tow OPEL GT-R 1973 Workshop Manual

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 7C-135
becomes necessary to check the fluid level, the trans-
mission may be checked at room temperature (70
degrees F.) as follows:
1. With manual control lever in Park position start
engine. DO NOT RACE ENGINE. Move manual
control lever through each range.
2. lmmediately check fluid level with selector lever
in Park, engine running, and vehicle on LEVEL sur-
face.At this point, when a reading is made, fluid level on
the dipstick should be I/4” below the “ADD” mark.
3. If additional fluid is required add fluid to bring
level to
l/4” below the “ADD” mark on the dip-
stick.If transmission fluid level is correctly established at
70 degrees F. it will appear at the “FULL” mark on
the dipstick when the transmission reaches normal
operating temperature (180 degrees F.) The fluid
level is set
l/4” below the “ADD” mark on the
dipstick to allow for expansion of the fluid which
occurs as transmission temperatures rise to normal
operating temperature of 180 degrees F.
Do not overfill, as foaming and loss of fluid through
the vent pipe might occur as fluid heats up. If fluid
is too low especially when cold, complete loss
of’drive may result which can cause transmission fail-
ure.
2.Draining oilpan and rep/a&g strainer assembly.
(a) Raise car on hoist or p/ace OnJxk stands, and
provide container to collect draining fluid.
(b) Remove oil pan and gasket. Discard gasket.
(c) Drain fluid from oil pan. Clean pan with solvent
and dry thoroughly with clean compressed air.
(d) Remove strainer assembly, strainer gasket and
discard.
(e) Install new oil strainer gasket. Install new strainer
assembly.
(f) Install new gasket on oil pan and install pan.
Tighten attaching bolts to 7-10 lb. ft.
(g) Lower car and add approximately three (3) pints
of transmission fluid through filler tube.
(h) With manual control lever in Park position, start
engine. DO NOT RACE ENGINE. Move manual
control lever through each range.
(i) Immediately check fluid level with selector leverin Park, engine running, and vehicle on LEVEL
sur-
face.(i) Add additional fluid to bring level to
l/4” below
the “ADD” mark on the dipstick. Do not overfill.
3.Adding Fluid to Fill Dry Transmission and Con-
verter Assembly
The fluid capacity of the Opel Three Speed Auto-
matic transmission and converter assembly is ap-
proximately IO-l/2 pints, but correct level is
determined by the mark on the dipstick rather than
by amount added. In cases of transmission overhaul,
when a complete fill is required, including a new
converter proceed as follows:
(a) Add approximately 10-l/2 pints of transmission
fluid through tiller tube.
The converter should be replaced on any major fail-
ure, such as a clutch or gearset, and an excessive
amount of foreign material is indicated in the pan. If
installation of a new converter is not required add
approximately five (5) pints of transmission fluid.
(b) With manual control lever in Park position start
engine and run at 1000 RPM. DO NOT RACE EN-
GINE. Move manual control lever through each
range.
(c) Immediately check fluid level with selector lever
in Park, engine running, and vehicle on LEVEL
sur-
face.(d) Add additional fluid to bring level to
l/4” below
the “ADD” mark on the dipstick. Do not overfill.
Opel Three Speed Automatic Transmission Towing
Instructions
If an Opel equipped with an automatic transmission
must be towed, the following precautions must be
observed:
The car may be towed safely on its rear wheels with
the shift lever in neutral position at speeds of 35 miles
per hour or less under most conditions.
However, the drive shaft must be disconnected or the
car towed on its front wheels if:
a. Tow speeds in excess of 35 mph are necessary.
b. Car must be towed for extended distances (over 50
miles).
c. Transmission is not operating properly.
If car is towed on its front wheels, the steering wheel

HOOD, FENDERS, AND GRILLE8A- 72. Remove two plastic caps and phillips screws from
outer end of grille extension.
3. Remove grille extension,
Installation1. Install grille extension and secure with Phillips
screws and two (2) plastic caps.
2. Install hex head screw and washer holding grille
extension to baffle plate.
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF RADIATOR
GRILLE
(OPEL 1900. MANTA)
A. Removal (Model 57)1. Remove the
five (5) radiator grille attaching
screws. See Figure
8A-15.Figure 8A-15 Radiator Grille Attaching Screws
2. Remove radiator grille towards the top so that the
lower guide pins do not break off. See Figure 8A- 16.Figure 8A-16 Removing Radiator Grille
Installation (Model 57)
1. Install radiator grille, aligning guide pins into
lower panel. See Figure
8A-16.2. Secure grille with five (5) attaching screws. See
Figure 8A-2.
Removal (Models 51.53, and 54)
1. Remove the three (3) radiator grille attaching
screws. See Figure
8A-17.Figure 8A.17 Location of Radiator Grille AttachingSCWWS
2. Remove radiator grille towards the top SO that the
lower guide pins do not break off.

