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wtd? 5 speed getrag 1.8 opel manta 'box
cd.thomson - 18/4/09 at 09:23 PM

This is really really speculative after having a chat to a couple of guys today with a turboed c20xe. They highly recommended the manta box to me, but I know theyre rare.

Does anyone know of possible sources? specialist breakers for example? What about costs, my type-9 install will cost £300 in total, if a manta is under £350 id snap it up.

Cheers, Craig


mark chandler - 18/4/09 at 09:32 PM

There is a 5speed getrag box on Ebay at the moment that failed to make £50 last week, its from a Omega.

Linky thing

Dunno if its the same bolt pattern, also if you get one make sure you also get the splined output shaft, or better still complete prop.

Regards Mark


cd.thomson - 18/4/09 at 09:36 PM

hi Mark, I was slightly confused about these boxes too. I have been told the manta 1.8 box bolts straight up to my redtop, but then ive heard the words carlton and omega thrown around too! ive tried reading around but the amount of info is incredibly sparse.

Omega boxes are common, manta boxes certainly arent. If theyre the same then this might make things very very much simpler for me

eta to add information for future reference:

Manta 1.8 box - Weak = XE will be ok, LET will blow it to bits. Overall a bad choice as they are not that easy to find
Carlton 2.0 8v gearbox - Again weak but cheap and plentyful with a cable clutch for easy installation, perfect for XE's
Omega R25-28 gearbox - Found in V6 Omegas (inc. 3.0) - Fairly cheap and very plentyful, can handle LET up to around 250-300 at the push. Hydraulic clutch
Omega R28 gearbox - Found in 3.0 V6 Omegas - Hard to find (i'm looking for one myself) but supposed to handle will over 400bhp. Hydraulic clutc

[Edited on 18/4/09 by cd.thomson]


blakep82 - 18/4/09 at 09:41 PM

ah, ok, the omega never had a redtop, but they did use the x20xev ecotec engine, which has an identical block to the XE. the omega one should bolt right up.

i've never used one though so couldn't say for definite, but if you get a 5 speed omega box for a 2 litre, i don't think you can go wrong


Agriv8 - 18/4/09 at 10:11 PM

there was a manta owners club sit/forum have you tried on there?

regards

Agriv8


liam.mccaffrey - 18/4/09 at 10:43 PM

they're not rare

just expensive sometimes anyone need one let me know. I have a couple left.


mark chandler - 18/4/09 at 10:59 PM

The strong box is the 265 series, good for 500 bhp, beyond that I know very little.

I have one from a Jaguar but its missing the output shaft, 27splines so if anyone has the prop from one of these beer tokens waiting.

Cheers Mark


grahamgg - 19/4/09 at 12:20 AM

I have a manta 1.8 gearbox on my redtop indy. They are getting rare. And they are not that strong .Good ones go for good money. A c20let Engine will eat it
I replaced mine last year, I wished I had replaced it with a type 9. as the getrag box wont last long even with a redtop.

Graham


dhutch - 19/4/09 at 09:38 AM

When i was looking at cars, i had an option of two (yes two) diffrent mk indys with redtops and disintergrated manta boxes.
- I didnt fully bottom out the replacment options before i decided to leave them be but it doesnt seam to be an uncommon failure mode.

Of cause the other option its to get royally ripped off on a specialist bellhousing, and run a type9 like all the others do!

Daniel