2.0ltr Conversion Questions.

[MDP91]

Hello!

Bare with me, I have a fair few questions regarding this.

Basically Ive got my 1.2 to a point where I am reasonably happy with its looks, but I'm after more power. I am currently 20 and have just gone full time so I can now afford to run a 2.0ltr with the money I'm earning. Id be looking at changing my car etc in July when my insurance comes up for renewal by which time I'll be 21.

Anyway, I have been toying with the idea of getting a 1*2 engine put into my current Clio as Id love a sleeper and I'm quite attached to my little Clio as its my first car

I have some questions regarding it all though, as Id want it all done properly and Id need to get it all insured and declared properly for various reasons

Now Ive looked at the K-tec conversion, but its cost £3000, plus id want coilovers and a new exhaust system. I can deal with that, as Id want it done at a proper garage, and K-tec are only an hour from me. However here is my main issue......Insurance. Where do I stand? How do I go about changing it from a 1.2 to a 2.0ltr, and what is a rough idea on how much id pay in comparison to going and getting a 182?

Im stuck in a conundrum of doing a conversion on this, or just going out and getting a 182 in either of my favorite colours (LY or RB) and doing mods to that, because I know it would probably work out cheaper just to buy a sport.

Another question, are there any other places/companies that do a drive in, drive out conversion? Or even if I found a donor car would do a conversion for me? Also, once its done, I know some places wont touch me because its a conversion, I wouldn't want this to be a major problem if it needed seeing to by a garage for anything.

Thank you, Just be nice to see people views and if I'm best 2.0ltr'ing my 1.2 or just buying an RS next year. Ohhhhh! I hate decisions!
Mark

 

[Cro]

Unless its crazily different from normal, wait and buy an RS.

Been there done that, unless you have the skills to do yourself its much cheaper to buy proper. If you search you'll see every thread give the same answer

 

[Adam.P]

Personally dude, I'd just buy a 172/182.

 

[Nick172Cup]

It's more than fitting an engine. How about brakes? As leaving the standard ones is frankly retarded, and to fit 172 front calipers surely you have to fit 172 hubs as well.

You want my opinion, get a 172. Want a sleeper? Fit non sport bumpers and wheels onto it to make it look like a sleeper...

I did what you want to do with a mk1 Clio, after the money I spent I could have bought a mint Williams and insured it for less than the conversion.

So completely pointless is what im saying.

 

[badman1972]

Definitely better idea and much cheaper option to just buy a decent RS instead mate.

 

[MDP91]

It's more than fitting an engine. How about brakes? As leaving the standard ones is frankly retarded, and to fit 172 front calipers surely you have to fit 172 hubs as well.

You want my opinion, get a 172. Want a sleeper? Fit non sport bumpers and wheels onto it to make it look like a sleeper...

I did what you want to do with a mk1 Clio, after the money I spent I could have bought a mint Williams and insured it for less than the conversion.

So completely pointless is what im saying.

Im talking full conversion, not just the engine, Ive got a couple of friends who've had it done so Im aware of what an undertaking it is, and what it involves.

 

[MDP91]

Yeah, I am swaying toward just saving, waiting until July and trying to a get a nice RB or LY and minting them up.

 

[Vicky.]

The insurance makes me sigh when I look at how much i'd pay on a 182.

I went for the Ktec conversion and as you say I got the suspension/brake upgrades whilst I was there. The main reason I did mine is the car had, had a fair amount of money spent on it and along with the sentimental value it's a rare colour.

I love mine and it does put a smile on my face when I'm at the drag days etc. Only downside is that it is difficult to find an insurer and even harder to explain to them what you'bve had done (they're all idiots). I pay £1600 on my car and my quote on a 182 is around the £800 mark.

Having said that I still don't regret getting it all done.

 

[mx1_champ]

1*2 insurance is alot cheaper than a converted car.

and for 3k you could buy a nice 172 or 182 .. then sell your clio on to cover insurance.

 

[MDP91]

Owhh :dapprove: Just confirming what I already knew really then, I guess I'm better saying fare well to my Clio and getting a sport I suppose.