HEATER SYSTEM. GT9A- 3
Figure 9A-‘2 Heater Assembly-Rear View
The heater-defroster air door directs the air to the
floor outlets, defroster outlets, or apportions the air
flow to both outlets depending on the position of the
door. A manual water valve regulates the flow of
coolant through the heater core, thereby varying the
temperature of the air flow past the core. The blower
motor is located in the forward portion of the heater
housing. See Figure 9A-2.
Opening and closing of the heater defroster air door
and manual water valve is accomplished by bowden
cables connected to the heater control. The heater
controls function as follows:
Air Inlet-Defroster Control (Upper Lever) Thiscontrol (See Figure 9A-4) opens and closes the air
inlet and heater-defroster air door which channels
the air flow to either the heater outlets or to defroster
outlets, or to both outlets simultaneously, depending
on the position of the control.
Temperature Control (Lower Lever)
- This lever
regulates the flow of coolant through the heater core
and the amount of air that can by-pass heater core
thereby increasing or decreasing the air temperature
proportionate to its travel (toward red square-warm;
toward blue square-cold). Unheated air may be cir-
culated through the car by leaving the temperature
control in the OFF position (blue square).
Figure 9A-3 Heater Assembly-Front View

SA-10 1973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
HEATER SYSTEM
OPEL 1900 - MANTA
CONTENTS
Subject
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION:
Heater System
. . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Function of the Heater
and Ventilation System
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DIAGNOSIS:
HeaterSystem
Trouble
Diagnosis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENTS:
ControlCable
Adjustment
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MAJOR REPAIR:
Removal&InstallationHeaterHousing,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Removal
& Installation Defroster Jets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Removal
81 Installation Heater Control Housing . . . .
Removal
& Installation Heater Motor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SPECIFICATIONS:
Specifications
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page No.
9A-10
9A-11
9A-11
PA-12
PA-12
9A-13
9A-14
9A-15
9A-16
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATIONHEATER SYSTEM
The temperature of the air entering the vehicle is
regulated by the heater valve and the blower. The
distribution of this air is controlled by the heater air
distributor housing under the instrument panel.
Moving the upper control lever from the left towards
the right opens the heater valve. This lever regulates
the flow of coolant through the heater core and
thereby increases or decreases the air temperature
proportionate to its travel. See Figure 9A-30.
Figure 9A-30 Heater Control AssemblyThe connectors for water inlet and outlet are located
on the left side of the heater core, viewed in driving
direction. The coolant flow is shown in the drawing.
See Figure 9A-3 1.
Figure
9A-31 Coolant Flow in Heater Core
Due to the separation of the inflowing and outflow-
ing water in the heater core, an even heating of the

