“Charlotte” The 182 FF

At last some pics and the start of my (probably slow) project thread.

Picked up with limited history but from a friend who’s spent £1400 on lots of new bits like brakes, calipers, clutch, exhaust etc etc only to get a mk3 and sell this one.

I got it at a fair price but it needs some love as you’ll see. My intention is to not modify it but maintain it as stock as possible with some minor mods that I think really benefit the overall car.

I’ve done this before and termed it Stock+.

To first part will be to get and fit the missing bits, like the 182 steering wheel and gear knob, then sort out some odds and sods that are broken as well and deep clean it, as it’s pretty grubby.

Having been over it with my paint depth gauge it’s all original it would seems which is good, there’s some age related marks on the Bodywork that I’ll fix and the interior is, in places disgusting, but more on that to follow.

Here’s some pics to start with,

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Looks nice and tidy.

 

Looks nice and tidy.

Thanks Jon, Looking forward to getting in track. Need to book a day soon but waiting for my mates to pull their fingers out.

Im going to head to Croft on the 29th, cant do the whole day though as I need to be home mid afternoon so going to see if I can just do a morning session or something.

 

My car has become a French villa and now has a swimming pool where the back seats were and the rear footwells. Think it’s a good thing as pools always increase the value, right?

I’m now going to be sealing every hole I can find with silicone to see if I can solve it.

 

Getting the car ready for Cadwell on Monday, taken the runner off the seat which was easy enough, took it out for a drive... misfire... excellent. These cars FML.

Going to take it for a run today and see if it clears, its not really turned a wheel since I got the XC90, the more adding of lightness later today and tomorrow.

 

All ready for Caldwell tomorrow.

engine and gearbox oil changrd
Oil filter obvs
Wheels swapped

Off to collect a trailer later.

Mint.

 

Few from the track day, great day out car really performed well, enjoyed working on the setup as well was getting a lot of under steer at the start of the day, combination of over driving but too much air in the tyres and suspension too stuff didn’t help, by the afternoon felt loads better. I’ll be fitting PBS race pads for the next one.

Did one 20 lap stint once I worked out how to manage the brakes which was basically brake less.

Not sure I’ll do much more to the old girl now, maybe an LSD, as it did push on corner exit.

 

So, giving it some thought... plans are,

Add lightness - Going to remove as much weight as I can, door card, carpet, sound deadening etc all to come out.
LSD - I was losing quite a bit on corner exit but might wait as the gearbox performed well otherwise (maybe a winter job)
Wheels - Might look for another set of 15s that are a but wider, these are only 6.5 so will look for a 7 and some wider tyres.
Camber Shims on the back and better camber adjust on the front

Then I might look at lighter panels and glass

So when I say not much more I want to do, that was a lie.

 

So when I say not much more I want to do, that was a lie.

 

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Literally got the car off the trailer and looked at it and realised how much weight there still was in it. Think it will be off the road shortly and become a proper track toy tbh.

 

Oh.. also I forgot to mention, I set on the sighting laps and went around the gooseneck and thought something had broken as there was a sliding noise followed by a loud thud... only on the second sighting lap did I realise I still had 40 litres of fuel in jerry cans sliding about in the back!

 

Oh.. also I forgot to mention, I set on the sighting laps and went around the gooseneck and thought something had broken as there was a sliding noise followed by a loud thud... only on the second sighting lap did I realise I still had 40 litres of fuel in jerry cans sliding about in the back!

Javelin no doubt. They should have picked that up before letting you out tbf.

It's funny how relaxed you think you are on a track day. And yet I still do daft things or forget stuff and I'm something like 40-plus track days in.

I'm hoping to have my top mounts and new springs delivered in April so should be at Croft in May for another shakedown. I've booked the day regardless so
🤞

 

Literally got the car off the trailer and looked at it and realised how much weight there still was in it. Think it will be off the road shortly and become a proper track toy tbh.

Don't lose comfort though. Keep your heater and electric windows in at the very least. My ACW racing windows in my last circuit car were a pain and if you've not got a heater in, you'll not be able to enjoy winter trackdays. Have you got rid of that damper under the bonnet, just below the top engine mount? 2 kg in that alone.

