Thanks Mike! I used Van Nuys Plating. Overall happy with the results, but there was a snafu where a new trainee put some of my non-ferrous parts in an acid bath with everything else and ruined them. Not something that would normally happen, but worth calling attention to any parts that aren't steel just in case.
@@AndrewDoesCarStuff Ahh yes the old rookie at the plating shop mistakes. I had some tailight bezels done for my ranchero and the shop kid drilled holes in them to wire them up, he "thought" the holes would be hidden when installed 😂
Great video Andrew. Thanks for sharing. I have a similar, slightly earlier '71 Manta A over here in England. Mine is also nice with low mileage and pretty rust free - but not as nice as yours is now. Mine is silver with red interior. Best of luck with your lovely car.
Thank you! Glad to hear from another Manta owner. Mine was originally silver as well, with a grey cloth interior (Luxus). Silver on red sounds very nice!
A great video, Andrew, thank you for sharing the rebuild process with us, honest errors and all. And I have to say, I really think your video production is great. Well done, sir.
The results are quite striking!! I want to thank you for not editing out the mistake. This is totally something I would do. You make me feel better about my own history of errors. This is quite an interesting car. Keep pushing!
Thanks! It was tempting to just gloss over the mistake and pretend everything went perfectly, because nobody would ever know. But I think it's important to show things like this because A) it's realistic and relatable and B) maybe I can help prevent someone else from making the same mistake.
Hi Andrew, you know what ? You just gave my motivation to begin it on my “B” model. Im doing right now “der Vorderachse” (front axis) 😎 Thank you for this very relax tutorial 🙏🏼
LOL I was wondering in earlier videos where you were going to source new bushings. What pita to have to modify all the aftermarket poly ones. I'm sure the results were great though.
Awesome videos!! Great work, looks so clean! Quick question, what would you say the diameter of the front springs are? How close does the upper control arm come to contacting the spring at full droop? I am planning out an air suspension for one of these, but unfortunately don't have the vehicle just yet, so only have TH-cam and forums to go off of. Any measurements or approximations would help me tremendously, thanks!!
The overall diameter of the front springs is about 4-5/8" and there is roughly 1-3/4" clearance on the sides of the UCA to the spring at ride height. Definitely will be easier to figure out once you have the car!
Andrew: Did you place the lower swivel ball joint in any specific direction/orientation before pressing it in, or could it be installed in whatever direction? Some has markings, showing how to install them, did yours have that?
Ah, technically the episode about restoring the hardware was Episode 4, but I didn't label it in the title. It seems like it's own subject, even though it's part of this series. th-cam.com/video/p6pz8NVT29o/w-d-xo.html
What an awesome transformation! Great job with both the car and video Andrew! Always a pleasure to watch your content and can't wait for the rear axle video. Will you change the wheel bearings on it as well? Great work man! :)
Thanks Metod! I appreciate the kind words coming from a talented Manta fixer like yourself! I currently don't plan on changing the axle bearings as I think they are fine. I'll probably also leave the drum brakes alone for now. All that stuff can be addressed after the axle is back on the car, if needed. I am going to change the pinion seal though, since this might be the only time it's accessible. Torque tube will be redone with a new bearing and rubber bits. Can't wait to be back on the road!
Hat's off! I can imagine the feeling bolting all that good stuff together, really looks the part now! 👌 Keep it up good sir, the Manta folks are cheering from every corner of the earth! 😁🙏🇸🇪
![Rebuilding the Opel Torque Tube! - Manta A Suspension Upgrade [EP. 6]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gHPhnVh3Vhw/mqdefault.jpg)
![Rebuilding the Opel Torque Tube! – Manta A Suspension Upgrade [EP. 6]](/img/tr.png)
![It's Done!! First Drive & Project Recap - Opel Manta A Suspension Upgrade [EP. 8]](/img/n.gif)
Wow Andrew, awesome video!! Great quality, focusing in the details. Beauty Manta, enjoy it !!
Cheers!
Nice video! That oil pan is interesting, USA version or aftermarket?
Thanks! Is the pan different from European cars? I believe it's original to the car.
Seriously, live in the USA and drive a gay European Opel 😅 max 1.9 l (1897 cm³) engine with 105 HP a poor German imitation of American mucle cars 😂
Looks awesome, super sanitary! Do you mind sharing who did your hardware plating?
Thanks Mike! I used Van Nuys Plating. Overall happy with the results, but there was a snafu where a new trainee put some of my non-ferrous parts in an acid bath with everything else and ruined them. Not something that would normally happen, but worth calling attention to any parts that aren't steel just in case.
