[Excelsior]

I recently came into a small $1k cash gift and not quite sure what to do with it. My latest thoughts are either having the engine rebuilt/upgraded or replaced on the 74 Manta. Decisions, decisions, please offer your input. Bad or good.

By the time the snow stops flying out here, it should be 'probably' up to $1.5k - $2k. Nothing like a small gift to get things rolling again after almost 1 year of unemployment and most of the back bills paid off.

A small photo gallery for anyone to see. http://ddz.net/gallery/main.php/view/manta/

 

[Sven]

i would start by getting rid of the fire engine bumpers and fitting proper ones.. so you can actually see the car .... but its your money...

 

[benncojr]

The interor looks like it could use some freshing up. New seats, new carpet, new dash, new gas cap. How is the wiring?

Get it nice on the inside, the outside looks good

Have fun with the extra $

 

[Excelsior]

i would start by getting rid of the fire engine bumpers and fitting proper ones.. so you can actually see the car .... but its your money...

heheh, that is the proper bumper. I later plan on getting one of those really nice european front and rear ends that I keep seeing.

 

[Excelsior]

The interor looks like it could use some freshing up. New seats, new carpet, new dash, new gas cap. How is the wiring?

Get it nice on the inside, the outside looks good

Have fun with the extra $

Seats is a good idea. The gas cap is now new. The wiring seems decent (even under the battery box hole that is also already planned for replacement). The paint is basically a 'looks great at 10-20ft' paint job that was splashed on by previous owner.

Paint comes after the european front and rear.

 

[Excelsior]

If I could get one of these engines here in the states!

http://www.mantacentral.co.uk/omoc/photopages/graphics/billing01/dscf0052.jpg

Gotta love the look of those 16v

 

[Tire Fryin GT]

I don't think we have formally met but you seem like a nice enough guy and being the helpful person that I am, you can just send me the money and get rid of all the stress of deciding what to do with it.

Just trying to help

 

[baz]

If I could get one of these engines here in the states!

http://www.mantacentral.co.uk/omoc/photopages/graphics/billing01/dscf0052.jpg

Gotta love the look of those 16v

good news they are in the states now
just the manta 1.8 box or opel omaga box to make it RWD
its a saturn ecotec with chrome covers

 

[Excelsior]

I hate EBay that has no pictures. And really no particular details.

Do you think this might actually work?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7961331548&category=33615

 

[Tire Fryin GT]

What are you going to use the motor in?

 

[baz]

you dont want the tranny from that as its front wheel drive
you would need to get a one from a late manta "b" 1.8 or an opel omega 1.8/ to 2.4 cih
good thing is they are both 5 speeds but they do cost a lot of pennys
+ you will need to replace the exhaust manifold with a 1 from the cars above or make custon
and may have to change the inlet but im not sure on that one

 

[neuropel]

Has Anyone Done This Conversion?

Is this for real? You mean we can buy a basic ecotec here and it will mate up to one of the 5 speed getrags found on the 1.8 Opel models? Does anyone know what's involved with the conversion? I've had European friends tell me that the "other" 5 speed getrags that fit the 1.8 Opel engines are more easily found than the ones that fit our CIH (1.9, 2.2, 2.4) engines. One big difference is that the starter is on the opposite side, right? No way this is just a drop in conversion like the other CIH swaps. But, the Ecotecs can be made pretty hot with aftermarket goodies . Sure would be fun!

Todd K.

 

[baz]

there are lots of pics in the gallery of ones that are done (look at azzi's )the 1.8 is a single over head cam engine that superseded the cih and was made for rwd with an dizzy adapter on the head for the manta fitment
and so its the right way for the starter and i think
was the starting block for the ecotec generation of engines

 

[neuropel]

Hmm...Are all Ecotecs the same? I seem to remember a post from RallyBob about the various generation Ecotecs. The Getrag 5spds I was referring to in my last post are the ones that you guys mate up to the 16V 2.0 Opel engines. Do those engines have the same bolt pattern as the Ecotecs found in our Saturns, etc. here in the states? If so, this should become a more desirable swap here.

 

[baz]

caddy use it in one of there cars and rwd just cant remember it s name
starts with a C though

and a key

 

[baz]

caddy use it in one of there cars and rwd just cant remember it s name
starts with a C though look for a thread called an ecotec in a gt in the search thingy

and a key

 

[greensmurf20]

caddy catara

 

[Sven]

caddy catara

catera
(holden manta in australia, opel omega in europe)

 

[ddoyle]

catera used an opel designed v-6

 

[baz]

its the box you need though