 

[clancy]

1*2 insurance is alot cheaper than a converted car.

and for 3k you could buy a nice 172 or 182 .. then sell your clio on to cover insurance.

this pretty much, even if your fine spending all that money its the insurance that will get you mate.

ps. buy my ph1 off me in january

 

[Revels]

If you're going to pay K-Tec £3k (LOL) then it's massively pointless.

You'll spend £3k and end up with a car worth £2.5k.

 

[MDP91]

Thats the issue, the insurance will rape me, hard. I know

Want a ph2 mate

 

[MDP91]

If you're going to pay K-Tec £3k (LOL) then it's massively pointless.

You'll spend £3k and end up with a car worth £2.5k.

Is there anywhere that will do it cheaper? Even if I have to source the donor?

 

[mx1_champ]

im sure a few member on here could do it for a smaller fee. many have done conversions now ( me included) but its time consuming as everything needs stripping back.

 

[MDP91]

im sure a few member on here could do it for a smaller fee. many have done conversions now ( me included) but its time consuming as everything needs stripping back.

I know someone who would do it for me, but id want a tidy proffesional job. Ive seen on the drive conversions before and they can look messy.

 

[mx1_champ]

all depends who you go for tbh, just make sure its done properly with no spliced looms etc. The swap itself is far from hard its just time consuming.

 

[clancy]

Thats the issue, the insurance will rape me, hard. I know

Want a ph2 mate

girl. lol. good luck though, personally id buy a 1*2 and insure that, use the extra cash on some better mods

 

[MDP91]

all depends who you go for tbh, just make sure its done properly with no spliced looms etc. The swap itself is far from hard its just time consuming.

At the end of the day, if I can do the conversion cheaper, then the money I save can go on the insurance, but for the effort I think I may get a 182. argg! I hate this choice, I just want to make sure that I don't end up with a s**t heap of a conversion.

 

[MDP91]

girl. lol. good luck though, personally id buy a 1*2 and insure that, use the extra cash on some better mods

Yeah, Ive got a clear look on how id want a LY or RB, so I think the money id save if be able to create a minter.

 

[Hoofy]

I'm sorry, but I really don't know why this is a difficult decision.... I understand you love your current car, but you have to cut the ties at some point. Doing a conversion will cost you an absolute fortune and you wouldn't get anything anywhere near as good as a standard CS. I've done project work on cars myself over the years and no matter how hard you try, it's always a little pricey. You'll end up with a car that will feel like a jigsaw, no one will insure it and you'll be about 5 grand down.

If you buy a decent condition CS and spend some of your expendible income on making that a "minter" and you'll love it as much, if not more than your current car. Don't do it basically....simples!! Save yourself the time, effort and money.

 

[MDP91]

I'm sorry, but I really don't know why this is a difficult decision.... I understand you love your current car, but you have to cut the ties at some point. Doing a conversion will cost you an absolute fortune and you wouldn't get anything anywhere near as good as a standard CS. I've done project work on cars myself over the years and no matter how hard you try, it's always a little pricey. You'll end up with a car that will feel like a jigsaw, no one will insure it and you'll be about 5 grand down.

If you buy a decent condition CS and spend some of your expendible income on making that a "minter" and you'll love it as much, if not more than your current car. Don't do it basically....simples!! Save yourself the time, effort and money.

I think its because I'm a big girl and I love my current car as its been my pride and joy for the last few years, but thank you for your input. I think commen sense has dictated that I should probably just get a 182 for how much it would cost me.

 

[Chip-mk1]

Yep! good decision, Just sell it and buy a 1*2, will be easier to insure, will have all the other nice bits and pieces like the interior and the aircon and the brakes etc.

Its never worth trying to build a car for 3K+ that you can buy for less and still sell your old car.

 

[MDP91]

Yep! good decision, Just sell it and buy a 1*2, will be easier to insure, will have all the other nice bits and pieces like the interior and the aircon and the brakes etc.

