of when the Bitter came on the scene. But, what would I know? Well, in 1961 I purchased a VERY slightly used 1961 Opel Rekord. I was going to add that it was a two-door, but, If you were here then, as I was, you would know that the two-door was the only Rekord model offered in the US. Station wagon models were Caravans, not Rekords. GM quit importing Opels after the 1962 model year and resumed in 1964 with the Kadett, which had a 1.0 liter engine. In 1966 they brought in the Kadett B. In June of 1966 I purchased a new four-door Kadett, after a tornado had done its dirty work on my Rekord. The Kadett B originally was offered with two versions of the 1.1 liter and eventually several versions of this engine had been offered. Then they went to the 1.5 and 1.9 engines, but I know of no instance where a 1.2 liter engine was offered in Kadetts in the US. Bill

I wonder why opel stopped shipping out there? seems like they only did it for a short time, there are loads of great models you guys would love! i'll post some pics up of my cavaliers and a few others for you.

[Phoenix]

I'd never actually seen an Ascona 400, seen the Manta 400 but I knew that they existed. And I guess that it would kind of be like an Ascona 400 but for the Ascona A.

Engine swaps are really the last thing on my mind cause they aren't for the faint of heart. If I swapped anything it'd be for a 2.0 CIH or 2.2/2.4 CIH, just for the ease of install, but I have thought about the 3.8 Turbo from the 89-97 Thunderbirds and Cougars or the Chevy 4.3 Vortech like this car. I'd NEVER think about doing a swap on a GT or Kadett and really don't think you need a V8 when these two engines are pretty nice. If I really had money and wanted to go crazy I'd pay to have a Buick Grand National engine put into a Manta or Ascona like

YouTube - Opel Manta with Buick Grand National engine

YouTube - Opel Manta with Buick Grand National engine

car.

As for a variant of the Red Top in the States, I believe that I read that the Ecotec was in the family and it's not nearly the same engine as the C20XE or C20LET engines. I've heard that in Europe that the conversion kits are all over the place and let you pretty much do anything you want with the engine but it would be a little on the difficult size for us to get those kits.

There's been discussion about how GM didn't think it was cost effective, put their efforts into other cars like the Vega, Chevette, and imported Opel bodies with Isuzu drivetrains. Wouldn't mind finding a decent 2 door Buick/Opel and putting a proper 1.9 drivetrain in it.