Oh my God, what the hell have I bought yet again!?

Lopéz · 19 Apr 2008 at 13:57

Just took it out for a blast. It absolutely needs an XE engine. If Kate thinks it needs more power then it must do!

And as mine is carb fed (it's a GT Exclusive not a GTE Exclusive) that means bike carbs or conversion to injection, which I don't think I can be arsed with.

penski · 19 Apr 2008 at 16:45

Bike carbs. Do iiit!

Fannymoulds for the Family II lump are easy to come by.

*n

Lopéz · 19 Apr 2008 at 16:45

thepharcyde said:
Love it looks mint. Any interior shots?

It has the GTE interior with Recaros:

Irmscher wheel - with or without the pad? I think I prefer without

Original sills :eek:

Outcast · 19 Apr 2008 at 16:48

Nice Clean condition

penski · 19 Apr 2008 at 16:50

Bloody hell, mate. That's probably the most solid Manta I've seen!

*n

Lopéz · 19 Apr 2008 at 16:52

It's got some grotty spots on the inner wings, I'll nip out and get a couple of pics. But even there it's solid :eek:

volospian · 19 Apr 2008 at 16:53

Definately without the pad!!

saitrix · 19 Apr 2008 at 16:59

Looks really good! Also yes deffo without the steering wheel pad. Now get that XE in there.

Lostkat · 19 Apr 2008 at 17:04

volospian said:
Definately without the pad!!

I think it looks more pro without :cool:

penski · 19 Apr 2008 at 17:10

Lostkat said:
I think it looks more pro without

Have you tried putting him off with running 'pacenotes' commentary?

"Easy right off drive, through gate, 90 left at end of road, easy right followed by medium left past lane with doggers..."

*n

Lopéz · 19 Apr 2008 at 17:13

Okay 2 really boring posts coming up - a structural walkthrough of the shell:

Sill - original - never plated - solid:

Rear chassis rail and spring hanger:

Front end of sill and chassis outrigger:

Battery tray (well chuffed about this)

Strut top & inner wing:

Passenger side headlamp bowl & inner wing:

Worst rust on the car. Driver side headlamp bowl. I've bashed this to hell with a screwdriver and it will NOT go through. This and the opposite side are getting stripped, DeOx'd, Hydrate80'd and repainted tomorrow or next weekend.

Bulkhead:

Crossmember:

Lopéz · 19 Apr 2008 at 17:14

Driver side boot corner:

Passenger side boot corner:

Rear 3/4 pockets:

Those of you who like new cars can wake up now

Howard · 19 Apr 2008 at 17:19

Pretty impressive nick for a .. <how old is it exactly?> year old car

flat-6 · 19 Apr 2008 at 18:00

Wtf, where's the rust?

Has this been stored in a special manta-love barn for 20 years?

Lashout_UK · 19 Apr 2008 at 18:03

That's in outstanding condition. I'd look to getting it professionaly wax injected and re-undersealed, to preserve it even more!

DannyW · 19 Apr 2008 at 18:04

whats so great about XE engine?

Wicksta · 19 Apr 2008 at 18:07

The condition of that shell seems almost too good to be true, nice one!

DannyW said:
whats so great about XE engine?

Readily available, easy to fit and much better than what he has currently.

Lopéz · 19 Apr 2008 at 18:10

DannyW said:
whats so great about XE engine?

As Wicksta points out - readily available (in those hugely sought after Cavaliers and Calibras

), makes good power, and very easy to fit to my particular car. Along with the Cosworth probably one of the best known and supported 16v tuner engines of it's era I'd say?

loltim · 19 Apr 2008 at 18:31

What a cool looking car that is :cool:

penski · 19 Apr 2008 at 18:49

DannyW said:
whats so great about XE engine?

Lopéz said:
As Wicksta points out - readily available (in those hugely sought after Cavaliers and Calibras ), makes good power, and very easy to fit to my particular car. Along with the Cosworth probably one of the best known and supported 16v tuner engines of it's era I'd say?

I'd go as far as to call it one of the best n/a two litre four pots made.

Cracking engines with two decades of development work for road, track and rally use.

With bike carbs, a little bit of porting and a decent manifold, 175bhp is quite cheap and easy.

*n