Mr Underhill
ClioSport Club Member
Am I the only Clio driver that thinks the standard seating and steering position are perfect 
ClioSport.net
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read more here.
I didn’t think it was too bad until I sat in some which had been tweaked! Then realised how awful it was. Lowered seat bases, longer gear stick and lowered steering column is game changing in my opinion JonAm I the only Clio driver that thinks the standard seating and steering position are perfect
Next up… having decided to head towards the current theme du jour…Clubsport, which actually fits in well with what I now want out of the car (weekend B road blaster and occasional track/Ring toy) I will be removing the rear seats and fitting a false floor, I may go for a half cage at some point. But that’s probably some time off yet. I purchase a Baf K brace, purely cosmetic reasons as we all know they don’t add any rigidity. Plus there was a decent offer on so it’s rude not to!
it took a couple of weeks to arrive, I purchased one unpainted as the standard colour choices were rubbish, plus I wanted to make sure it was ‘finished’ prior to painting.
Broadly happy with what turned up! It needed some finishing off on the wields and a couple of other spots.
So I linished what was needed prior to priming and painting ‘Honda polished metal Grey’ really happy with how it’s come out, only temporarily fitted at the moment as over the coming weeks I’ll be working on the false floor
it took a couple of weeks to arrive, I purchased one unpainted as the standard colour choices were rubbish, plus I wanted to make sure it was ‘finished’ prior to painting.
Broadly happy with what turned up! It needed some finishing off on the wields and a couple of other spots.
So I linished what was needed prior to priming and painting ‘Honda polished metal Grey’ really happy with how it’s come out, only temporarily fitted at the moment as over the coming weeks I’ll be working on the false floor
No idea mate…
DomP182
ClioSport Club Member
ph1 172, Arctic182
Witchcraft that mate!
Final update for today. Spark plugs! I don’t have a receipt for when they were last changed. They looked ok but we’re not the favoured NGK’s and were due a change I’m sure
I managed to get a deal on a new set of NGK Platinums. Which these engines seem to worked best with
All fitted and running sweet, @104218 miles for my future reference
Video of an almost silky tick over
I managed to get a deal on a new set of NGK Platinums. Which these engines seem to worked best with
All fitted and running sweet, @104218 miles for my future reference
Video of an almost silky tick over
Cub.
ClioSport Moderator
Good work here David. 
What did you paint your rocker cover with Ian?
Thanks David.Good work here David.
It was already painted when I purchased the car David. I mean I could lie and say some high temp engine paint. Which is what I would’ve used. But it’s likely emulsion.
To be fair it’s an OK job. I just bought another engine mount to paint myself as the previous owner did a s**t job of that
Well I can’t say I have a problem with it. Will see when I fit a smaller wheel soon. But if it does block the binnacle it’s only going to hide warning lamps which can’t be a bad thing
Boy oh boy, have I been slap dash at updating this. Apologies, but ultimately I doubt you have all been gripping the edge of your seats for the next exciting instalment!
So, life has been hectic away from the car. As many will know we had a new baby back in July, which had meant some fairly major building work to make space for out “covid surprise” plus work has kicked on and became ridiculously busy. In principle the car took a back seat, but in reality I took a break from any major work and just bumbled when I had spare minutes. However, that’s now changed and I’m currently in the throes of a rear end refresh. Which involves dropping the beam, tank etc. and lying under the car scraping years of detritus and rusting French metal.
Now, what have I done? Well I’m partial to a clean engine bay, ultimately I want to take the engine out and get everything dicky mint, but I’m yet to determine which direction to go with that as it would be part of a much bigger process. However, one thing that had annoyed me was the engine mounts. They were obviously original and looked a mess.
When @Jon Wright listed a new set for sale (both engine and gearbox) I snapped them up. Whilst the mounts were removed it was time to clean things up somewhat. This involved rubbing down some of the scabby areas on the chassis rail, treating and refinishing.