HEATER SYSTEM. OPEL 1900. MANTA9A- 11air is attained, as the water does not cool down in the
second part of the core.
A Water Outlet
B Water Inlet
The center lever actuates the two-stage blower mo-
tor.Lever positions:
Left to Center
- Motor Switched Off
Right of Center
- Lo Blower
Right
- Hi Blower
The lower lever opens and closes the air door which
channels the air flow to either the lower heater out-
lets or to the defroster outlets.
In the left lever position, the air inlet is closed. Up
to the center position, the air is directed
t,o the lower
heater outlets.
When moving the lever from center position towards
the right, the air flow to the lower
heatezr outlets is
reduced and increased to the defroster
csutlets.With the lever in its right position, the air is directed
to the defroster outlets only. For windshield defrost-
ing, all levers have to be moved to the right.
FUNCTION OF THE HEATER AND VENTILATION
SYSTEMThe engine hood is provided with slots in front of the
windshield. The air is directed through the slots into
the heater housing located in the engine compart-
ment, flows into the air distributor housing, and
from there to the lower heater outlets and,/or defros-
ter outlets, depending on the position of the control.
The two-stage blower motor is arranged in the heater
housing above the heater core and actuated by the
center control. The blower motor draws in the air
entering through the slots, blows the air through the
heater core into the air distributor housin:?, and from
there to the lower heater outlets and/or defroster
outlets, depending on the position of the lower con-
trol. See Figure 9A-32.
The heater valve regulates the flow of coolant
through the heater core, thereby varying
t:he temper-
ature of the air flow past the core.
The ventilation of vehicle interior is completed by a
draft-free air circulation pattern. Vent
slots are ar-
ranged below the back window which
are: connected
through channels to the rear quarter
iside panel.
From here, the inside air escapes into
the! open. TheFigure
9A-32 Air Flow
head wind (caused by the car traveling down the
road) promotes this process so that there is always
fresh air in vehicle interior.
On the Model 54 Station Wagon, there will be no air
outlets in the rear. For adequate flow-through type
ventilation, it will be necessary to open a rear win-
dow.Aside from the fresh air admission through the
heater system, two fresh air inlet nozzles are ar-
ranged in the center of the instrument panel. These
nozzles can be turned to direct the air flow in the
desired direction. In addition, rotary flaps allow the
regulation of the entering air or to shut off the air
completely.
These nozzles admit unheated fresh air only and
operate independent of the heater and defroster sys-
tem.
DIAGNOSIS
HEATER SYSTEM TROUBLE DIAGNOSIS
TROUBLETemperature of heated air at outlets too low.
CAUSE AND CORRECTIONCheck radiator cap for proper sealing action. Re-
place, if necessary.
Check for adequate coolant supply. If level is down,
correct cause of coolant loss and refill radiator.
Inspect hose for kinks. Relieve kink or replace hoses.
Check thermostat operation by measuring tempera-
ture of coolant at radiator. Temperature should be
within 5 degrees F. of thermostat rated value (189
degrees F.).

98.18 1973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF REFRIGERATION
We all know what air conditioning does for us, but
very few understand how or why it works. An air
conditioner is functionally very similar to a refrigera-
tor, so let’s take a look at refrigeration. A refrigerator
is a simple mechanism which, surprisingly enough,
works quite a bit like a tea-kettle boiling on a stove.
That may sound far-fetched, but there is more
similarity between the two than most of us would
suspect. In fact, a modern refrigerator can make ice-
cubes and keep food cool and fresh only because a
liquid called the refrigerant boils inside the freezer.
Of codrse everyone knows a boiling tea-kettle is
“hot” and a refrigerator is “cold”. However, this is
where most of us are apt to get confused. We usually
think of “cold” as a definite, positive condition. Ac-
tually though, there is no such thing as “cold”. The
only way we can define it is in a rather negative sort
of way by saying “cold” is simply the lack of heat
just as darkness is the lack of light. We can:t make
things cold directly. All we can do is remove some
of the heat they contain and they will become cold
as a result. And that is the main job of any ice-box
or refrigerator. Both are simply devices for removing
heat.
All substances contain some heat. Theoretically, the
lowest temperature that any substance could obtain
is 459 degrees Fahrenheit below Zero. This may be
called “Cold”, and anything warmer than this con-
tains heat. Since man has never succeeded in getting
all the heat out of an object, we must think about the
transfer of heat from one object to another when
talking about controlling temperatures.
Figure
96-1 Transfer of Heat
Transfer of HeatThe only thing that will attract heat is a colder ob-ject.
:Like water, which always flows down-hill, heat
always flows down a temperature scale
- from a
warm level down to a colder one. When we hold our
hands out toward the fireplace, heat flows from the
hot fire out to our cold hands (Fig.
9B-1). When we
make a snowball, heat always flows from our warm
hands to the colder snow. In an ice-box, the ice al-
ways is colder than the stored food, so heat naturally
is drawn out of the warm food by the colder ice.
Measurement of HeatEveryone thinks he knows how heat is measured.
Thermometers are used in most: homes. Whenever
we speak of temperature from now on, we will mean
Fahrenheit. They can tell how hot a substance is, but
they can’t tell us everything about heat.
Figure
98-2 Applied Temperature Alone is Not the
Sole Measurement of Heat
When we put a tea-kettle on a stove, we expect it to
get hotter and hotter until it finally boils. All during
the process, we can tell exactly how hot the water is
by means of a thermometer (Fig.
9B-2). However,
our thermometer will show us that the flame is just
as hot when we first put the tea-kettle on the stove
as it is when the water finally boils. Why doesn’t the
water boil immediately then? Also, why does it take
longer to boil a quart of water than a cupful? Obvi-
ously temperature isn’t the only measurement of
heat.
Even though heat is intangible, it can be measured by
quantity as well as intensity. It is recognized that
thermometers indicate only the intensity of heat. The
unit for measuring quantity of heat is specified as
that amount necessary to make 1 pound of water 1
degree warmer (Fig.
9B-3). We call this quantity of
heat a British Thermal Unit. Often it is abbreviated
to Btu.
Perhaps we can get a better idea of these two charac-

