Hi all,
I am picking up a pre facelift Mk3 Dynamique SX this weekend, its got the 1.2 TCE 100 engine, so turboed 1.2 engine based on the older D4F block but with a 16V head and a turbo.
I went for this model as I like the shape of the Mk3 pre facelift and as the TCE info goes - fuel economy of a 1.2, power of a 1.4, torque of a 1.6, this will be my daily drive so looking for fuel economy but also a bit of power every now and then. I plan to keep this car long term and will do my best to update this thread for others if they are interested, I like quite subtle mods so there won't be anything over the top. I also won't be making a Renault Sport rep car - its not a Renault Sport so I am not planning to make the car something it isn't. The main goal for this project is to improve the handling a bit, up the power slightly and generally tweak parts to my own liking.
The car is a black 57 plate 3 door 1.2 TCE Dynamique with the standard spoiler, side skirts, fog lights, privacy tint, air con and 16" alloys running 195/50/16 tyres, its got loads of service history but my first job will be to give it a full service and get the cambelt, water pump and belts all changed over and check over the whole car in terms of mechanicals.
Looking at the history of this 1.2 engine (its been superseded by another 1.2 engine in the mk4 the H5Ft), its based on the D4F engine from 2000 which was normally aspirated with 8v and made around 75 bhp. The 1.2 TCE is the same block but with a 16v head and a small turbo (I believe its a tiny TD02 but will check), stock output was upped to 100bhp and had an overboost feature at higher RPMs in certain gears.
Here are my planned mods over a fairly long period of time (some shorter term though):
Engine
Full oil and filter service
Cambelt/waterpump change
Catch can
Induction kit (probably DIY using stock parts)
Cat back exhaust
Remap (plus larger injectors) - a while down the line
Upgraded intercooler/pipework/clamps
Short shifter
Suspension
Eibach springs (-35mm)
Front upper strut brace
Rear lower ARB
Brakes
Looking at better discs and brakes all round but might go with stock discs but better pads
Wheels and tyres
Current 16" alloys take a 195/50/16 tyre which doesn't have a huge number of performance tyres unlike the 195/50/15s, will fit better tyres in stock size but might look to swap to aftermarket alloys at some point. The current tyres are fairly new, are legal but not a good brand so will look to swap out all the tyres fairly soon.
Bodywork/lighting
Upgraded Nightbreaker halogen bulbs
LED sidelights etc
Pressed plates
Debadge
Colour code/repair door handles (one is faded)
Interior
Upgraded head unit and speakers
Might look at the GT seats as they seem to be an improvement on the stock seats
Power goals
It's a 1.2, its not going to make a huge amount of power but a few mods will improve throttle response and make it more fun to drive (and also improve fuel economy as I have found with previous cars). I know that a remap will unlock some performance improvements, my thought is to aim for the same BHP per litre as the popular F4R engine - which makes 197bhp from 2 litres so my 1.2 litre engine would aim to make 118bhp which is attainable. I also notice that the latest Renault sport makes 200bhp from a turbo 1.6 which would mean the 1.2 would need to make around 150bhp (slightly off the cards!).
Main goal of this daily drive project is to have fun with it
I am picking up a pre facelift Mk3 Dynamique SX this weekend, its got the 1.2 TCE 100 engine, so turboed 1.2 engine based on the older D4F block but with a 16V head and a turbo.
I went for this model as I like the shape of the Mk3 pre facelift and as the TCE info goes - fuel economy of a 1.2, power of a 1.4, torque of a 1.6, this will be my daily drive so looking for fuel economy but also a bit of power every now and then. I plan to keep this car long term and will do my best to update this thread for others if they are interested, I like quite subtle mods so there won't be anything over the top. I also won't be making a Renault Sport rep car - its not a Renault Sport so I am not planning to make the car something it isn't. The main goal for this project is to improve the handling a bit, up the power slightly and generally tweak parts to my own liking.
The car is a black 57 plate 3 door 1.2 TCE Dynamique with the standard spoiler, side skirts, fog lights, privacy tint, air con and 16" alloys running 195/50/16 tyres, its got loads of service history but my first job will be to give it a full service and get the cambelt, water pump and belts all changed over and check over the whole car in terms of mechanicals.
Looking at the history of this 1.2 engine (its been superseded by another 1.2 engine in the mk4 the H5Ft), its based on the D4F engine from 2000 which was normally aspirated with 8v and made around 75 bhp. The 1.2 TCE is the same block but with a 16v head and a small turbo (I believe its a tiny TD02 but will check), stock output was upped to 100bhp and had an overboost feature at higher RPMs in certain gears.
Here are my planned mods over a fairly long period of time (some shorter term though):
Engine
Full oil and filter service
Cambelt/waterpump change
Catch can
Induction kit (probably DIY using stock parts)
Cat back exhaust
Remap (plus larger injectors) - a while down the line
Upgraded intercooler/pipework/clamps
Short shifter
Suspension
Eibach springs (-35mm)
Front upper strut brace
Rear lower ARB
Brakes
Looking at better discs and brakes all round but might go with stock discs but better pads
Wheels and tyres
Current 16" alloys take a 195/50/16 tyre which doesn't have a huge number of performance tyres unlike the 195/50/15s, will fit better tyres in stock size but might look to swap to aftermarket alloys at some point. The current tyres are fairly new, are legal but not a good brand so will look to swap out all the tyres fairly soon.
Bodywork/lighting
Upgraded Nightbreaker halogen bulbs
LED sidelights etc
Pressed plates
Debadge
Colour code/repair door handles (one is faded)
Interior
Upgraded head unit and speakers
Might look at the GT seats as they seem to be an improvement on the stock seats
Power goals
It's a 1.2, its not going to make a huge amount of power but a few mods will improve throttle response and make it more fun to drive (and also improve fuel economy as I have found with previous cars). I know that a remap will unlock some performance improvements, my thought is to aim for the same BHP per litre as the popular F4R engine - which makes 197bhp from 2 litres so my 1.2 litre engine would aim to make 118bhp which is attainable. I also notice that the latest Renault sport makes 200bhp from a turbo 1.6 which would mean the 1.2 would need to make around 150bhp (slightly off the cards!).
Main goal of this daily drive project is to have fun with it