Producing Manta Sheet Metal

[opelgt73]

I notice that bob said to use stainless. Hasn't the cost of stainless shot up like 300% in the last year?

Nevertheless I thought you weren't supposed to mix metal types? Welding stainless to the stock metal causes even MORE corrosion down the road because of the mixed metal types, right? Thats why I have always cut patch panels out of flat parts of parts cars and bent them to shape. That way you have matching metal types.

[jerseyopel]

Charles, I need a battery box. I would like to get it at Carlisle if possible. Charlton

[BQS4]

Rob;
The tape around the wiper motor is one of those "mysteries of life" that make us ask questions, and to this date is working quite well.

[GoinManta]

Does look good Rob..

You think you got lucky.. Just picked up my Mantissan from Pittsburg (Towed it back on a dolly with the GTO), NO rust, except a "little" and I mean "LITTLE" on the jackpoints. Literally all the rust on this car can be wire brushed and treated.. no welding required at all. With expection of a few low mileage cars I have never seen a car with a Body this good and that includes CA Cars, especailly one with over 125,000 miles from PA.

The battery box was coated in a tar like substance (looks like since new..) I.E. NO Rust at all... The rubber is almost in equally good condition.

Anyway, as for kits I will see about get a few sets made up... Got to find the original files and get with the sheetmetal shop.

Charles

[GoinManta]

Originally Posted by GoinManta Just picked up my Mantissan from Pittsburg

BTW.. should I feel guilty about Street Rodding a car with such a great body.. The interior is a typical 120,000 mile interior (Other than having a crack free dash). The motor is shot, the tranny weak, the brakes are gone...

In all ways its a typical 120,000 mile Manta but with a sweet body.

Charles

[neuropel]

Tell you what Charles. I'll trade you the white manta I got from Duane for it. White with rally trim and good red interior.

[GoinManta]

Originally Posted by neuropel Tell you what Charles. I'll trade you the white manta I got from Duane for it. White with rally trim and good red interior.

Hmmm... Nope

[neuropel]

Somehow I didn't think you'd bite...oh well!

For a serious opinion to your question, I think ANY manta project should start with a sound body if it's well planned out. Why go to all the work with your "mantissan" starting with a rust heap? On the other hand, I'd put my best foot forward so to speak. If the one from Pittsburgh is as clean as you say, why not keep it all Opel and use one of the lesser ones for your experiment? The manta you brought to Carlisle last year was nice. It seemed to have a sound body, it already has the new wiring harness in place and it's already further from stock than the one you just bought. Seems like it would be the perfect candidate! Pull the engine and tranny from the carlisle car, stick it in the manta you just bought from Pittsburgh and suddenly you have a nice original manta, PLUS you're ready for the nissan drivetrain for the gray car.

Todd

[David McCollam]

Charles,

Way to go on the Manta. Good luck on gutting it and the rebuild of the drivetrain. Guess that blue Manta is a non-progressing project at the moment.

Let me know if you need any thing like 3.67 differentials, interior pieces, etc. Gene Smith told me you conned him out of some stuff a while back. We'll see if I can fill in the holes in your inventory.

Dave

[GoinManta]

Originally Posted by David McCollam Charles, Way to go on the Manta. Good luck on gutting it and the rebuild of the drivetrain. Guess that blue Manta is a non-progressing project at the moment. Let me know if you need any thing like 3.67 differentials, interior pieces, etc. Gene Smith told me you conned him out of some stuff a while back. We'll see if I can fill in the holes in your inventory. Dave

Actually this one will need door panels as well.. The back ones I can dye black, the fronts are in rough shape though.

Working with Wolfgang to fill my inventory so we can have a stock of parts (rubber and metal mainly) that can be ordered quickly. Let you all know how that goes

[GoinManta]

Originally Posted by neuropel Somehow I didn't think you'd bite...oh well! For a serious opinion to your question, I think ANY manta project should start with a sound body if it's well planned out. Why go to all the work with your "mantissan" starting with a rust heap? On the other hand, I'd put my best foot forward so to speak. If the one from Pittsburgh is as clean as you say, why not keep it all Opel and use one of the lesser ones for your experiment? The manta you brought to Carlisle last year was nice. It seemed to have a sound body, it already has the new wiring harness in place and it's already further from stock than the one you just bought. Seems like it would be the perfect candidate! Pull the engine and tranny from the carlisle car, stick it in the manta you just bought from Pittsburgh and suddenly you have a nice original manta, PLUS you're ready for the nissan drivetrain for the gray car. Todd

The Manta that came to Carlilse last year was a rust bucket that was restored.. body was solid but full of filler and a LOT of welding..

Since the Black Manta is my eldest sons car and finished I think he would like it to stay that way otherwise he may never get to drive it..

As for a stock Opel car, I still have the Blue Max to do, body is almost as rust free, but the car is dinged up all over. While the Mantissan body is not only rust free its striaght. I am waiting on completing the Blue Max one for myself after I get the second project done for the youngest son (OR thats my story to the wife).

Overall the body of this one is sweet, but it is in need of complete restoration as far as all the mechanicals are concerned. I am sure if Opels were worth what Camaros and Challengers and GTOs of old are going for now I would think of doing what I am doing.. But since they arent its less expensive for me to work off this body than to get a rag and save it.

BTW I almost did do just that, but the rust was so bad the other car got cut up and I plan on using it as a mock up for the good car. MY plan is to make the Nissan motor/trans and BMW rear transplant be almost a bolt on operation when I am done. So the car can go backwards later, if it proves valueable enough to do.

Charles