1974 A Series Opel Manta Blog

The Opel Project blog has been setup to record the rebuild of my 1974 A Series Opel Manta.
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1974 A Series Opel Manta Blog
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Fuel system tested

Got the fuel pump fired up yesterday, just one leak from a hose to fix. One of those braided hose clamps not tightening properly. But if flowed right up and back round to the tank 🙂 Just a few other hoses for the cold start breather system to sort out and then spark plug leads to order, trigger disc to fit and then i should be ready to start filling her up with oil and water!

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Opel Manta A Series rebuild
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The Manta is now back on the ground!

For the first time in about 10 years the A Series Manta is now back on the ground 🙂 I finally managed to lower the car down from its blocks this weekend now the gearbox is back in! It’s been a very long time since it sat on its wheels. The engine and box are now back in and secure allowing me to lower the car and be able to move it in the garage. I can new get on and finish the exhaust system, finish putting the final parts of the injection back on and then we should be ready…

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The gearbox is now back in the car :-)

As i had today off work i thought i would finish fitting the last few bits to the gearbox and pop it back in the car 🙂 Fitting the bits was nice and easy. Getting the old drain plug out, not so easy and fitting the box back in the car with the engine in was a long slow progress 🙁 i knew it was not an easy job, but you forget just how hard it is with the engine in and the car on the floor 🙂 Still after about 3 hours of messing around trying to get it…

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Opel manta Getrag 5 speed gearbox rebuild
Getrag Gearbox

Opel Manta 5 speed gearbox rebuild

While i have the gerabox out i decided it would be best to take it apart and check it over and replace all the bits i could like seals, speedo drive, reversing switch etc.. I got most of the parts from eBay Germany from Thomas. he has an amazing Ascona and sells lots of good qualityy replacement parts for Opel Mantas. Check out his website here and his eBay shop. He is very helpful with any questions you have and the parts arrive very quickly. I also found a very handy parts view of the gearbox just in case you…

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Manifolds fitted

Finally i have manged to get the gearbox to block brace adjusted and fitted and the exhaust manifold fitted. The inlets are on, so its time to get all the injection bolted on and find out where all the wires go!

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Cylinder refitting

Its been a while since i lasted posted any updates, which has been due to the extended winter 🙁 as its been a bit cold to get out and do anything of much use on the car! but we did get one day of spring like weather!! So its back on with the cylinder head. Im putting the old cam back in while i get the engine up and running as i know there will be no clearance issues if im a bit of with the timing. Then when its all up and running i will take the head off and…

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New Custom Rad ready for fitting

Finaly have had got the brackets fitted to the Custom Rad, so its all ready for fitting. I also have a very cool thermostat controler for the fans (when i get the new ones!) which fits inline on the top radiator hose which works out just right as with the new rad i needed a longer hose but due to cost just had the normal manta B one made. Now i have those bits i can get on with the finally finishing off the engine. I still have a few little bits left to do before we are ready for…

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New Silicon hoses and in hose cooling fan controller

I now have the bottom hose all cut to size and fitted and im just waiting for a hose joiner to come from Samco so i can fit the top hose. As i needed to extend the hose im using a hose joiner that takes a 1/8th NTP fitting as i have found a cool fan cotroller from Revotec (http://www.revotec.com/acatalog/EFC_Hose_Fitting.html#aEFCHOSE) it fits into the joiner (or you can get one already in the joiner) and it will control the fan temperature without having one of those ones that fits into the hose where it goes onto the radiator as they…

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Brand new custom made silicone hoses from JS Performance

Yesterday the new hoses arrived from JS Performance. The top hose is the standard manta one, but the bottom hose has been enlarged on the bottom part to fit the Summit Racing radiator. I have also got a set of heater hoses from them as well. these are not specially made for the A series, but are Lotus Cortina ones as they are the right length and have the 90 degrees set in the right place as i will be routing them across and down the other side of the engine as with all the injection and throttle bodies on the…

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