Its never worth trying to build a car for 3K+ that you can buy for less and still sell your old car.

Well Ive got the seats & aircon already but I guess with a RS I can rest assure that its been built like that and its not a mash of two cars, plus it'll be easier to insure.........I hope. Not been quote for one yet!

 

[Revels]

I loved my first car. When you get a new car that's a lot faster, that love soon changes.

 

[Dan]

the money you can save just buying a mint LY 182 over doing the conversion you could set up the 182 really well and have it feeling pretty fresh once the extra money you save over the conversion has been spent on some nice parts

but its your money so it might feel better keeping your car and doing the conversion plus if you find a nice engine to go in you can do some mods and make more power now before you have to mess about when its in

robs clio is much quicker than a 172/182 and so will vickyx's clio so its swings and round abouts on what you feel is right sometimes money being spent on something that everyone else sees as pointless compared to an easy option can make it feel that much sweeter in the long term


how long you looking to keep this clio if converted??

 

[Nick172Cup]

I loved my first car. When you get a new car that's a lot faster, that love soon changes.

This, some of the cars I've owned previous I loved. Now I've got the car I've wanted for ages I've forgotten about them other cars.

 

[clancy]

easier to insure.........I hope. Not been quote for one yet!

should be fine, you say your 21? im 18 and my insurance is alright

 

[Dan]

im sure BTM or birchdown would do a conversion for you as well if you give them the parts you need but it will cost but in the process it would have been done by someone who knows them inside out and backwards

 

[MDP91]

how long you looking to keep this clio if converted??

Few years most probably, I dont get bored of car to quickly

 

[Chip-mk1]

Well Ive got the seats & aircon already but I guess with a RS I can rest assure that its been built like that and its not a mash of two cars, plus it'll be easier to insure.........I hope. Not been quote for one yet!

Will be easier to sell on later on too if its just a nice straight RS rather than a homebrew special.

 

[MDP91]

should be fine, you say your 21? im 18 and my insurance is alright

Yeah, I turn 21 in Feb, then Id be looking to change cars in the summer.

 

[MDP91]

Will be easier to sell on later on too if its just a nice straight RS rather than a homebrew special.

Thats very true, didn't think to much about that.

 

[Hoofy]

I loved my first car. When you get a new car that's a lot faster, that love soon changes.

I'll vouch for that too! I had a NA supra as my first own car, I did love it, spent quite a bit of time making everything the way I wanted and it was sad to see it go. But I bought a turbo supra as a replacement and I think I love it a little bit more....BOOOOOOOSSTT!!!!

 

[Dan]

Few years most probably, I dont get bored of car to quickly

well then money spent wont go to waste tbh i spent 6K buying mine 2 years ago then 2.5k on insurance for the 1st year then more on other stuff just spent 1.5K on srevice and a few parts lol and now its worth around 4K haha

do i regret buying spending a lot on somethin everyone else told me is pointless doing...........no do i f**k as its awesome but yes i could have got somethin faster or more usable but i didnt want to lol

so just do what feels right for you

 

[MDP91]

well then money spent wont go to waste tbh i spent 6K buying mine 2 years ago then 2.5k on insurance then more on other stuff just spent 1.5K on srevice and a few parts lol

do i regret buying spending a lot on somethin everyone else told me is pointless doing...........no do i f**k as its awesome but yes i could have got somethin faster or more usable but i didnt want to lol

so just do what feels right for you

Gahh!!!

 

[Dan]

Gahh!!!

your gonna loose money on any renault at this current time so just do what feels right for you and not what someone else sees as a pointless waste because its horrible thinking "what if i had done that" or "how good could that have been" lol

 

[Hoofy]

I would liken this situation to buying one of those MR2 replica Ferrari's for more than that of an actual Ferrari....

 

[Dan]

I would liken this situation to buying one of those MR2 replica Ferrari's for more than that of an actual Ferrari....

well no because that is totally different and plus the MR2 will prob be a lot more reliable than the ferrari

 

[Dan]

and if its the turbo can be made much quicker than the ferrari as well