Project Clio has been paused following gear box issues. Realistically it will be about 18-24 months before I have the funds to sort this out as my mantra is "whatever comes out new or better goes in" so this means a nice rebuilt gear box, LSD, lightened flywheel and new clutch. And with an upcoming wedding next year to fund and the typical plan of starting a family soon after that means funds for very expensive things for the cars will need to be diverted to being a grown up adult
I have SORN'd it and taken the precautionary measure of taking my number plate off it in case I need to sell it in the interim as the MoT test runs out this month and I don't see it passing with the amount of gear box oil that comes out of it. This does mean it isn't coming to CSF which is a little dissapointing as I enjoyed Angleysey when I did a track day there earlier this year. Still undecided what to take instead as I really want to do at least one stint in my E34 but I don;t really want to do half a day in it.
After writing the for sale advert I did I did a bit more gear box investigating and can confirm the oil comes out as quick as it goes in. Drive shafts all look dry so it has to be something else but it is really hard to see with using a trolly jack and not properly being able to get under it. When I drove 3hrs home from my parents the last time I used it you could smell how hot the gear box got and it is now whining (which stops when you fill it then it comes back). So yeah, highly likey its fubar. My step dad convinced me not to sell it with the prices only going one way on these, even for broken ones. And I know if I sell it, because owning a Clio is a disease you cannot shift, I will want another in the future and I couldn't bring myself to part with the money they are likely to get to (and it would have to be a Ph1, none of that Ph2 crap). At the moment I am in a lucky position I don't need the money so it can sit there until I am able to save up for the necessary things, which I think will include welding when I go to put it on the road. This is how it currently looks, little sad on the drive all covered up. Thankfully the drive has just been re-done so it is actually on hard standing and not some mix between what should be gravel and dirt and grass.
I'll start it every now and again and might move it back and forward to keep things free and moving as we all know cars do not like being sat still for long periods of time!
Few little jobs I want to do in the next 12 months otherwise they won't get done:
- Finally sort the fuel lines out as I was never happy with them when I changed them to fit the ITB set up. They work but they are not perfect.
- Replace the dephaser solenoid or just it's seal as it is weeping
- Fit a better negative battery terminal as it is looking a little worn and miss-shapped, it is as if it isn't designed to be removed a lot which I have been doing to help maintain the battery life
- Tidy up some wires in the engine bay with some wrap or similar
- Fit a plug to the TPS as it is currently hard wired into the loom
- Remove the dash and finally sort out the horrible centre trim
- Remove the aerial and plug the hole with something seeing as it doesn't have a radio
- Source parts when they come up for sale or hav got some spare funds - maybe some dedicated track wheels, Cat Cams (will likely need a new cam belt due to age when it is back on the road as it was done back in 2020 so why not chuck some spicy cams in and join the +200bhp club), LSD, gear box, fly wheel......
Little sad but definately not down and out!! This will live on and will come back in better form and condition than it currently is.
