Been meaning to start a build thread for just over a year, coincidentally that's also how long I've owned my Clio having bought it May 2024.
Previously had a Twingo RS with a bunch of modifications which was great. It was set up mint and cornered spot on but wanted felt like it needed more power when on track, I looked at doing the F4r engine swap like a lot have done in the past and I was so unsure on which direction to go as the Twingo had a good amount of money spent on it. It had a fully redone front end including powdercoated subframe, full powerflex bushings on all steering components, camber bolts, PMS Solid top mounts & strut brace, Evol engineering dogbone mount, a modified scorpion exhaust, plus bucket seats with a rear seat delete and a rear brace bar. But after alot of pondering I decided why not just get a Clio and then I can build a new car, so that's what happened.
I spent quite a while looking for the right one and ended up buying my Clio from chesterfield with just under 100k miles on the clock. While doing my research on it, it turned out to have an interesting past having lived in the isle of man for many years being confirmed by the seller after it was missing a lot of MOT history.
When I bought it, it definitely wasn't perfect. It rubbed horribly as it was fitted with 17" Turinis, needed belts doing, had no ac, had a coolant leak and the paintwork wasn't and still isn't perfect but I don't mind a project, I actually wanted one to make it mine and gives me something to learn on.
Photo from the day I bought it. With my mates Clio 197 F1 Edition which has had a Meglio swap done to it.
I instantly swapped my 16" genuine Clio turinis on to it, off of the Twingo
After a year of ownership it doesn't look too different to when I bought it but its had quite a bit of work done
Since owning the car the list of work I've done includes:
There's a lot left to do trying to clean up the car as best as possible while also modifying it in an OEM+ style. Some of the things I still need to work are include:
I will try and keep the thread updated and probably ask a bunch of questions along the way as I fumble my way through tidying and modifying 😁
Previously had a Twingo RS with a bunch of modifications which was great. It was set up mint and cornered spot on but wanted felt like it needed more power when on track, I looked at doing the F4r engine swap like a lot have done in the past and I was so unsure on which direction to go as the Twingo had a good amount of money spent on it. It had a fully redone front end including powdercoated subframe, full powerflex bushings on all steering components, camber bolts, PMS Solid top mounts & strut brace, Evol engineering dogbone mount, a modified scorpion exhaust, plus bucket seats with a rear seat delete and a rear brace bar. But after alot of pondering I decided why not just get a Clio and then I can build a new car, so that's what happened.
I spent quite a while looking for the right one and ended up buying my Clio from chesterfield with just under 100k miles on the clock. While doing my research on it, it turned out to have an interesting past having lived in the isle of man for many years being confirmed by the seller after it was missing a lot of MOT history.
When I bought it, it definitely wasn't perfect. It rubbed horribly as it was fitted with 17" Turinis, needed belts doing, had no ac, had a coolant leak and the paintwork wasn't and still isn't perfect but I don't mind a project, I actually wanted one to make it mine and gives me something to learn on.
Photo from the day I bought it. With my mates Clio 197 F1 Edition which has had a Meglio swap done to it.
I instantly swapped my 16" genuine Clio turinis on to it, off of the Twingo
After a year of ownership it doesn't look too different to when I bought it but its had quite a bit of work done
Since owning the car the list of work I've done includes:
- Swapped my 16" genuine Clio turinis on, off of the Twingo
- Serviced
- Fixed the leaky exhaust
- New cambelt, dephasher, solenoid etc @ Birchdown (The lads at Birchdown are legends!)
- New radiator, power steering pump & full ac setup replaced @Birchdown (fitted at the same time)
- New front & rear badges and door bullets back to own (Wasn't a fan of the black badges)
- Stopped it leaking from the boot and dried out the interior after the scuttle panel blocked up and the interior became a pond (including fixing the blockage in the scuttle panel so it doesn't happen again)
- Fitted Powerflex Suspension bushes
- Replaced inner tie rods, track rod ends & boots
- Powerflex Camber bolts fitted
- Alignment @ Demon Tweeks
- Fitted Recaro trendlines seats
- New alternator fitted
- Cleaned up the front seatbelts with the pressure washer
- Plus a bunch of other bits I've probably forgotten
There's a lot left to do trying to clean up the car as best as possible while also modifying it in an OEM+ style. Some of the things I still need to work are include:
- Figure out the noise coming from the engine bay (I keep thinking I've fixed it but find a new noise. Its a whining/whirring noise but most of the belt components have been replaced)
- Paint brakes
- Repaint or clean up Upper & lower inlet manifolds, cambelt cover, fuel rail cover and throttle body (Undecided on direction of this yet)
- Paint and fit battery cover
- Change intake to a JMRS one (not sure on what colour to go for)
- Replace front grille with a newly painted and cleaned up one (just waiting on new stickers)
- Make pre tensioner covers for the Recaro trendlines
- Polish headlights
- Fix spoiler brake light
I will try and keep the thread updated and probably ask a bunch of questions along the way as I fumble my way through tidying and modifying 😁
