What's new
By:
Filters
ClioSport.net

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.

Rusty old 1968 Renault R8



Adey.

Adey.

ClioSport Club Member
Some of you may know me from some of my "rustier" Renault escapades. Had this one for just over a year. a 1968 Renault R8. Ill link to a build thread as its a lot to port over. I love old Renaults and like them wearing their age. It isn't to everyone's taste but has ended up as a great usable retro, easy to work on and tinker with and it my "go-to" relaxation and wind down exercise. This little project came to me after being off the road for about 35 years.

Here are some of my previous rusty tinker toys, campus with a turbo swap, 1957 dauphine with no suspension travel and a r8 1108cc engine swap and the frog dog r12 again with it suspension revised for lows but a super smooth cruiser.

M4mQqQD.jpega953347d29e6.jpeg6641623edfee.jpeg

here is the current Renault R8 when I first collected it

20240210_173010.jpeg20240205_152410.jpeg20240205_152422.jpeg20240120_085552.jpeg
 
Adey.

Adey.

ClioSport Club Member
And this is how its sitting now. After many hours of wiring, rebuild work and an engine swap to a 1397cc. Next up im converting it to electronic mapable ignition using a Motorsport Electronics Nodiz Gen-X

20250128_164059.jpg
20250128_163808.jpg
20250108_160330.jpg



build thread can be found HERE if you fancy a long read or if watching in the background on YouTube is easier



Can carry on posting updates here if people would like to see it?
 
Willo40

Willo40

ClioSport Club Member
  M135i
That looks cool, me dad had a Renault 12 for a a little while when i was younger, from memory it wasn't one of the worst cars he had.
 
Adey.

Adey.

ClioSport Club Member
Willo40 said:
That looks cool, me dad had a Renault 12 for a a little while when i was younger, from memory it wasn't one of the worst cars he had.
Click to expand...
quite possibly one of the comfiest retro Renaults I've owned, for a small car it wafted around and the seats were super comfy, but more akin to an old broken in leather sofa than something to drive from.
 
Racky

Racky

ClioSport Club Member
  Minion Yellow
I love to see these rust buckets still alive. Seen a few of these last year at French Fest, Brookland museum.

Coming from the land of Dacia, my grandad had one of these under the name of Dacia 1100, and a few R12, under the name of Dacia 1300 and 1310. If I dig though stuff at his place, I am sure I can still find the 1100 'trunk bonnet'. 😆
 
Last edited:
Adey.

Adey.

ClioSport Club Member
The replacement ecu is on and we are running very well. As its running a base map it didn't take too long to set it up again. Managed to get out and about for some testing and all is good so far after completing about 10 miles. Need to get some more done this week before mapping on the 28th

20250222_105439.jpg
20250222_105349.jpg
20250222_105309(0).jpg
 
Adey.

Adey.

ClioSport Club Member
So a little wrap up of the day. Top line power mapping resulted in pretty much the same peak power it already had (high 60s low 70s), all the bottom and midrange stuff was where we gained everything and not just on full throttle.

Driveability is hugely improved and the engine itself seems quieter and less stressed, even though its doing more as such. As soon as you touch the throttle, even lightly, its very willing to get up go vs the old dizzy setup.

I'm calling it a win, peak power wasn't my main concern, though its always nice to have more, but I'm sure we can address that in the future..... for now, ill enjoy it 😁

Thanks for reading/watching
 
Adey.

Adey.

ClioSport Club Member
I was asked a while back if I wanted to be in a a YouTube video, with the car constantly being worked on it wasn't always on the road and available. Things aligned last week though and Will from Resto Revival popped down and we had a little chat.

 
Adey.

Adey.

ClioSport Club Member
Little update on the interior of the car. Gone for an 8 ball gear knob (matches the name and the 8's on the outside), ended up drilling it to suit and then using some epoxy resin to fit it in place. Happy with that.

Also managed to bag some Alcantara covered dash trims and top. Covered by cobra seats for a friends car but he opted not to fit them. Dark grey with silver stitching.

20250305_182736.jpg20250314_135054.jpg20250314_134957.jpg
 
Adey.

Adey.

ClioSport Club Member
Been putting a few test miles on the car. Luckily the steel wings were easily manipulated for a little extra clearance. Car rides super smooth on the big tyres and the speedo is only 5mph out vs GPS. Little bit of scrubbing on turning but it already did that anyway.

Stoked so far, just need to sort out the tracking, and find someone who can balance the wheels. The place that did my dope wheels last time seemingly can't do them or tracking on my car anymore...

d48879f73d70.jpg
143de0508619.jpg
540dea156da4.jpg
5d94804656c9.jpg
f9cee6798665.jpg
 
Adey.

Adey.

ClioSport Club Member
A friend of mine is an absolutely excellent fabricator and engineer for a well know GTR tuning firm. Out of the scrap parts I've got kicking about he has managed to make me a tubular turbo exhaust manifold for the crossflow head. Not finished yet but here are a few pics.

IMG-20250415-WA0008.jpgIMG-20250415-WA0010.jpgIMG-20250415-WA0016.jpgIMG-20250416-WA0001.jpgIMG-20250416-WA0000.jpg
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Carnex
Pearl Black 1.2 16V
Replies
10
Views
3K
Carnex
Carnex
BIFCAIDS
Cliché track car title.
2
Replies
64
Views
12K
BIFCAIDS
BIFCAIDS
T
Rusty's build (Hero thread related) VERY pic heavy
2 3 4
Replies
144
Views
33K
Addz
Addz
Curtis!
My DCi 100
2
Replies
47
Views
6K
Sam@NP
S
N
182 - initial impressions
Replies
26
Views
1K
Brett
B


Top