I'm getting some headlamp blanks again as there's some weight in those Xenons. Dead easy to whip in and out in the morning before doing your sighting laps.

 

Don't lose comfort though. Keep your heater and electric windows in at the very least. My ACW racing windows in my last circuit car were a pain and if you've not got a heater in, you'll not be able to enjoy winter trackdays. Have you got rid of that damper under the bonnet, just below the top engine mount? 2 kg in that alone.

I'm getting some headlamp blanks again as there's some weight in those Xenons. Dead easy to whip in and out in the morning before doing your sighting laps.

Yeah I’m not losing the ac or electric cars windows. It’s a fair shout. Loads of carpet, sound deadening and the like though.

 

Track car parts have turned up!

Might be able to stop now.

Also deceived to take a headlight apart. It’s a spare so not precious about it

 

@SharpyClio that's a very clean separation on the headlight lens - did you do it in the oven?

 

@SharpyClio that's a very clean separation on the headlight lens - did you do it in the oven?

I did, 200c for 2 mins at a time, still put up a fight but a bit of patience and got there in the end.

 

whether it makes a difference or not I’ve been messing about and fitted a air intake in the headlight, not bad for a first attempt (not sure I’ll do it again though) and for the track car it’s grand.

 

whether it makes a difference or not I’ve been messing about and fitted a air intake in the headlight, not bad for a first attempt (not sure I’ll do it again though) and for the track car it’s grand.

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I realise now my pics make it look pretty crap. Will get some better ones where it doesn't look like its been put together by a one armed blind ape.

 

Just over a week until Croft and I’ve fitted the headlight intake. Looks good if a little “yellow” bit should serve a purpose and good for scene points 🤣

 

Who 3D printed the intake duct Rich?

 

Who 3D printed the intake duct Rich?

Company called Sprogley Motorsport, it’s actually designed for an Astra but it’s really close to being a perfect fit for the Clio, it’s not quite perfect but decent enough.

 

New discs and pads fitted. Went with Brembo HC discs and PBS Race pads. All ready for Croft. If I find time I’ll drop some more weight out of it.

 

100% I’m that neighbour 😆

New Clio 182 superleggera ready for Croft.

 

Few pics from Croft, car was excellent again, I’ve got a leak which I suspect is PAS fluid but I neeeld to investigate a bit more.

Seem to be getting there with setup but I’d like more camber so some stuff to play with yet.

I was pleased with how the old sea dog pulls, easily quicker than a 197 and out of the hairpin despite not have a LSD I was pulling a few car lengths on my mate in his 197.

Looking forward to Blyton in June now.

 

Looks good! How are you finding the giti tyres?

 

Looks good! How are you finding the giti tyres?

Hard to say, they seem okay but they are hard. I am looking to do a back to back comparison with something like an AR1 or R888r as I do think that I am losing quite a bit with general grip. I am about 5 seconds off where I think the car and I can be and that's not all tyres.

Think I will go for a roll centre kit and a bump steer kit having discussed at length with @Mr Underhill and doing a whole lot of reading.

I know there is still a lot of time in the car, it wants to go faster and I have what seem like moments of clarity with it but we are not quite fully meshed.

 

Looks good! How are you finding the giti tyres?

I should also say they are older than I realised at 6 years old so that probably isn't helping!

 

Back to back comparison would be brilliant.

AR1 would be one of the next tyres I'd like to try but at 1/3 the price of a set of AR1s the part worn Gitis are a steal.

I'm not really chasing laptimes, just out for fun but did find that my soft compound Zestinos were going off very quickly last Tuesday at Anglesey and then you're just managing tyre temps all afternoon while srill destroying tyres which kind of ruins the fun.

 

Back to back comparison would be brilliant.

AR1 would be one of the next tyres I'd like to try but at 1/3 the price of a set of AR1s the part worn Gitis are a steal.

