The Blue Mantis is Alive

[gsposse44]

Hi,
after about 2 hours of working on the car last nite, I finally got it running (at least for awhile). Was working for about an hour, went to check the gas vent inside the trunk and found an onlooker as picture #1. Thus at 10:54PM EST, the Blue Mantis was brought to life. Only missing the lightning bolts and mad scientist on Halloweens Eve. Finished cleaning all contacts/grounds and now all the lights in/out are working except the turn signals. Haven't taken off the dashboard yet to check out the wiring/fuses. Cool horn, sounds kinda like an early Roadrunner horn. Replaced fuel filters, flushed/filled the radiator and replaced a few cracked vacuum lines. Little successes but it helps motivate me.

[gsposse44]

Finally had a day off work (crazy hours) and Saturday was Manta Day. Repaired the rusted out battery tray, included some pics. Also, replaced the valve cover gasket and vacuum line which was severely cracked and flushed the radiator (what a mess, should have loosened the hose slower).
I had my first experience with OGTS. Ordered some items (gaskets, filters) and had great customer service. Shipped the order out very quickly considering I live across the country. Next on the agenda, when time permits is cleaning/sealing the gas tank, replacing fuel/vent hoses, getting new rear shocks and taking off the dash to see what mysteries lie beneath!
chris

[BQS4]

On the battery box repair, I'll quote Darth Vader "Impressive, most impressive" I would go one step further, and coat the area with paint on truck bed liner (Herculiner, Rhino liner, etc.) By coating, I mean, I'd paint up all sides to just under the fender/hood lip, up the sides and under the wiper motor, and down the front, behind the brake booster, and about another couple of inches up towards the top of the inner fender.
BTW, where did you get the battery tray? Looks like some kind of stock part.

[Aardvaark]

On the battery box repair, I'll quote Darth Vader "Impressive, most impressive" I would go one step further, and coat the area with paint on truck bed liner (Herculiner, Rhino liner, etc.) By coating, I mean, I'd paint up all sides to just under the fender/hood lip, up the sides and under the wiper motor, and down the front, behind the brake booster, and about another couple of inches up towards the top of the inner fender.
BTW, where did you get the battery tray? Looks like some kind of stock part.

Tabco is still in buisness but I don't think produces it's Manta ans Ascona
sheet metal anymore. Back in the day they offered several crash and rust repair
panels. His is most likely NOS.

[BQS4]

It's for the 55-79 Beetle/Super Beetle battery tray $11.75

[Aardvaark]

It's for the 55-79 Beetle/Super Beetle battery tray $11.75

That explains why the inboard battery hold down doesn't look correct.
http://www.tabcobodyparts.com/html/t...f_contents.htm

Lifted from the Tabco catalog by a Opel parts catalog:
http://www.opelgt.com/photopost/show...ser/23031/sl/a
http://www.opelgt.com/photopost/show...ser/23031/sl/a
Doesn't look like they offered the battery try back then.

[gsposse44]

Thanks for the input. The replacement battery tray is for a 71-79 super beetle. I found it for $15 from mamotorworks.com where I bought my fusible links. Great vintage VW parts site.

[neuropel]

On the bottom side of the battery tray, did you re-attach the hold for the hood release cable? Also, you would be well served to remove all the rubber insulation attached to the firewall area - that stuff holds a lot of moisture and the whole area can rot out without you even noticing it. As Gene recommended, paint/seal that area well. Some kind of textured bedliner is a good choice. I recently painted the entire engine bay, firewall, tranny tunnel, and the entire underneath of my Manta with POR-15 (the entire drivetrain and fuel system is out of the car, which made it easy) and I plan to top coat the engine bay area with duplicolor or rhinoliner bedliner. Holes in the firewall under that rubber insulation can seriously hurt the structural integrity of the car, so it's a good idea to make sure you don't have any hidden rust issues under there.

Todd

[gsposse44]

On the bottom side of the battery tray, did you re-attach the hold for the hood release cable? Also, you would be well served to remove all the rubber insulation attached to the firewall area - that stuff holds a lot of moisture and the whole area can rot out without you even noticing it. As Gene recommended, paint/seal that area well. Some kind of textured bedliner is a good choice. I recently painted the entire engine bay, firewall, tranny tunnel, and the entire underneath of my Manta with POR-15 (the entire drivetrain and fuel system is out of the car, which made it easy) and I plan to top coat the engine bay area with duplicolor or rhinoliner bedliner. Holes in the firewall under that rubber insulation can seriously hurt the structural integrity of the car, so it's a good idea to make sure you don't have any hidden rust issues under there.

Todd

Hi,
I did reattached the hood release cable. I sealed under the insulation around the heater box but forgot all about the firewall area. I will have to put that on my "to do" list. I have heard of rhinoliner but what is duplicolor?
chris
ps-dumped out alot of rust chips that were lodged in my fusebox. Looks good now though.

[neuropel]

I have heard of rhinoliner but what is duplicolor?

I was referring to Duplicolor's bedliner products - Truck Bed Coatings

The spray-on version is particularly easy to apply, and produces a nice clean finish.