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OK then Retro Heroes... I'm looking to glean more information about 'Mk1 cavalier' type Manta's (Manta B?)...
A friend has just been offered one at a reasonable price, and we like the idea.
So can anyone enlighten the pitfalls of owning / buying one, how easy they are to live with and the kind of mods that can be done on a reasonably small budget. What are the engines like? Where should I be looking for terminal Grot? What are they worth??
The car in question is an 1800cc 'berlinetta' of mid 80's vintage.
OBV. interspersing the thread with jangly pics of 'souped up' versions will be nice too. OFF YOU GO ;D
(Note to Hairnet - no posts stating the bleeding obvious like 'look out for rust' or 'the engine might be smokey'!!! LOLLERSTICKS!)
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Bioshock
Posted a lot
It aint hip to be square.
Posts: 1,861
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from the few i've seen,they tend to rot everywhere,mechanics seem to be pretty strong mind.
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Almera GTI = ugly bird who turns out to be great in the sack = Win
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burns
Part of things
Posts: 373
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Apr 25, 2006 10:01:14 GMT
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Yup, rot seems to be the main problem. The 1.8 is a good start as putting an XE and similar late vauxhall engines in is fairly easy to do. I was thinking about them a while ago, but got the impression they made mini's look rot free.
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antdat
Part of things
Posts: 712
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Apr 25, 2006 10:39:03 GMT
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BigWig
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,101
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Apr 25, 2006 10:57:23 GMT
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I had a 2.0 GTE. It was on here as 'the manta of doom', anyone remember it? Good fun to drive and great in the wet. I'd recommend a LSD though if you like sideways anics.
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Apr 25, 2006 11:45:24 GMT
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Manta's are great cars, much underrated. CIH engines (1.6, 1.9, 2.0) are expensive to tune in the conventional sense due to the availability of tuning parts. Since you are looking at a 1.8 then this would be an ideal candidate for the Cavalier SRI 130/Astra GTE engine, or as most prefer, the XE engine. They handle well, just don't go too stiff with the suspension as it ruins them. They never came with an LSD as standard, although it was optional on the GT/E, though I have yet to see a GT/E that had been specified with it. Rust in the chassis legs and floors is a killer. It's lots of work to put right, but if you are prepared for it then repro chassis legs are available from Germany. Also check the back of the inner wings where they meet the bulkhead, especially around the battery tray and also under the front wing, where the inner wings/wheel wells meet the sills. Rear arches are also prone to rot. Other than that, just check the usual places, wings, sills, boot floor, any seams where panels meet, etc. Later models seem to rust the worst, due to the use of cheap steel. If possible, get one without a sunroof. Gearbox's can be quite baulky when cold, but should be very slick when thoroughly warmed up. The brakes were never that great, so don't be surprised if it takes quite some distance to pull up, they should have quite a firm pedal though. Also check the front ball joints (top and bottom) for play. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but I have found these to be common areas to look out for. They are pretty much identical to an Ascona B from the waste down. I didn't go all the way to Germany for nothing
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Apr 25, 2006 15:51:48 GMT
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Manta's are great cars, much underrated. CIH engines (1.6, 1.9, 2.0) are expensive to tune in the conventional sense due to the availability of tuning parts. Since you are looking at a 1.8 then this would be an ideal candidate for the Cavalier SRI 130/Astra GTE engine, or as most prefer, the XE engine. They handle well, just don't go too stiff with the suspension as it ruins them. They never came with an LSD as standard, although it was optional on the GT/E, though I have yet to see a GT/E that had been specified with it. Rust in the chassis legs and floors is a killer. It's lots of work to put right, but if you are prepared for it then repro chassis legs are available from Germany. Also check the back of the inner wings where they meet the bulkhead, especially around the battery tray and also under the front wing, where the inner wings/wheel wells meet the sills. Rear arches are also prone to rot. Other than that, just check the usual places, wings, sills, boot floor, any seams where panels meet, etc. Later models seem to rust the worst, due to the use of cheap steel. If possible, get one without a sunroof. Gearbox's can be quite baulky when cold, but should be very slick when thoroughly warmed up. The brakes were never that great, so don't be surprised if it takes quite some distance to pull up, they should have quite a firm pedal though. Also check the front ball joints (top and bottom) for play. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but I have found these to be common areas to look out for. They are pretty much identical to an Ascona B from the waste down. I didn't go all the way to Germany for nothing That sounds pretty spot on to me. Every manta I have seen that has spent most of its life outside has had rotten front chassis legs and the bulkhead panels and A-pillars have laso gone. As said before the 1.8 is the one to get for XE conversions into any rwd installation and as such even a rotten one is worth a few hundred sheckles.