@@AndrewDoesCarStuff Ahh yes the old rookie at the plating shop mistakes. I had some tailight bezels done for my ranchero and the shop kid drilled holes in them to wire them up, he "thought" the holes would be hidden when installed 😂
@@428eliminator3 Dang! That's wild. Imagine thinking "well nobody told me not to drill holes in things"
KONI suspension porn.
Impressive attention to details there 😀. I like the manta and old opels in general. Will definitely follow your channel.
Thanks!
Great video Andrew. Thanks for sharing. I have a similar, slightly earlier '71 Manta A over here in England. Mine is also nice with low mileage and pretty rust free - but not as nice as yours is now. Mine is silver with red interior. Best of luck with your lovely car.
Thank you! Glad to hear from another Manta owner. Mine was originally silver as well, with a grey cloth interior (Luxus). Silver on red sounds very nice!
A great video, Andrew, thank you for sharing the rebuild process with us, honest errors and all. And I have to say, I really think your video production is great. Well done, sir.
Thank you! Comments like this help keep me going, I appreciate it.
Great video. I had the same spring issues when I did my Manta B.
Glad it's not just me 😅
The results are quite striking!! I want to thank you for not editing out the mistake. This is totally something I would do. You make me feel better about my own history of errors. This is quite an interesting car. Keep pushing!
Thanks! It was tempting to just gloss over the mistake and pretend everything went perfectly, because nobody would ever know. But I think it's important to show things like this because A) it's realistic and relatable and B) maybe I can help prevent someone else from making the same mistake.
really beautiful work... for an opel lol. jk
Hi Andrew, you know what ? You just gave my motivation to begin it on my “B” model.
Im doing right now “der Vorderachse” (front axis) 😎
Thank you for this very relax tutorial 🙏🏼
That's great to hear! I hope your project goes a little more smoothly :D
I’ll eventually need to do the same; this is very helpful. Hope to find a salvage front suspension, rebuild it, then swap them out.
That's not a bad idea, to reduce the time your car is off the road! But then what do you do with your original stuff?
Sell it off, or save it for the next project.
LOL I was wondering in earlier videos where you were going to source new bushings. What pita to have to modify all the aftermarket poly ones. I'm sure the results were great though.
It was a pain indeed! But yes, big improvement. If only there were some thicker sway bars for this car.
Awesome videos!! Great work, looks so clean! Quick question, what would you say the diameter of the front springs are? How close does the upper control arm come to contacting the spring at full droop? I am planning out an air suspension for one of these, but unfortunately don't have the vehicle just yet, so only have TH-cam and forums to go off of. Any measurements or approximations would help me tremendously, thanks!!
The overall diameter of the front springs is about 4-5/8" and there is roughly 1-3/4" clearance on the sides of the UCA to the spring at ride height. Definitely will be easier to figure out once you have the car!
Andrew: Did you place the lower swivel ball joint in any specific direction/orientation before pressing it in, or could it be installed in whatever direction? Some has markings, showing how to install them, did yours have that?
No specific orientation on these lower ball joints, they are the same all the way around.
Great video, and very good job !
Thank you!
FRONT! Lol…
I'm still kinda salty about that... 🤦♂
I am binge watching now. Very enjoyable. Could not find episode 4 though?
Ah, technically the episode about restoring the hardware was Episode 4, but I didn't label it in the title. It seems like it's own subject, even though it's part of this series. th-cam.com/video/p6pz8NVT29o/w-d-xo.html
Fantastic work on the front suspension and the video production is amazing! Thanks for bringing us along!
Thank you!
What an awesome transformation! Great job with both the car and video Andrew! Always a pleasure to watch your content and can't wait for the rear axle video. Will you change the wheel bearings on it as well? Great work man! :)
Thanks Metod! I appreciate the kind words coming from a talented Manta fixer like yourself! I currently don't plan on changing the axle bearings as I think they are fine. I'll probably also leave the drum brakes alone for now. All that stuff can be addressed after the axle is back on the car, if needed. I am going to change the pinion seal though, since this might be the only time it's accessible. Torque tube will be redone with a new bearing and rubber bits. Can't wait to be back on the road!
Hat's off! I can imagine the feeling bolting all that good stuff together, really looks the part now! 👌 Keep it up good sir, the Manta folks are cheering from every corner of the earth! 😁🙏🇸🇪
Thank you! The Manta community is not a big one, but it's nice that we support each other :D