engine swaps in or around bedfordshire

[littlegearl]

hello there, my engine swap may be happening... and soon!

but i don't really know of anyone who can do it, i know a couple of mechanics who could probably fit my new engine (not particularly difficult swap) but would rather get it done by a professional

so anyone out there know of any decent garages in bedfordshire, northamptonshire, buckinghamshire, cambridgeshire etc... (any of the counties no more than 50-75 miles from bedford really) who could perform a swap for me...?

if it helps the car is a mk 1 Cav (front end of a Manta - see profile) and the engine is the 2.0 16v so the only things needed for the swap is 1.8 Manta engine mounts, 1.8 sump, relocated dizzy, and 1.8 gearbox and mounts - which can be supplied by me

cheers for any help,
Gareth.

[jacko lah]

I take it you are a member of a manta owners club - There's a web site and if I remember a how to do section.

www.mantaclub.org/

Only advice I can offer is : It's been done before and the more of the donor cars ignition and fueling system you can use the better !

[littlegearl]

no not a member of the club but do use the website, would join but i've been told that sometimes they're a bit funny about letting Vauxhall's in...

the trouble is i don't have the space to do the swap here, so really need it doing by a mechanic... so may as well get it done right by a pro!

[Sheepy]

If you were nearer Leighton, I'd suggest Mann Motors. Steve Mann used to restore classics but now just runs a standard garage. I've known him about six years and get him (or his lads) to do all the work I can't be bothered with!

I'll ask some of the lads on the car restoration course next week if they've got any suggestions.

Sheepy

[trooper1212]

Sheepy said:

If you were nearer Leighton, I'd suggest Mann Motors. Steve Mann used to restore classics but now just runs a standard garage. I've known him about six years and get him (or his lads) to do all the work I can't be bothered with! I'll ask some of the lads on the car restoration course next week if they've got any suggestions. Sheepy

Me and the old fella have used Mann Motors on many occasion, and have always been happy. So another thumbs up from here.

[littlegearl]

leighton not a problem... its only 45mins away... if i'm willing to go there to meet a bunch of strangers in a car park i'm willing to go there to have an engine fitted...

probably likely to buy another car whilst the Cav is off the road, seen an Astra for £10 i'm tempted by!!!

but yeah, any info would be good!!!

[dern]

This is rather a dull question but can I ask how you insure the resulting car and how it affects your premiums?

It looks like a great by the way, I wish I'd had the resources to convert my 1.8 manta in the same way. I'd love another one now and have the tools and the skills (probably) to do the swap but can't justify another insurance policy sadly.

Do you need to move the brake servo as you had to when doing the conversion to the manta?

Regards,

Mark

Edited: Sh*t, I knew I shouldn't have looked on autotrader, just look at this...



OPEL MANTA GTE 2.0, D
reg. alloys, all original, not been owned by boy racer, will make nice collectors car, excellent drive. £325 . ono.

...probably a good job it's 80 miles away.

>> Edited by dern on Saturday 27th March 13:28

[ultimasimon]

dern said:

OPEL MANTA GTE 2.0, D reg. alloys, all original, not been owned by boy racer, will make nice collectors car, excellent drive. £325 . ono. ...probably a good job it's 80 miles away.

Sadly they don't fetch a lot these days for a good one. You get a lot of car for the money. Reading this thread has brought back a lot of happy memories. My second car at 17 was an orange 1.9 Manta 'A'. Later I fitted the complete fuel injection system from the 2.0 GTE to my 1.9 after the poxy auto-choke gave up.

Other than running a return pipe for the fuel line, 6 wires was all that was needed to connect the ECU and get the car running. Best conversion I ever did and I miss that car now. With a Blydenstein (sp) fuel pressure regulator and Koni adjustables, it used to give all my 'posh' mates a good hiding with their RS 2000's and their Mexico's. My mates thought that I had a race tuned car, which was why I beat them. Who was I to ruin their misconceptions? Those were the days

[littlegearl]

dern said:

This is rather a dull question but can I ask how you insure the resulting car and how it affects your premiums?

dull, but worthy!!!

don't worry, i can get insurance... but its not cheap!!! i won't tell you the figures but its twice what i'm currently paying!!!

i think it'll be worth it though, as my car will be unique... and bloody fast!

[dern]

littlegearl said:

dull, but worthy!!! don't worry, i can get insurance... but its not cheap!!! i won't tell you the figures but its twice what i'm currently paying!!! i think it'll be worth it though, as my car will be unique... and bloody fast!

I think you're right. My manta was terrific fun even with a bog standard 1.8 in it and I suspect your car will be even better with a bit more poke. When you've finished it (or even when you have some pictures part way through if you have the facilities) I would be very interested to hear of your progress.

I was checking the manta owner club site out earlier today and those guys are getting limited mileage policies with the 16v engine fitted of 200-500 quid which seems amazing to me. I guess it's considered a classic now whereas when I had mine it was merely old.

Certainly piqued my interest at any rate

Regards,

Mark

[dern]

ultimasimon said:

Sadly they don't fetch a lot these days for a good one. You get a lot of car for the money. Reading this thread has brought back a lot of happy memories. My second car at 17 was an orange 1.9 Manta 'A'. Later I fitted the complete fuel injection system from the 2.0 GTE to my 1.9 after the poxy auto-choke gave up.

My dad had one of those. I think mum let him keep it for a year (came home one day having traded the family hillman hunter in against it) and then made him change it. To be fair to mum it wasn't really suitable for towing their caravan and it a bit cramped in the back for my brother and I and our pet labrador . I can see why he bought it now though although I wasn't particularly interested at the time. His was bright yellow.

Regards,

Mark

[littlegearl]

dern said:

I was checking the manta owner club site out earlier today and those guys are getting limited mileage policies with the 16v engine fitted of 200-500 quid which seems amazing to me. I guess it's considered a classic now whereas when I had mine it was merely old.

being the Cav, most people just consider my car to be merely old... more fool them as with 115bhp now its quite rapid... soon to be very

unfortuantly, my insurance will be quite alot more than £200... but it will be a daily driver too!

pissed off, was working today so missed out on securing a valver off ebay by just £45!!! grr!!!

[sheepy]

Best that the lads on the resto course could suggest was contact the owner of "Homan Tyre Services" in Kempston (01234 851850). Apparently if he can't do the job, he'll know someone who can. One of the guys has his TR3 serviced and mot'd by him every year.

Let me know how you get on.

Sheepy

[littlegearl]

cheers Mate, you don't have an address for them do you?

got lost trying to find kempston radiators so no chance when i've never even heard of the garage!!!

have asked my mate to ask his dad if he could... hasn't got back to me yet, he's got the experience/knowledge but he doesn't have the space

he did put a Rover V8 in an SD1 van so trust his experience!!!

[Sheepy]

littlegearl said:

cheers Mate, you don't have an address for them do you?

No, but Yell do

[Pigeon]

littlegearl said:

cheers Mate, you don't have an address for them do you? got lost trying to find kempston radiators so no chance when i've never even heard of the garage!!!

Dead easy to find... down the hill past Kempston Sainsbury's, right at the roundabout by Marshalls and they're just past there on the right.

Good for MOTs too.

[littlegearl]

yeah found it, been computerless for a week so haven't replied...

haven't checked a price yet, waiting for someone else to get back to me AND the engine swap will be put back 'til after the respray i think...

its actually opposite the old site of thompson bros. who i take the car too...