1982 Opel Manta Coupe - A Tribute to a lost friend
Discussion
This one's been on the back burner for nearly 20 years.. and now I've got a place with a garage, I can unveil this project
Originally I had a GTE coupe but this proved a bit too rotten for my skills and life got in the way (aka university / finding a stable job) so that one got sold so it was out of my friend's driveway and saved.
He then gave me this coupe for the price of sorting out the V5 (pink slip for those in the US) which totaled a measly £35.. the car has been valued at a fair bit more, given It's a none sunroof coupe.
Power plant wise, originally was going to be a 2.0 8v SEH family 2 engine (same block as the XE / Sunbird turbo) with twin Weber 45s, but that engine was then swapped for a 16V Z20LEH engine which the same friend had in an Astra SRI which he'd bounced off a kerbstone. This was to be paired with a RX8 gearbox which I'd purchased back in 2015? or so.
Unfortunately my friend passed away in December 2020 during the 'Big cough' but not of the virus, but due to complications to long term health issues and a cocktail of drugs caused kidney failure. His lockup got repro'd and i lost the engine and gearbox but saved the car and wheels.
He never got to see the car being built and the final engine choice I'd fallen on thanks to another friend offering it to me as a package deal with a BMW gearbox. Paired with a PMC adaptor kit and an E30 rear end thanks to a suggestion from a friend on the Stanceworks discord, the preliminary specifications is as follows:
1982 Opel Manta coupe
Engine - 5.3 LS V8 - L33 from a Tahoe
Pistons / Rods - Summit racing forged items
Cam - Summit racing stage 2? (TBC once i find the recipt)
Trunion bushing upgrade
ARP rod bots
ARP headbolts
Sump - tbc
Transmission / final drive
PMC adaptor kit / flywheel with BMW clutch
Bmw GZ6 - 6 speed box from E60 535
E30 325 rear beam and arms -
E30 / E36 hybrid diff assembly
Suspension -
Stock front end , planned idea of using rear MB coil overs and self designed pushrod setup
New control arms for increased camber / caster adjustment
Power steering depending on which rack i find works , likely BMW sourced.
Brakes
Front brakes TBC - Possibly thieved from a Renault Clio RS200 / 190 (Brembo 4 pots)
Front discs - Custom designed floating disc setup
Rear brakes - E30 setup with stock handbrake - likely brass sliders and braided lines all round
Race style pedal box to adjust brake balance.
Shell to be stripped / repaired then fitted with a full FIA specification cage with additional bars for harnesses and x bar
Will end up with the exlusive 3 piece rear wing, deeper front spolier and splitter to reduce front end lift (known issue in Mantas is to have the steering go light)
AC to be hopefully added in for some comfort
Electronic package likely to be a Haltech R3? depending on my budget.
First update, spent last Sunday trying to get apart the E30 rear end so i can get them shot blasted.
So far got one arm semi stripped down but needing a bigger hammer and a blow torch to burn out the subframe bushes.
I still need to purchase a welder, having looked around, I'm likely going for an R tech 181 MIG for now as the specs vs price I was very impressed with and I like the idea of a digial control, given I've used an old Sealey 130 my friend had which was a pain to get right with bodywork.
https://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/r-tech-181-digital...
This isn't going to be a fast build, but a slow burner as I intend to take the 25 years of engineeering exprience and training i've aquired and use it all on this car.
Originally I had a GTE coupe but this proved a bit too rotten for my skills and life got in the way (aka university / finding a stable job) so that one got sold so it was out of my friend's driveway and saved.
He then gave me this coupe for the price of sorting out the V5 (pink slip for those in the US) which totaled a measly £35.. the car has been valued at a fair bit more, given It's a none sunroof coupe.
Power plant wise, originally was going to be a 2.0 8v SEH family 2 engine (same block as the XE / Sunbird turbo) with twin Weber 45s, but that engine was then swapped for a 16V Z20LEH engine which the same friend had in an Astra SRI which he'd bounced off a kerbstone. This was to be paired with a RX8 gearbox which I'd purchased back in 2015? or so.