REFRIGERANT COMPONENTS ALL MODELS96.23Figure 96-l 3 Basic Refrigerant Circuit
we get the heat-laden vapor outside, we can com-
press it with a pump. With enough pressure, we can
squeeze the heat out of “cold” vapor even in a warm
room. An ordinary.radiator will help us get rid of
heat.
By removing the heat, and making the refrigerant
into a liquid, it becomes the same as it was before, So,
we can run another pipe back into the cabinet and
return the refrigerant to the flask to be used over
again.
That is the way most mechanical refrigerators work
today. Now, let’s look at an air conditioning unit to
see how closely it resembles the refrigerator we have
just described.
Basic Air ConditionerWhen we look at an air conditioning unit, we will
always find a set of coils or a tinned radiator core
through which the air to be cooled passes. This is
known as the “evaporator” (Fig.
9B-14). It does the
same job as the flask of refrigerant we
spok.e about
earlier. The refrigerant boils in the evaporator. In
boiling, of course, the refrigerant absorbs heat and
changes into a vapor. By piping this vapor outside
the car we can bodily carry out the heat that caused
its creation.
Once we get vapor out of the evaporator, all we haveFigure 98.14 Evaporator Assembly
to do is remove the heat it contains. Since heat is the
only thing that expanded the refrigerant from a liq-
uid to a vapor in the first place, removal of that same
heat will let the vapor condense into a liquid again.
Then we can return the liquid refrigerant to the
evaporator to be used over again.
Actually, the vapor coming out of the evaporator is
very cold. We know the liquid refrigerant boils at
temperatures considerably below freezing and that
the vapors arising from it are only a shade warmer
even though they do contain quantities of heat.
Consequently, we can’t expect to remove heat from
sub- freezing vapors by “cooling” them in air tem-
peratures that usually range between 60 and 100
degrees heat refuses to
flow from a cold object
toward a warmer object.
But with a pump, we can squeeze the heat-laden
vapor into a smaller space. And, when we compress
the vapor, we also concentrate the heat it contains.
In this way, we can make the vapor hotter without
adding any heat. Then we can cool it in compara-
tively warm air.
That is the only responsibility of a compressor in an
air conditioning system (Fig.
9B-15). It is not in-
tended to be a pump just for circulating the refriger-
ant. Rather, its job is to exert pressure for two
reasons. Pressure makes the vapor hot enough to
cool off in warm air. At the same time, the compres-
sor raises the refrigerant’s pressure above the con-
densing point at the temperature of the surrounding
air so it will condense.
As the refrigerant leaves the compressor, it is still a
vapor although it is now quite hot and ready to give
up the heat that is absorbed in the evaporator. One
of the easiest ways to help refrigerant vapor dis-
charge its heat is to send it through a radiator- like
contrivance known as a condenser (Fig. 9B-16).
The condenser really is a very simple device having
no moving parts. It does exactly the same job as the
radiator in a typical steam-heating system. There,
the steam is nothing more than water vapor. In pass-
ing through the radiator, the steam gives up its heat
and condenses back into water.
The same action takes place in an air conditioning