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Apr 25, 2006 21:03:03 GMT
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daz has just described the 2 ive had and the 4 my mate has had. ;D ;D ;D
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Apr 25, 2006 21:34:50 GMT
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[i Someone get me a tissue ;D
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welder
Part of things
Posts: 518
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Apr 25, 2006 21:49:20 GMT
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May I direct you towards the Manta club website at www.mantaclub.org. If your anywhere near Stoke on trent Drop me an email with your phone number and I'll try and answer any other questions you may have. By and large the info posted so far is pretty accureate. Don't dismiss the 1.8 as a parts bin for an xe conversion though. They are a capable car in their own right and not especially slow. also, as people break them for the conversion bits, standard ish ones are getting rare now
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I'm not completely useless, I can be used as a bad example.
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that orange one is fantabulousous!! i want it! and I'm now getting thirsty for a fizzy orange drink too
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2006 Audi A3 2003 Fusion 2 looking for a project....
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ive always liked them, ever since i was a small kid. That orange one above is gorgeous! Good luck with the hunt Nick, do i sense an ebay session coming .... ?? ;D then again, life is an ebay session for you isnt it!? lol
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mako
Part of things
Posts: 271
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Oh my dog! First the orange Mazda and now this orange Manta. Fabulous! I reckon you can make any car look the pooch's prunes by just painting it orange. Fabulous x 10! Somebody start a orange car -thread, please!
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'77 Datsun 100A, '79 Mitsubishi Sapporo 2000 GSR
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I had a GTE with some of the faults above plus where the fuel tank is held on with straps which are exposed to road filth, the tank rusted through! It was simple to fix though, but involved removing the tank, draining and welding a patch over the hole, carefully.......
Hatch was rusy all round the window. Sills needed patching. Then a piston holed on the way to see Van Halen at Wembley. My mate and I dumped the car at B&Q and had to walk about 2 miles to see the show (Brilliant) then called the AA ;D
It was slammed (of course) and rode like a rodeo bronco, so I put it up an inch or two which made it much nicer.
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Peugeot 307sw - Suzuki SV650S - MX5.
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Apr 27, 2006 11:34:16 GMT
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Cheers for the help guys!
That orange one has caused me to go through 3 pairs of undercrackers already this morning!
Seems like we have our pick of them now.... There was the original one we found locally, plus one I boshed a bid on on eGay, plus another that my friend found on the Bay!
Argh! Potential Manta overload!!! ;D
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Apr 28, 2006 13:08:45 GMT
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Yesterday at 7:54, pogweasel wrote:
Nothing wrong with creature comforts. If I want masochism, I'll just go and slam my knackers in the fridge door for a bit.
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Apr 28, 2006 13:13:55 GMT
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There was one special that was little known, and that was the levitating manta400... ...but it never took off... BB
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Yesterday at 7:54, pogweasel wrote:
Nothing wrong with creature comforts. If I want masochism, I'll just go and slam my knackers in the fridge door for a bit.
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Apr 28, 2006 13:17:41 GMT
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desert rat... check ot the back to front sun roof!!!
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Yesterday at 7:54, pogweasel wrote:
Nothing wrong with creature comforts. If I want masochism, I'll just go and slam my knackers in the fridge door for a bit.
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Apr 28, 2006 16:50:33 GMT
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my mates cavvy. tastefully modified. unfortunatley the car is now very very unroadworthy due to ROT! i tired to weld up all the holes but they seemed to appear faster than i can weld. it will be getting sold for bits soon i think. highlands of scotland if anyone needs parts. most parts avaliable except unique bodykit.
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Glenn
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Apr 28, 2006 16:51:09 GMT
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Ace pictures Badger Bill. 400s are hard as nails!!!
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