Unfortunately my friend passed away in December 2020 during the 'Big cough' but not of the virus, but due to complications to long term health issues and a cocktail of drugs caused kidney failure. His lockup got repro'd and i lost the engine and gearbox but saved the car and wheels.
He never got to see the car being built and the final engine choice I'd fallen on thanks to another friend offering it to me as a package deal with a BMW gearbox. Paired with a PMC adaptor kit and an E30 rear end thanks to a suggestion from a friend on the Stanceworks discord, the preliminary specifications is as follows:
1982 Opel Manta coupe
Engine - 5.3 LS V8 - L33 from a Tahoe
Pistons / Rods - Summit racing forged items
Cam - Summit racing stage 2? (TBC once i find the recipt)
Trunion bushing upgrade
ARP rod bots
ARP headbolts
Sump - tbc
Transmission / final drive
PMC adaptor kit / flywheel with BMW clutch
Bmw GZ6 - 6 speed box from E60 535
E30 325 rear beam and arms -
E30 / E36 hybrid diff assembly
Suspension -
Stock front end , planned idea of using rear MB coil overs and self designed pushrod setup
New control arms for increased camber / caster adjustment
Power steering depending on which rack i find works , likely BMW sourced.
Brakes
Front brakes TBC - Possibly thieved from a Renault Clio RS200 / 190 (Brembo 4 pots)
Front discs - Custom designed floating disc setup
Rear brakes - E30 setup with stock handbrake - likely brass sliders and braided lines all round
Race style pedal box to adjust brake balance.
Shell to be stripped / repaired then fitted with a full FIA specification cage with additional bars for harnesses and x bar
Will end up with the exlusive 3 piece rear wing, deeper front spolier and splitter to reduce front end lift (known issue in Mantas is to have the steering go light)
AC to be hopefully added in for some comfort
Electronic package likely to be a Haltech R3? depending on my budget.
First update, spent last Sunday trying to get apart the E30 rear end so i can get them shot blasted.
So far got one arm semi stripped down but needing a bigger hammer and a blow torch to burn out the subframe bushes.
I still need to purchase a welder, having looked around, I'm likely going for an R tech 181 MIG for now as the specs vs price I was very impressed with and I like the idea of a digial control, given I've used an old Sealey 130 my friend had which was a pain to get right with bodywork.
https://www.r-techwelding.co.uk/r-tech-181-digital...
This isn't going to be a fast build, but a slow burner as I intend to take the 25 years of engineeering exprience and training i've aquired and use it all on this car.
Edited by Sf_Manta on Friday 26th January 07:34
Edited by Sf_Manta on Friday 26th January 10:37
redexstyle said:
Sorry to hear about your friend. Going to be a nice tribute for sure.
I do have a set of the twin headlights available for the Manta if you were after a set for this car?
I am actually, i was looking to get one scanned and 3D printed though as well given they're quite difficult to find in decent condition I do have a set of the twin headlights available for the Manta if you were after a set for this car?
Dr G said:
I'm in 
Any thoughts on the "look" you're aiming for? I really like the badging on this car, and the idea of "5.3S" replacing "1.8S" made me chuckle to myself.
Something inspired by this car, but with a few more parts like the twin headlamps, 3 piece rear wing, rear bumper and blanking plate from the 'Exclusive' model that was done at the end of productionAny thoughts on the "look" you're aiming for? I really like the badging on this car, and the idea of "5.3S" replacing "1.8S" made me chuckle to myself.
Great project, I love a Manta!
Re the welder that R tech is a lovely unit, I had the pleasure of using one in someone else's workshop recently and it made me want one very much. As you say the digital setup makes it easy, but tbh you'll spend most of your time using it on the minimum 30A setting for bodywork etc.
Re the welder that R tech is a lovely unit, I had the pleasure of using one in someone else's workshop recently and it made me want one very much. As you say the digital setup makes it easy, but tbh you'll spend most of your time using it on the minimum 30A setting for bodywork etc.
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