2003 172 track car build

[Trackslag172]

Having just started to build my track car I have been getting advice etc from some friends on a GTIR forum. So if you are interested to see how the build is going there is a link to my project thread below.
Cheers,
Tim

http://www.gtir-motorsport-club.com/t5523-project-fast-frenchy#82132

 

[Bluebeard]

@Trackslag172 we can't view it, need to be a member. :-(

 

[ADS_V6]

get that on here would like to see this,not on some other inferior forum :smile:

 

[Trackslag172]

@Trackslag172 we can't view it, need to be a member. :-(

What a pain in the arse, I will transfer it all over tonight

cheers

 

[Trackslag172]

Project Fast Frenchy


I thought I would keep a tab on the build of my clio 172 track car
So far all that's been done is induction kit, brakes and now i've stripped it out. There will be more to come!

It started with the induction kit and brakes being done for the Nurburg trip with all plans being to leave the car there when it broke or sell it when I got back but it was so much fun to throw around that it is now going to be a track car.

The 'build' began in Nurburg when someone at the bar (where all the best ideas are had) said I should make the car lighter so I could go faster, I then spent a couple of hours the next day pulling out everything in the rear I could and putting it in the hotel room.

(Some pictures are rotated, no idea why.)
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I don't suppose the weight loss made a huge difference as novice track driver but I thought I looked cool (even cooler with my nurburgring baseball cap and t-shirt on

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Now back in the UK, the clio has been on a diet and I have stripped out everything that is not necessary and have plans for new seats, steering wheel, suspension, exhaust ect. So if anyone wants some clio 172 interior to tart up your Gti's let me know.

This weeks jobs are to move the washer bottle and battery to the rear so updates to follow......

 

[Trackslag172]

The dash is now completely gone. the lower dash was a bit of a pain but overall not to difficult.

If anyone can think of things to do better or differently post below, I have never done anything more than basic servicing on a car so all this is new to me and I'm learning as I go.


Top dash out
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Steering wheel off
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collection of important items to put back after
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Bottom dash off
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my new 'cable tie special' dashboard
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Can I assume that the tubular frame behind the dash is important and I shouldn't remove it to save more weight?

 

[Trackslag172]

turns out I can just copy and paste from the other forum

 

[Trackslag172]

Today's update:

Moved the washer bottle to the rear. I will be getting a different washer bottle but for now this will do.

Stripped out the remaining sound proofing from behind where the dash was

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Pulled up the tar or rubber pieces on the floor of the car, needed a blow torch and multi-tool to get the f*****s up
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Now time for a hoover and clean up ready for its interior paint job next week!

 

[Jekyll]

Certainly cracking on with it!

 

[Trackslag172]

I need an excuse to miss out on the other half's family days! Trying to get as much as I can stripped out, painted etc before I take it to a friends garage for the coilovers, poly bushes etc as that's beyond my skill level

 

[Jekyll]

Plenty of guides, threads and help on her to help you with the coilovers.

It's nice and satisfying when you accomplish a job correctly on something you wouldn't normally tackle.

 

[Trackslag172]

I will be helping them at the garage, but 1 step at a time. I have done everything myself so far and will do the exhaust myself, but I dont have all the tools or spares yet so I'll take it to the garage and give them a hand so I can learn

 

[Russ_16v]

looks like you're doing good mate!

If you need any bits let me know - also CS members get 12% off Powerflex products on my shop - www.sw-autos.uk

 

[Trackslag172]

We have already had this conversation :smile:, and I you have already delivered the poly-bushes, very promptly as well.

 

[Russ_16v]

Have we?! Sorry mate, ive been doing 12 hour days the past month and my minds pretty frazzled! lol

 

[Trackslag172]

Today's update.

