74 Manta build

[wlkelley3]

John, you get the car going yet? At least enoung to move it? I still have the electric pump sitting on my workbench if you need it. Let me know. Looks like Eddie found another ride for the hill. It would of been cool to see the Manta go up the hill.

[Rally Manta]

Not yet, but something's gotta give this w/e one way or another... it's gotta get out of the current shop. I'll try to get that pump from you asap.

Thanks, John

[RallyBob]

Sucks about having to move the shop John. I've been there, done that!

I have a good gas tank I just removed from an Ascona last week I'd send you free of charge, but I don't think I can ship it due to the gas fumes. I can try flushing it out, letting it dry and then sealing up all the openings if you need it bad enough. Maybe add a splash of Febreze to cover up?

[BQS4]

I have a F.I. tank I pulled from a 75 Manta, it's seems solid, but, would definitely need cleaning out and sealing. I don't know where in 'Bama you are, But, I'm just on the east side of Atlanta, just past Stone Mountain.

[Rally Manta]

Thanks guys, my tank is ok- I'm pretty sure. That was the first thing I did was pull it and get it cleaned, since the car had sat a while before I got it... frustrating thing is that THAT was ~4 years ago now.

If it's gonna be a rally car, at some point it will likely get two electric pumps. I don't know/have never had redundant pumps, but sounds like having a backup pump would be a good idear... most of the better-prepped cars have two pumps in case one craps out and you're out in the woods away from service.

[wlkelley3]

Just let me know when you want to pick up the pump. You can either come over to my place to pick it up (and take a gander at the GT) or I can toss it in the Miata and we can meet up after work sometime. Your choice let me know. You have my cell phone number and email. I carry a BB so I'll get the email.

[Rally Manta]

Well, I got the $28 pump from the local parts store, and it worked. yay. Was able to drive it up on the trailer and get it to
the shop that will be its winter home, and hopefully it will be 'paroled'
to driver status soon... this project needs some momentum.

I've run it as much as possible the last few days to run some gas through it
to try to get out what had been sitting in the tank.

Wendell- I'll get that pump from you next week (after the hillclimb) cause I still want to go electric, and eventually have twin/redundant pumps for insurance.

[Rally Manta]

Jeez, this is taking forever... momentum seems very hard to maintain.

some cage updates! yay.

I have the car in a "paintbooth". (I put quotes around it cause it's not a great paintbooth anymore) it IS nice cause it is fairly well lit and I have use of it long-term, hopefully all winter... I should be able to have it in there till the cage is completely finished and (I'm doing some now as you can see) I can sand and spray and sand and spray s'more till I get sick of that and declare it looking 'goodnuff' for just an old racecar. The cheapo Rustoleum "Sail Blue" I am quite happy with, it looks ok.

[Rally Manta]

more pics

[Rally Manta]

and more....

[Rally Manta]

ok, here's where I'm stopped- a question for the gallery:

Where do you think the A-piller braces should go? I put a piece of tape where I think it could go- I'm not fancy enough to draw an imaginary line on the picture.

Could the A-piller brace come down, tie into the upper door bar and then continue down to the floor you think?

I'm gonna scratch my head on this on for a while...

Also need a short second bar to tie the upper door bar to the lower one on each side, and "x" between the front hoop and main hoop... also need to see if these "x" bars on the roof can bend slightly upward to give more headroom...

[oppositelock]

First of all, if you are planning on getting the car logbooked by NASA or Rally America for doing stage rallies then you need to carefully read the FIA rollcage rules here: http://www.fia.com/resources/documen...pJ_Art_253.pdf. You need to check the NASA and RA rulebooks for any idiosynchrosies but everything is based off the FIA rules now. Second of all, you won't need any A pillar support bars with that cage. Your A pillar bar is pretty upright with a pretty shallow bend. If you refer to the FIA rules in the link above you will see the measurements for whether the bar is required or not. Draw an imaginary vertical line through the junction of the A pillar bar and the side lateral bar to the ground then draw another one through the first bend in the A pillar bar below it to the ground. The distance between the two imaginary lines can be no more than 200mm (a little less than 8 inches.) Furthermore the A pillar support bar cannot be positioned where you have your taped marked off. The floor end of the tube has to be within 100mm (about 4 inches) of the foot of the A pillar bar and the top end of the tube must be within 100mm of the roof junction. If you put an A pillar support bar in your cage according to the rules it would be within and inch or so parallel to your existing A pillar bar all the way down, probably! Anyway, read over the FIA rules, you ae going to need a few more tubes, probably, and some gussets. Those door bars are kinda high for my taste, don't make it too hard on yourself to get in and out of the car. There is also a section in the FIA rules that deals with door bar design and height.
And, yes you can use bends in the roof "X" to help headroom. You want the cage to fit as tight to the body (of the car, lol) as possible everywhere.

[Rally Manta]

Dave, thanks...

agreed I need to study some mo'..... My goal is to get the cage to where it will be acceptable without doubt for anybody FIA/RA/NASA/CARS (anywhere reasonable) If this requires, whatever, I'll do it. Obviously not the main issue, but I am also keeping in mind that I might want or need to sell it someday and want it to be sell-able for a long time. A car with a no-excuse cage and logbook or logbooks would help it get sold if I ever have to do that. Main thing is legal and safe as possible of course.... I've been turned down on a new cage before- there is NOTHING I can imagine (within reason) that is as bad as thrashing to get a car ready, arriving at a big event and the scrutineer saying no. Welding on the car out in a parking lot in the rain while everyone else has gone to bed and you're already exhausted from no sleep the week before trying to get ready= bigtime sucks... me done learned that lesson reeeeal guud and wish never to repeat that.

I agree the hight of the upper door bars is not perfect for egress/ingress, but decided to go there because it allowed for still being able to keep the doorcards and still be able to roll windows up n down and pull the door handle inside... after much thought I decided that a slight bit more struggle getting in and out was worth that... it will be decided later if that was a good decision or not... and I can add a couple more vertical tubes between the upper door bar and sill bar to make "nascar style" side protection on both sides that will be quite strong while also checking off the 'sill bar' requirement...


La lecture des instructions françaises est amusement et me fait le souhait pour un vin bon et fromage tandis que je fais des préparations à ma voiture de rassemblement. J'aime le rassemblement et souhaite faire l'amour aux étapes dans mon beau haha automatique allemand