172 Road legal track car

[David172]

Main reason for starting this is so I don't have to start a new thread for every little question I may have going forward.

It's no longer my daily so instead of selling it for 2k and then miss it, why not spunk another few thousand into it and have some fun on track.

I don't have loads of pics but ill write up where it is now.

172 non cup, 78k, owned for about 6 years now, was standard until spring last year.
Thing done/added since then;
Cup dampers
Cooksport springs
TD 1.2s with Fed 595 RSR
Stripped inside
OMP seat, wheel and harness
Cup spoiler
Carbon canister and acoustic valve gone
K-tec solid engine and gearbox/dogbone mounts
4 new injectors
AC partially removed (pump remains for now)
DS2500 pads
Braided lines and decent fluid
Whiteline rear ARB
Lower dash is now removed but will be going back in (or part of it)
K-Tec cat back unsilenced

Short term to do list;
Sparco 6 point cage fitting
Powerlite PS09 battery fitting
Refit dash and tidy everything up/slim down when cage is in
Have a 182 manifold to go on
K-tec sports cat
Matched inlets
Remap
BC coilovers
New wishbones, track rod ends

Long term;
Plastic windows
Fibreglass bonnet
PMS shifter
New belts change + 438 cams and map

Potential issues;
New whine from engine, possibly a pulley
Slight whine I think from gearbox
Leaky sump gasket
Not enough money or time

Any pics I find I'll post in a bit

 

[David172]

First time at Cadwell, I think.

Donington

How it sits today lol

Seat etc

Thats it really! No idea where the pics from snetterton are, it was wet af anyway!

 

[David172]

Found one from Snet. First time spinning out in the Clio that day, it was fun because I was only doing 30 mph and nowhere near a barrier

 

[David172]

Looking forward to making a bracket for this...not so much sorting the cables to it.

 

[scullyg40]

Looking forward to making a bracket for this...not so much sorting the cables to it.

I've made a bracket for the original position, and I didn't have to do anything to the wires except maby another connector. Check my thread for pictures.

 

[David172]

I've made a bracket for the original position, and I didn't have to do anything to the wires except maby another connector. Check my thread for pictures.

Yeah I was hoping to keep it in the original position, it didn't look like the power cables from the fuse box or the ECU would be long enough to reach as it will be sat lower. Maybe when I start loosening it all up I can free up some more cable length?

I'll check your pics, ta.

 

[David172]

7+ hour round trip today to collect a rollcage for the clio - can't wait to get it fitted! Should be in before Bedford on 30th

 

[David172]

Metal frame now cut to allow the rollcage to fit. Clearing out as much crap as I can along the way.

Does anyone have any pics or solutions of relocating the fuse box and UCH? Both are going to be in the way of the cage.

Finally, any tips to seperating the door wiring loom from the car loom? Ive removed two screws but it wont budge easily. Cheers!

 

[H2MRK]

[QUOTE="David172, post: 11862387, member: 90390

Finally, any tips to seperating the door wiring loom from the car loom? Ive removed two screws but it wont budge easily. Cheers!

View attachment 1458046
View attachment 1458047
[/QUOTE]
There is a plastic slide clip on the outside of the connector that allows the loom to separate

 

[David172]

[QUOTE="David172, post: 11862387, member: 90390

Finally, any tips to seperating the door wiring loom from the car loom? Ive removed two screws but it wont budge easily. Cheers!

View attachment 1458046
View attachment 1458047

There is a plastic slide clip on the outskirts de of the connector that allows the loom to separate
[/QUOTE]
Thanks a lot!

 

[David172]

Cardboard template mocked up for the battery tray. Ran out of time so the metal version will have to wait until next weekend.

 

[David172]

Battery tray painted and ready to be fitted.


I painted the cup spolier but the end result was patchy and nothing like the original paint so I have revered back to the original spolier. Not too bothered as the brake light works in it and it's a tad lighter lol.

Was looking good at primer stage, oh I was fighting the weather too 🙄

 

[David172]

Battery fitted, the car started so that's a win. Lets see how it goes from now on with drain etc.

Discovered some more french twatness too, lets put two earth points tucked out the way, right next to the headlight electric so it's impossible to get a spanner on. Genious.

 

[MonkeyKnifeFight]

Are you fitting a battery cut off switch?

Just read this about lithium batteries

"These batteries are mainly for track/ race vehicles for weight reduction and their cold crank rating, they are also known to be fitted to some vehicles that are only used for leisurely drives but where the battery is not left connected when the vehicle is parked. Lithium batteries are not recommended for daily driven vehicles where the battery is not disconnected.

As these are lithium batteries, and even though the cold crank rating is much higher, their amp hour is much lower than a conventional lead battery and so a cut off switch is recommended to be fitted to the vehicle to completely disconnect the power from the battery. If left connected it can become drained by any electronics permanently powered by the battery such as the alarm, and should the battery drop lower than a certain amperage then it can not be recharged."

 

[David172]

Are you fitting a battery cut off switch?

Just read this about lithium batteries

"These batteries are mainly for track/ race vehicles for weight reduction and their cold crank rating, they are also known to be fitted to some vehicles that are only used for leisurely drives but where the battery is not left connected when the vehicle is parked. Lithium batteries are not recommended for daily driven vehicles where the battery is not disconnected.

As these are lithium batteries, and even though the cold crank rating is much higher, their amp hour is much lower than a conventional lead battery and so a cut off switch is recommended to be fitted to the vehicle to completely disconnect the power from the battery. If left connected it can become drained by any electronics permanently powered by the battery such as the alarm, and should the battery drop lower than a certain amperage then it can not be recharged."