What was interesting was once I removed the mount I found one sheared rubber mount!
and all finished and back together:
So, life has been hectic away from the car. As many will know we had a new baby back in July, which had meant some fairly major building work to make space for out “covid surprise” plus work has kicked on and became ridiculously busy. In principle the car took a back seat, but in reality I took a break from any major work and just bumbled when I had spare minutes. However, that’s now changed and I’m currently in the throes of a rear end refresh. Which involves dropping the beam, tank etc. and lying under the car scraping years of detritus and rusting French metal.
Now, what have I done? Well I’m partial to a clean engine bay, ultimately I want to take the engine out and get everything dicky mint, but I’m yet to determine which direction to go with that as it would be part of a much bigger process. However, one thing that had annoyed me was the engine mounts. They were obviously original and looked a mess.
When @Jon Wright listed a new set for sale (both engine and gearbox) I snapped them up. Whilst the mounts were removed it was time to clean things up somewhat. This involved rubbing down some of the scabby areas on the chassis rail, treating and refinishing.
What was interesting was once I removed the mount I found one sheared rubber mount!
and all finished and back together:
Next up With the engine mount refitted I turned by attention to the gearbox mount. Gave everything a good clean and then painted the mount in my new favourite bed liner paint.
Man I love this stuff, so whilst I was at it. I rubbed down my battery cover and sprayed that as the initial paint was falling off and the weird blue hose coolant hose clip.
Pretty happy with the results.
Man I love this stuff, so whilst I was at it. I rubbed down my battery cover and sprayed that as the initial paint was falling off and the weird blue hose coolant hose clip.
Pretty happy with the results.
So this left the fuse box cover..now this is where I go back to being more useless at taking photos again…in short mine was cracked and a mess. I had one CFAB bracket repair pieces, which did a great job. But luckily @frayz had replaced his with a much better item and had his cracked but not snapped cover going spare! My brother kindly welded the tab back together and I repainted it. Replacing the loom protective rubber to finish the job off. I’m sure I took photos but I’ll be buggered if I can find them. So just the after photo in this instance. I recited the CFAB tab as a ‘belts and braces’ approach
imprezaworks
ClioSport Club Member
Mk5 Golf GTI :)
Top work mate
Stefan.
ClioSport Club Member
Great work, love little details like that.
HaveaCuppa
ClioSport Club Member
Good work on this, it lookS far cleaner!
On this pic, the fixing for the ecu brace looks like a small torx bolt that goes through the rear. Mine has a big (M6?) bolt through the front and it doesn’t sit well. Is this is how they came from the factory? If so then it explains why mine looks like s**t and doesn’t hold very well.
On this pic, the fixing for the ecu brace looks like a small torx bolt that goes through the rear. Mine has a big (M6?) bolt through the front and it doesn’t sit well. Is this is how they came from the factory? If so then it explains why mine looks like s**t and doesn’t hold very well.
I don’t think this had ever been removed from the car mate, so I’d say it’s as it left the factory yes.
HaveaCuppa
ClioSport Club Member
Cheers, that’s a big help
I never thought to put the bolt in from the rear but it makes more sense to keep it flush/secured.
Mr Underhill
ClioSport Club Member
I was looking for some of that Truck Liner paint in my local Halfords but to no avail. Good to see you back doing updates.
They stopped selling it now it would seem. Which seems about right for Halfords!
Almost brings me up to date. I have stared making a false floor for the boot area now the rear seats have been removed, needs to be carpet next.
But urgently it’s stripped out, to get the rear beam dropped! Those long term readers will remember I had a rear beam refreshed last year…well I’m finally getting around to sorting the rear end! Check this s**t show out!
Seriously kids, take care of your underside. My car is remarkably straight up top. But it’s also remarkably crusty underneath. More updates will follow as I’m in the swing of things now!
But urgently it’s stripped out, to get the rear beam dropped! Those long term readers will remember I had a rear beam refreshed last year…well I’m finally getting around to sorting the rear end! Check this s**t show out!