REFRIGERANT COMPONENTS ALL MODELS9B- 2596.15
Figure 95.17 Float Type Flow Valve
enough to close the valve and stop the flow of refrig-
erant liquid.
For the sake of simplicity, we have described the
float and valve action as being in a sort of definite
wide open or tight shut condition. Actually, though,
the liquid level falls rather slowly as the refrigerant
boils away. Likewise, the float goes down gradually
and gradually opens the valve just a crack. New
refrigerant liquid barely seeps in through the
“cracked” valve. At such a slow rate of flow, it raises
the liquid level in the evaporator very slowly.
With that in mind, it is easy to see how it would be
possible for a stabilized condition to exist. By that,
we mean a condition wherein the valve would be/
DIAPHRAGMACTUATINGBACK.UP PLATE
PINS \
t
>IAPHRAGM \
/
BoDyEQUALIZER\4]
PASSAGE
‘!!!ISEATSCkEEN:ARRIAGEORIFICE
AGE SPRINGIER ELEMENT:MOB”LBSPRING SEAT
OUTLET
W-16opened barely enough to allow just exactly the right
amount of refrigerant liquid to enter the freezer to
take the place of that leaving as a vapor.
Thermostatic Expansion ValveAutomotive air conditioning systems use a thermo-
static expansion valve in place of the float system.
Figure 9B-18 shows a cross-section of the valve
which consists primarily of the gas-filled power ele-
ment, body, actuating pins, seat and orifice. At the
high pressure liquid inlet is a tine mesh screen which
prevents dirt, tilings or other foreign matter from
entering the valve orifice.
When the valve is connected in the system, the high
pressure liquid refrigerant enters the valve through
the screen from the receiver-dehydrator (which acts
as a storage tank for the condensed refrigerant as it
leaves the condenser) and passes on to the seat and
orifice. Upon passing through the orifice the high
pressure liquid becomes low pressure liquid. The low
pressure liquid leaves the valve and flows into the
evaporator core where it absorbs heat from the
evaporator core and changes to a low pressure vapor,
and leaves the evaporator core as such. The power
element bulb is clamped to the low pressure vapor
line just beyond the outlet of the evaporator (Fig.
9B-20).The operation of the valve is quite simple. It is a
matter of controlling opposing forces produced by a
spring and the refrigerant pressures. For example:
The pressure in the power element is trying to push
the seat away from the orifice, while the spring is
trying to force the seat toward the orifice. These
opposing pressures are established in the design of
the valve so that during idle periods, i.e. when the
system is not operating, the spring force and the
refrigerant pressure in the cooling coil are always
Figure 9B-18 Thermostatic Expansion Valve
Figure
98.20 Expansion Valve Bulb Location

9B-76 1973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
race. If, for example a feeler gage reading of 0.009
inch results, a thrust race with a number “9”,
stamped on it should be selected.Thrust Race TableSERVICEID NO.THICK-
PART NO. ON RACE
NESS
6556000
0.0920
6556050
5.09656556055
5l/2.09706556060
6.0975
65560656
l/2.09806556070
7.0985
6556075
7l/2.09906556080
8.0995
6556085
8l/2.lOOO6556090
T/2,100s
65560959.lOlO
655610010,101s
655610510 l/2.10206556110
.10256556115
11111/2.10306556120
12.1035The selected thrust race will replace only the “zero”
outer rear thrust race. The remaining three “zero”
thrust races will remain as part of the cylinder assem-
bly.
13. Remove cylinder assembly from inside compress-
ing fixture (J-9397), place on top of compressing
fixture (see Figure 9B-133) and disassemble rear cyl-
inder from front cylinder using rubber mallet or
hammer and wood block.
14. Carefully disassemble one piston at a time from
front cylinder and lay piston, front and rear piston
drive balls and front “zero” shoe disc in respective
slot of parts tray (J-9402). To disassemble, rotatewash plate until piston is at highest point, raise awash plate approximately
l/2 inch and lift out pis-
ton and related parts, one at a time.
15. Remove outer rear ‘?ero” thrust race from shaft
and set it aside for future gaging procedures.
16. Remove previously selected outer rear thrust
race from parts tray, lightly coat with clear pe-
troleum jelly and assemble onto shaft.
Final Reassembly of Cylinder Assembly1. Reassemble piston rings (if service pistons) onto
pistons (ring scraper groove toward center of piston)
and rotate ring so that break or gap in ring can be
squeezed together when piston is being inserted into
cylinder bore.
2. Reassemble piston drive balls, “zero” and se-lected shoe discs onto No. “1” piston, and apply
clear petroleum jelly to piston pockets and shoe discs
so that balls and discs stick to piston. BE SURE to
reassemble balls and shoe discs into their specific
positions on front and rear of piston.
3. Rotate shaft and wash plate assembly until high
point of wash plate is over No. “1” cylinder bore.
Position No. “1” piston onto wash plate (see Figure9B-146) and lower the piston and wash plate so that
the front end (notched end) of the piston enters the
cylinder bore.XTED OUTER
/REAR ZERO
THRUST RACE
PISTON RINGGAP SHOULD BE
TOWARD
98-118Figure 98.146 Installing Piston Assembly in Front
Cvlinder Half - Service Pistons Shown
Figure 98.147 Compressing Front Piston Rings
-Service Pistons