Yeah I knew about having to disconnect it when not in use. I don't have a switch fitted yet so ill just be diconnecting the negative terminal for now. Can't this being an issue other than having no alarm.

 

[David172]

Genious.

Ironic

 

[scullyg40]

Yeah I knew about having to disconnect it when not in use. I don't have a switch fitted yet so ill just be diconnecting the negative terminal for now.

That's how I do it. Works perfect, not a drop of voltage over the winter.

 

[David172]

Dropped the car off to have the cage fitted today, pick it up next weekend.

Also got some 197 cams so I'm spending my afternoon cleaning them up, the toilet paper I bought recently is coming in handy

 

[JKING3008]

With the 197 cams, is there anything else needed for these to be fitted? And what are the gaisn like?

 

[David172]

With the 197 cams, is there anything else needed for these to be fitted? And what are the gaisn like?

I'm not totally sure if I need any other bits to go with the cams, I'll ask the mechanic before hand to be sure!

197 cams with matched inlets, 182 manifold and cat back + decat/sports cat gets around 190bhp from what ive read. After mapping of course. Some get mid 190's 👍

 

[David172]

Cage is in. Just been slimming down the bottom dash before I refit it. I'll save that for another day. Lots of wire management and switches/buttons to relocate too - fiddly s**t. 👍

 

[David172]

Out... -6.2kg

Template...

 

[David172]

Ally blanking plate bonded on

Fitted some padding on the rollcage to protect my noggin/helmet

Discovered in a hail storm that both the doors leak from somewhere, maybe window seals.
Got Black series ARB bushes and K-Tec 182 mani to 172 exhaust sports cat on order.

 

[David172]

Nothing exciting has happened recently. New poverty spec windscreen fitted, blanked off the hole left by removing the heater matrix, seperated some unused wires from the loom, had a fight with my seat to get it in the perfect position and fitted a phone mount to the dash.

Just need a connector to bridge the gap where the coolant pipes meet the heater element.

Waiting to fit;
Coolant res
Ktec sports cat
182 mani
ARB & steering rack bushes
197 cams

 

[colesy]

Did you sort the uch relocation in the end?

 

[David172]

Did you sort the uch relocation in the end?

No, I keep putting it off. I still have to de pin loads of wires but I want to run it by my mechanic before I do anything drastic. Once ive stripped out everything I dont need ill tidy it all up and find a home for the UCH and fuses. Up underneath the dash id image. What have you done with yours?

 

[colesy]

No, I keep putting it off. I still have to de pin loads of wires but I want to run it by my mechanic before I do anything drastic. Once ive stripped out everything I dont need ill tidy it all up and find a home for the UCH and fuses. Up underneath the dash id image. What have you done with yours?

I’ll get some pics of how I’ve done it. Managed to get the fuse box to sit in the standard place and with a bit of manipulation of the bracket got the uch in standard location albeit at a totally different angle.

 

[colesy]

This is how my uch sits now

 

[David172]

Ah nice, pretty tidy like that. I'll bear this in mind when I sort mine. Cheers 👍

 

[David172]

Update; Inlets and throttle body portmatched and gasflowed. Went for a dull colour

 

[David172]

Warped my old OEM brembo discs at Bedford so replaced with Brembo HC discs courtesy of George at RTR.

Also removed some more redundant wires from interior loom

 

[David172]

Brands Hatch evening session today. 4 red flags, 3 caused by mx5's. Only got in 2, 15-2 min sessions so quite frustrating.

Clio behaved though and got me home again which is priority no. 1.

 

[David172]

 

[David172]

One lap from last night, ignoor the overlay, it's fooked. First time at Brands in the clio...

 

[David172]

Alex is currently working his Magic...

 

[David172]

Big week for the clio! Had the following;

Cambelt
Aux belt
Dephaser pulley
PMS lightweight pulleys & AC delete kit
197 cams with custom timing
Water pump
ARP rod bolts
182 manifold
Ktec sports cat
OEM clutch & cable
TTV flywheel
Various seals replaced
Black series ARB & steering rack bushes
Remap
191.7bhp & 163.8 torque

Feels wayyyy better to drive now. Can't wait to get it on track again.

Alex at AW Motorworks in Essex was excellent, highly recommended. Went to the trouble of steam cleaning the engine bay, gearbox, cam covers etc when it was all appart.

 

[David172]

Got the clio on a weighbridge today.

I think the official renault kerb weight for mine is 1110kg, mine weighed 1020kg today with 1/8 tank of fuel. So 90kg lost. Was hoping it would be a bit lighter but this sounds about right really.

Still chasing the goal of 200bhp per ton, so another 60kg to lose!

 

[Twingo 1??]

Good work buddy. I am also looking for the 200bhp per ton although it's a 1600 Twingo not clio. Have you Stripped the innards out off the door yet? I saved 10kg per door if the clio doors are anything like the Twingo ones.

 

[David172]

Good work buddy. I am also looking for the 200bhp per ton although it's a 1600 Twingo not clio. Have you Stripped the innards out off the door yet? I saved 10kg per door if the clio doors are anything like the Twingo ones.

After a bit of chatting with fellow clio owners and reading the interwebs the general thought was that the weighbridge was way off. No way it sill over 1000kg.
The door inner skins will be cut out when I fit plastic windows early next year

 

[David172]

All non essential wires removed from the tailgate today. Waiting on some locking pins to arrive, then I can cut out the inner boot skin and remove latch.

Repaired a couple of surface rust areas behind the bumber.

Then I had to grind off a seized exhaust hangar bolt, scrape off more surface rust and fit new hangar and poly bush.

And all done.