Seriously kids, take care of your underside. My car is remarkably straight up top. But it’s also remarkably crusty underneath. More updates will follow as I’m in the swing of things now!
Mr Underhill
ClioSport Club Member
Those rear Xenon headlamp balancer thingy majigs are a precious commodity. Can't even get aftermarket ones now.
They are indeed, I cleaned mine up. The ball joint/pivot is a mess, so I’ve done what I can. I’m sure I could perhaps replace that part. But I daren’t delve too deep with it for risk of breaking the bloody thing
Mr Underhill
ClioSport Club Member
I know what you mean. Mine looked so fragile i didn't think it would last another year. In the end i took a deep breath, stripped it all down and it might last a few more years now. Beyond that it's life without Xenons.
clio_ross
ClioSport Club Member
Clio 172
yeah those xenon level sensors are fragile beasts. When I did my axle bushes before Christmas, the ball joint on the axle had already broken off, so this meant having to drill off the ball joint on the level sensor:-
Then had to resort to an aftermarket solution courtesy of eBay; actually turned out to be a really nice bit of kit & a neat solution (I say this having not driven the car since fitting it, but it looks like it will be fine
):-
so just something to consider gents if you need an alternative solution at any point.
Then had to resort to an aftermarket solution courtesy of eBay; actually turned out to be a really nice bit of kit & a neat solution (I say this having not driven the car since fitting it, but it looks like it will be fine
):-so just something to consider gents if you need an alternative solution at any point.
Thanks mate, to be honest I did think about drilling the existing arm out and making something similar. But to be fair I’ll run with it now until it breaks. But given I hardly drive it that could be yearsyeah those xenon level sensors are fragile beasts. When I did my axle bushes before Christmas, the ball joint on the axle had already broken off, so this meant having to drill off the ball joint on the level sensor:-
View attachment 1578245
Then had to resort to an aftermarket solution courtesy of eBay; actually turned out to be a really nice bit of kit & a neat solution (I say this having not driven the car since fitting it, but it looks like it will be fine
View attachment 1578246
so just something to consider gents if you need an alternative solution at any point.
clio_ross
ClioSport Club Member
Clio 172
Sounds like a good plan; especially given I have no idea how long mines was actually broken for and didn’t notice any issues….but then again, I think I’ve average 1k miles per year over the last 4 years and can’t remember the last time I actually drove it at night
Mine hasn't failed because of this in the 6 years I've had it. They have definitely never moved as they should.Think it’s an MoT failure if the lights don’t adjust so it may have been a recent thing mate. To be honest it’s the least of my problems at the moment
So just about got the underside stripped now. I need to drop the fuel tank really, as I can’t repair all the corrosion with it in the way, plus I need to replace the crusty bolts holding it in! So has anyone dropped the tank without disconnecting fuel lines etc. perhaps then swinging it forward out of the way? I don’t want to be angle grinding under the car with an open tank.
so after a prod around with a chisel scraping off surface rust…it looks worse then it actually is. Nothing structural, so no welding needed thank god. But it needs sorting. Another couple of years and it would be gone. I keep saying it, but please guys have a proper prod around your car. It’s amazing how much is beer the seam sealer and underseal.
so after a prod around with a chisel scraping off surface rust…it looks worse then it actually is. Nothing structural, so no welding needed thank god. But it needs sorting. Another couple of years and it would be gone. I keep saying it, but please guys have a proper prod around your car. It’s amazing how much is beer the seam sealer and underseal.
Me, an optimist, ignoring this advice and believing everything is OK
I think you should buy another daily and then set about the old girl mate! Put her into a restorative retirement
MrBlonde
ClioSport Club Member
Nice work mate,i wouldnt mind doing mine soon or getting a 2nd hand beam to rebuild.
I got a beam sat here now mate! Got to say it’s in better Nick than the one I got powder coated!!!
Just read the whole thread. Great work mate. Really nice attention to detail.
