1988 Red R21 Turbo

Box out...again... 4th time.



Box in...again...5th time.



Delighted to report the first test drive all gears engage and no untoward noises! Hurrah! Hoping for further testing this week. Wiper intermittant isnt working but both "on" speeds are, will look into that. Lights and controls all seem OK though.

I drove it five miles today.

FIVE MILES.

I fixed the washer jets

I fixed the horn, needed a new compressor

Tried to refit the wheel centres - fail - powdercoat thickness from the refurb is too much and I will need to sand them back on the edges - ballache!



Then I just thought - feck it lets go for geo alignment, and as the place I do my geo is my MOT station too....








YAY

Done about 80 miles in it now, everything seems OK so far. Got to start on the snag list now, refitting speakers, adjusting the wastegate actuator and so on.

Got a last minute request from the Renault Classic Car Club to fill in at the NEC Classic Car Show. Came with a free ticket so I cleaned it up and dropped it off

(and yes I got the wheel centres sorted)

















Drives well, doesnt overheat, fluids and pressured good. Leaking some gearbox oil, it looks like the driveshaft seals so I have ordered some proper Corteco ones and will fit them at some point.

Speedo also seems to be sticking, so need to look at that, and there is a small weep from the turbo oil return joint on the turbo, thats going to be fun to get to...NOT!

looks sooo good!

Optimista said:

looks sooo good!

Click to expand...

It does, in pics and from distance, unfortunately when you get up close there is microblisters in the paint on the bonnet & roof, whoever painted it messed up with moisture in the paint I think.

Not sure if I am game for shelling out for more paint myself, I have thousands in it in cash and hundreds of hours already.

Straightened out the boot spoiler - there was a dip inthe middle bar



Then I had to strip the door locks as in the cold the doors (BOTH fronts!) stopped latching. Was on a test drive with a potential buyer and stopped for fuel. Doors wouldnt close. Perfect timing, of course.

Also fixed the passenger seat adjuster. One final job, as I have agreed a sale with someone contingent on the two items above and fixing a small weep of oil from the turbo oil return (so I thought).

BUT. Of course, no easy rides here. It had another kick in the teeth for me. It wasnt the turbo oil return weeping it was coming from the turbine housing, so the hot side oil seal was leaking into the housing. Honestly - gimme a break. Turbo off...







Sent away for refurb, and OBVIOUSLY was basically worst case scenario other than it being seized or exploded. Cracked housing, damaged core, shagged bearings...you name it. £530 worth of rebuild later...








Now back up and running, hoping to get it road tested this week when the Vee is sorted (see other thread) as its currently blocking the 21 in the garage.

Ah man!! I'm glad it's fixed now though!