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Chevy Colorado 2.8L I4 LK5 Swap

183K views 849 replies 56 participants last post by  wrench459 (R.I.P.)  
Charles, I have a set of 16 x 7.5" TSW's with 205/45-16 tires that fit a Manta with no issues. I lost a tire two years ago to a pothole, so I will probably upgrade them to 215/40-16's to keep the diameter reasonable but get a bit more tire contact patch on the road.
Do they fit a Manta with lowered suspension, or do they only fit the stock ride height? I have a set of 16"x7" rims that I wanted to use on a Manta but held off because the car has been lowered ~2".
 
I recently purchased a similar Griffin radiator - are the welded nuts on the side facing the engine for attaching an electric fan or fan shroud?
 
Charles, I'm sorry for my poorly worded message. I was asking IF the welded nuts are for a fan shroud or are they for mounting an electric fan? The Griffin rad I bought has the same thing...basically mine looks identical except that my openings are opposite yours. I am hoping that I have enough clearance between the fan and the front of the engine that I can mount an electric fan (in a "puller" configuration).

Todd
 
Speaking of the dash anyone have the name of the guy that makes the stainless steel inserts for the Manta dash cluster?
Was reading back through Charles' thread and saw this....is someone really making these? If so, please share!
 
Many of us will be curious to hear more about how it runs and drives. Kudos for pushing it through to completion - I'm glad to see that the car didn't just fall by the wayside, like so many other projects that get started.
 
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I was looking at the same Dakota Digital gauges as well - they have some nice choices. VDO also has some nice stuff that could work, so check them out as well. I'm leaning toward the VDO since they match up with some of the VDO gauges I already have in the rally gauge pod (voltmeter, oil pressure, etc.). I'm partial to the clean look of the black faced Vision series. Plus for speedo, they now have a GPS speed sender that makes things easy.
 
One other possible option might be to go with a stamped stainless steel panel, like "jerseydave" Fisher has in his Manta. He in fact got it from "Jerseyopel", another Opeler here on the site. I was discussing this with Jerseyopel at Carlisle, and it turns out they were made by a guy that makes cookie cutters. I have his info and can PM it to you if you're interested in trying to make contact. He mentioned he had gotten it several years ago, and wasn't sure if the guy was even still in business, but it might be worth trying to make contact. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the panel, but perhaps you saw it in Dave's lime green rallye at Carlisle?
 
I am really curious how Todds Manta will do with 300HP and a turbo..
Trust me, Todd is curious too! :ponder:
BJ's shop is at an airport. When I dropped the car back over to his shop after Carlisle, I watched as he "aimed" it around some of the flat paved portion near his shop before parking it. The rear tires were spinning the entire time, whether the car was going straight, fishtailing, or turning. The 3.44 Opel rear is geared way too low for it (it has a Solstice 5 speed transmission), not to mention it's an open diff and made for less than 1/3 the HP the car makes. If we can manage to get the car to hook up, it will be neck-snapping fast. I'm trying to figure out how much rubber can safely fit in the rear fenderwell.
I've now found a Ford 8.8 limited slip rear (3.08 gears) for it - It'll be cut down and modified to fit like the Opel rear, but with a far heavier torque tube set up. It's also getting coilovers at all 4 corners because it needs to be substantially lower, and stiffer. Cage is one of the next items...I'm hoping BJ starts a build thread on here sometime, but if he doesn't, I will start one.
 
This is a 13 x 9 with 245/50 on a stock wagon. Same wheel wells as a Manta.

6" back spacing. Note the clearance to the inner frame, and how close it is on the outside without a rolled lip. You can go to 6.25" backspace but at that point the wheels will rub the e-brake cable.
Things really start to change when you lower the car...My ecotec Manta will be running 15x7 ET28 wheels, with 205/50 Dunlop Direzzas on all 4 corners. Are you going to keep the stock rear...no LSD unit? Think you'll end up just spinning the tires?