Welcome a 'new' Opel racecar.....

[RallyBob]

Here the templates for the bottom and one side of the ductwork feeding the air filter have been fitted.

[RallyBob]

Starting to take shape finally....the top template in place.

[RallyBob]

The final side template in place, and stainless steel over-latches are laid on the templates for configuring. I should be able to cut out and assemble all the sheet metal parts tomorrow night, if all goes well. I still need to make a screened inlet at the headlights, and some rigid plastic mini-ducts to direct air from the light openings to the air plenum just before the filter. Then the air box for the carburetors still needs to be templated and fabricated.

[RallyBob]

Arrrgggg....

Time to vent a little. Don't you hate it when you set out with a particular goal in mind, only to find that at the end of the day not only has that goal not been met, but you really wonder if you would have been better off staying in bed?

I had intended to get ready for painting the Manta, hopefully finishing the prep work today and painting it tomorrow. I realized I wanted to paint the trunk at the same time, but had to remove the fuel cell first. But wait, I should plumb the new fuel lines first, right? Don't forget the return fuel line, and the vent line, and the SCCA-mandated fuel test port. 10 hours later, the fuel lines are still not completed, but the paint work has yet to be addressed. *sigh*

Then I realized the car had *no* bumpers at all, and in fact the bumper receivers had been removed. Personally, I don't want to deal with an 'oops', whether it's an 80 mph track accident or a 2 mph parking lot mistake. Without bumpers, body damage is guaranteed either way. But if I paint first, then weld later, the paint will get damaged.

Time for a few beers......

Rallybob is rallyburnt-out..

[RallyBob]

Ahhhh, a few beers later, life is not so bad.

The plus side is, the ductwork I photographed above actually fit the car perfectly once I test-fit it. The day was not a total loss....

[N61WP]

RallyBob,

With your fabrication ability, you should be on Monster Garage!

Maybe an Opel snowblower...........

Bestus,
Jc

[calvin]

Or a really exceptional front spoiler for the Manta with simplified DETAILED instructions for the all thumbs mechanically challenged backyard Opel enthusiast..

[RallyBob]

Calvin, the problem is that any front airdam I'd build for a Manta these days would be for racing. Too low for street use. I usually don't make 'em fancy either, just make a steel framework and then use LDPE (low density polyethylene) race-car plastic and some Dzus fasteners so you can get 'em on and off a trailer. The LDPE is plenty flexible so it will survive track abuse, and cheap enough to make extras for when you do rip them off (inevitably). Unfortunately, the LDPE is not paintable, and there are 'only' about 8 or so color choices.

Other options are sheet metal (hand fabricated, and very fragile if you hit a curb!), or fiberglass. Fiberglass requires a pattern, then a mold, and then finally the finished product. Figure on 20-30 hours labor for a nice fiberglass front airdam. The materials are surprisingly cheap however....

In either case though, if I were to build it and document it, you must keep in mind that creating a custom airdam is a little bit like art. You don't really plan it (other than a few sketches). You pretty much just build it as you go along. That's kinda tough to document. Photos are possible, yes, but the 'how to' is difficult to convey. Kinda like carving wood?

So, what did you have in mind? As far as style, height, etc....
I just wondered if there's already something on the market you could buy, and save you a LOT of time and potential grief. There's something to be said for NOT fabricating everything, and that's the time it takes to do it all! I'm already at my wit's end with this car, there's SOO much more to do than I had originally envisioned, and it's all very labor intensive and time consuming.

Bob

[calvin]

You might be right buying an old GT/E one might be easier

How do you think that they did this one? See the second grill?

By the way the Manta runs much better with the 300 needles in the DCOE's carbs as opposed to the 175's. Still not quite got it tuned it in perfectly but MUCH closer. Tootling along today at 6300RPM with petal to go

[RallyBob]

Finally got this off my workbench...

[RallyBob]

Ready for paint

[RallyBob]

Painted duct with rubber seals applied.

[RallyBob]

All ductwork fitted to headlight trim.

[RallyBob]

Front view.

[jeff denton]

Was just snooping through here and saw the modified timing cover picture. Funny, mine came out looking just like that on the suction side, but please tell me what happens next on the output side of the pump. I left mine stock other than a bigger oil filter which requires more clearance with the GT front crossmember (oops, so maybe we DID move the engine back...)

[RallyBob]

This may lend some insight into my thinking Jeff.
http://opelgt.com/forums/showthread....4&page=2&pp=15
It was covered in another thread pertaining to performance engine building. If you have any other questions/comments, just ask.
HTH.

Bob

[deaner]

Here's the oil pump housing of the timing cover. I sprayed it with a dry film lubricant, which needs to be cured in an oven at 300 degrees F for one hour. Don't know how well it will work, but it should at least help to fill some of the voids in the gear housing. I got the dry film lubricant from Techline Coatings. They sell do-it-yourself performance engine and exhaust coatings.
http://www.techlinecoatings.com/

I'm real curious about this. Seem's like a good idea. Do you have any info on the usage? Would you recommend doing it? I'm putting together an Engine now. And was thinking about doing it. Thanks.

[RallyBob]

I never ran the engine with the coating on the oil pump housing. I ended up 'loaning' out the shortblock and head from the racecar for a friend's street car, minus the racing accessories. So the timing cover sits on my shelf still.

[WannaBOpelOwner]

i was wondering if anyone here raced a gt last year at nationals in indianapolis. a friend of mine was showing me and i was wondering if it was anyone here? i belive it was orange and purple.

[RallyBob]

i was wondering if anyone here raced a gt last year at nationals in indianapolis. a friend of mine was showing me and i was wondering if it was anyone here? i belive it was orange and purple.

I think you have to be more specific. Nationals for what type of racing?

Bob