73 manta restoration saga

[blitz74]

Originally Posted by Sportwagon75 Have you no heart?? Just think of all those helpless, harmless Naugas that gave their lives...just so you can use their hydes to be comfortable in your new seats!!!! Shameless....I say....shameless!!!!

Originally Posted by Mike Preble No, I think they came from specially bred Naugas' and weren't free range Naugas. Lets not get PETA in on this. Mike

Har har, very funny

Here's the story on Naugahyde according to Wikipedia:

The most well-known brand name of pleather is Naugahyde, which used to be made in Naugatuck, Connecticut. It is now made in Stoughton, Wisconsin.

Naugahyde marketing includes a fictional animal called the "Nauga" whose hides are supposedly the natural source of all the Naugahyde manufactured. According to the story, which has become something of folklore in parts of Connecticut, the Naugas are nocturnal, hairless, aquatic mammals of many colors that live in the Naugatuck River, and can be made to come to the surface at night by shining a flashlight into the water. The Naugas are then captured and sorted by color to be made into the various colors of Naugahyde. Allegedly, when rolled together on a mechanical press, the seams between the Naugas disappear, resulting in a seamless, leather-like product. A popular bumper sticker stated simply: "Save the Naugas!". It is common knowledge that it takes seven and a half "Nauguas" to make a standard sized couch.

One popular application of Naugahyde is purses and messenger bags. They are lighter than leather, easier to keep clean and better suited for rainy weather.

[blitz74]

Well, today was a long day at the shop starting at 8:30am and ending at 4:30pm. We got a lot of things done, beginning with leading up the patched quarters and smoothing them out. Next time (probably Monday) comes body putty, and they should be ready for primer.

On a side note, we got the door panels back and they look great. No pictures of them though, sorry. We do still need to make the wood strips.

[blitz74]

The biggest news of today, however, is that we got the engine and transmission out of the car. It took a long time to get everything disconnected. I spent a long time in the pit underneath the car, as well as above the car and inside the car (for the shifter, anyway) getting everything that was connected to the engine and trans disconnected. Finally in the late afternoon we chained it to the electric winch and lifted that sucker out. I was down in the pit guiding the transmission out, so I didn't get any pictures of the engine being lifted out. But I do have some from afterwards.

Well, it was a long day to say the least... and that's all for now, stay tuned for more this week.

[blitz74]

Well, I'm trying to solve a little mystery here. This is the exhaust manifold we got from Todd, which he calls a "Fuelie Header". Does anyone know anything about this?

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by blitz74 Well, I'm trying to solve a little mystery here. This is the exhaust manifold we got from Todd, which he calls a "Fuelie Header". Does anyone know anything about this?

Todd actually gave you a "good thing" here. It's a "Sprint" exhaust manifold, stock on the '75 Ascona and Manta (which came with fuel injection), and is the desired exhaust manifold of choice. Flows as well or better than most headers, and doesn't transfer unnecessary heat to the carb-style intake manifold (unless you drive in colder climes, then it is "necessary heat"). Lately they have been selling for upwards of $200 plus shipping on eBay. Do a search for "Sprint + Exhaust" for more information

[blitz74]

Cool, I thought it might be a Sprint. I've heard good things about those, and I saw a couple pictures, but wasn't sure if that's what I had. Thanks!

[blitz74]

Just a small update - spent the afternoon taking stuff out of the engine compartment. The cowl box thing took forever because someone previously glued it on. The whole exhaust system is ready to come out.
Also there is putty on the quarters and some other areas, not done with that yet though.

The wheel paint has been ordered, so MAYBE this weekend we'll be able to paint the wheels. We got Eastwood paint - Argent/Silver and Satin Black.

Couple pictures - putty on the quarters, less stuff in the engine compartment, and a nice clean trunk. Notice that the original color was silver.

[Manta72]

Car progress looks really good. Aside from the exhaust manifold, what have you decided on the motor?

[blitz74]

Originally Posted by Manta72 Car progress looks really good. Aside from the exhaust manifold, what have you decided on the motor?

Well, we're still waiting to hear from Todd, but we should be getting a high compression overbored 1.9 with flat top pistons like the one I mentioned a while ago. We are also considering a performance camshaft, but might just be content with the stock one. Not sure how much of a difference it would make. Also we have a Weber carb that's been on the car for a while. I was reading the thread about porting the intake manifold and how much that helps torque and hp, but I don't know whether we'll get around to that or not. We already had the stock head rebuilt, but this was before I read all the stuff about the benefits of bigger valves and porting.. so it's basically stock except for hardened seats. So unless we get a better head included with the engine, we'll be using the stock one.

So... in other words, not much new to report as far as the engine goes, but I'll update as soon as I know what's happening.

[2 Fast 4 U]

Originally Posted by blitz74 Notice that the original color was silver.

Are you going back to the original color??

[blitz74]

Originally Posted by 2 Fast 4 U Are you going back to the original color??

I considered using the original color... but I've decided on Signal Yellow with black SR stripes. Should be quite an eye-catcher when it's done!

This is the look I'm going for:

[2 Fast 4 U]

It sure will

[blitz74]

Well it's time for a short update.

Part 1: Bodywork

The quarters and c-pillar louver areas are in primer with some putty here and there, and are still in the process of being smoothed out, but are almost done. We've made a couple passes with sandpaper before this coat.

Also we discovered a nasty hole on the driver's side fender next to the door. It looked like nothing before because it was filled with some kind of putty. We fabbed up a patch piece and my uncle welded it in.

There was another bad thin area on the back corner / bumper area on the driver's side that is now built up with more metal and looks better.

[blitz74]

Part 2: Fun with Manifolds and Bead Blasting

We finally got the manifolds separated from the downpipe after having to destroy some of the bolts. I bead blasted the intake manifold and the Sprint manifold, and made an attempt at smoothing out inside the Sprint with a dremel.

Also a couple pics of what bead blasting can do - gotta love the results. Take an old, dirty piece of metal and make it brand new. Then paint it. I have the paint from Eastwood to simulate the original gold-looking Zinc plating for these side marker light housings, will post pics of the result another time.

[blitz74]

Time for an update finally. As promised, here's the result of the paint from Eastwood. Doesn't exactly look like zinc plating, just looks gold... but that's okay.

Also an updated picture of the front fender repair.

And finally, a picture of the wheels primed and scuffed with Scotch-Brite pads, ready for paint. I gave them a coat of silver and discovered some blemishes, so we will have to do some sanding and redo those areas but the silver looks great. Don't have a picture of the wheels with paint yet. Might get some tomorrow.

[blitz74]

Now time for a little bad news... I was reading another thread about the foam insulation on the firewall and how most people thought it was best to remove it, and decided to do just that. Guess what we found underneath?

[blitz74]

Anyway, as far as the engine situation goes, the new motor has been shipped and it's on its way here. It will probably get here next week... but I'm going to be gone by then I'm done with school for the year and will be heading back home tomorrow, after getting a little more work done on the car before I go. So, don't expect any more updates for a long time (except maybe