I'm not really chasing laptimes, just out for fun but did find that my soft compound Zestinos were going off very quickly last Tuesday at Anglesey and then you're just managing tyre temps all afternoon while srill destroying tyres which kind of ruins the fun.

Agree - They are really good value, im always chasing laptimes lol.

I would say the Gitis have small operating window cold they are okay but overheat them and its understeer city but they do come back with a cool down lap its just find the balance.

But all of this said its my first foray into track days in cars so its hard to say, I know at times I overdrive the car which isnt helping.

 

I think I'll just try to find a set of 15s to save a bit on tyres and just get the AR1s. Hopefully be fitting front coilovers to mine soon and get it set up properly which should help with overheating the outer edges as well!

It's just nice to tinker and make all these little improvements. Be interesting to hear what you think of the roll center correction kit.

I'm thinking of setting mine up to (slightly lower than) standard ride height to avoid upsetting the roll center too much and see how that works out. But I do drive mine on the road as well so can't have it slammed anyway without a lo of arch rubbing.

 

I think I'll just try to find a set of 15s to save a bit on tyres and just get the AR1s. Hopefully be fitting front coilovers to mine soon and get it set up properly which should help with overheating the outer edges as well!

It's just nice to tinker and make all these little improvements. Be interesting to hear what you think of the roll center correction kit.

I'm thinking of setting mine up to (slightly lower than) standard ride height to avoid upsetting the roll center too much and see how that works out. But I do drive mine on the road as well so can't have it slammed anyway without a lo of arch rubbing.

I was until recently dailying mine as it is. Wasn't too bad on the road tbh and never rubbed on the arches on the 16s, rubs on the 15s on track but only under really heavy load at certain tracks. Mines quite a bit lower than stock and im running spacers front and rear.

 

I was on grams springs and cup shocks, lovely combo but quite low. Spacers front and rear as well and on track he front rubs and with the boot loaded up with wheels and tools the rear rubs 😂

My main goal is to see how the handling changes with quite supple springs and the front suspension not the floor.

Otherwise it's getting the correction kit on the front but I don't think the bearings will like winter weather much 😂

 

I was on grams springs and cup shocks, lovely combo but quite low. Spacers front and rear as well and on track he front rubs and with the boot loaded up with wheels and tools the rear rubs 😂

My main goal is to see how the handling changes with quite supple springs and the front suspension not the floor.

Otherwise it's getting the correction kit on the front but I don't think the bearings will like winter weather much 😂

Thats why I put off the correction kit in some respects, i'd looked at them but didn't fancy open bearings and winter.

I was on Grams and cup shocks as well before the coilovers never had an issue but then I only had a spare wheel in the boot 😄

 

I always bring a full spare set of wheels, trolley jack, axle stands, chair, toolbox, spares.

Never needed any of that in the 12 trackdays I've done but I can't not bring it now because the moment I don't the Clio will break 😂

 

I always bring a full spare set of wheels, trolley jack, axle stands, chair, toolbox, spares.

Never needed any of that in the 12 trackdays I've done but I can't not bring it now because the moment I don't the Clio will break 😂

I take all of that but have a tow car now lol! I can't imagine trying to get it all in the Clio, its hard enough in the XC90!!

 

I know, I should get a trailer and use the x5 to tow the Clio, must be great to be able to push the car without worrying about getting back home!

 

I know, I should get a trailer and use the x5 to tow the Clio, must be great to be able to push the car without worrying about getting back home!

I learnt my lesson on motorbikes, my wife and I did a trackday at Oulton and we both rode the bikes over as we had for loads of others and on this occasion we were both idiots and as we were running late and didn't let air out the of the tyres.... the result... we both had a trip into the barriers!

Had to dash off to find a hire van to throw the two scrap motorbikes into the back of... when I decided to track the Clio I didn't want to be in that position so I just hire a trailer, £30 a day.

 

Ah that's good value, cheapest I've found near me wants 70 per day or 80 for a weekend!

 

Get the bridgecrqft/northloop roll correction kit if going that route. Its excellent.

Pair it with a plated lsd and you will be flying.

 

100% not my fault…