The stains in the floor have been shifted with some white spirit ready for the interior spray next week
The metalwork across the dash that held the fusebox and dash up has been removed, making it harder to cable tie the instruments in and accessible place, but at least its another few Kg lost
A new bucket seat and harness has been installed. I hadn't planned to put one in this morning but @alexroberts0289 came round to pick up some of the cars old carpet and had the seat in the back for sale so a small exchange of carpet and notes later and I had a seat. I will eventually get a pair of matching seats but for the forseable future this will do me nicely
I am starting to wonder whether this is still road legal though.

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[alexroberts0289]

Looking good mate! It's amazing how low the seat is compared to the standard seat, thanks to the ultra low seat mount the guy sells off of here!

 

[Trackslag172]

Looking good mate! It's amazing how low the seat is compared to the standard seat, thanks to the ultra low seat mount the guy sells off of here!

I'm impressed with it, its the first time ive fitted aftermarket seats to a car so I wasn't sure what to expect with the mounts. I looked them up last night and like you say they are the ultra low ones. They will be even lower when I remove the standard spacers that I forgot to take out from the old seat :smile:

 

[Trackslag172]

Today's minor update - New OMP 300mm Steering wheel

 

[Trackslag172]

Update:
I sprayed the interior. Its far from a professional job but it does the trick. I realise the colour choice is unusual but at least you will see it coming!
I have never spray painted before, so this was all a learning curve. I learned that I should have removed the windows first, that I should be more careful around the edges and mainly that I will never be a professional sprayer. But its done now, and its does the job of removing all those different shades of the blue interior.

 

[Jekyll]

I see the grey and thought that's not that bad a colour then see the orange/yellow. Yes they definitely will see you.

Coming on quickly though mate

 

[Trackslag172]

Quick Update

Work has been really busy the last week so I have not had a chance to do as much as I would like.
The car has been in my friends garage (torque of the south in Southend, Essex) for a gearbox swap and some other bits that I am not capable of doing on my own yet, I am slowly learning. It is also going to get a go on the dyno for a quick tuning session as I am trying to get the car ready for Snetterton 300 on Thursday.

List of things done this week:
Another gearbox has gone in as mine was shot. - bought from the very helpful @Nick172Cup last week
Track rod end replaced
Polybushes all round for some extra stiffness (everyone loves extra stiffness)
Janspeed exhaust and decat (I helped put on the exhaust, I am capable of some things

)
Wheel studs with 15" OZ supperleggera wheels (I put those on too) - bought from @trials yesterday
Aircon rad removed
front bumper lightened (removed the unnecessary bits of plastic)
removed front fog lights
Removed 1 of the horns
Removed some kind of air inlet from next to the horn that used to go to the airbox and has an air pipe from the inlet manifold (can anyone tell me what it is and if I need it now the airbox has been replaced with an induction kit)

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With any luck I will have a roll cage and racing battery from -dan- tomorrow as well :smile:

 

[Nick172Cup]

Good quick work Tim, glad I could be of help with parts!

Also, we forgot to give you those tyres. If you still want them give me shout and I'll leave them out for you to collect.

Nick

 

[Trackslag172]

Good quick work Tim, glad I could be of help with parts! :smile:

Also, we forgot to give you those tyres. If you still want them give me shout and I'll leave them out for you to collect.

Nick

Cheers, I have just got back from the garage. Took the car out for a spin and the gearbox is defiantly an improvement on the old one!
I will still take those tyres if thats ok, I forgot all about them as well. I will text you when I have a date to be in your neck of the woods. Cheers

 

[Trackslag172]

Quick minor update.

Collected a roll cage and racing battery from @-Dan- today. Managed to get the battery fitted today, cage should be going in next week.
It drives brilliantly now the polybushes are on as well.

 

[Jekyll]

You wont need the pipe, especially as you've fitted a IK.

Only thing you'll need is a breather filter off the back off the inlet.

 

[Trackslag172]

Update after Snetterton Track Day.
The car was in my mates garage (Torque of the South, Southend) until the day before Snetterton getting ready, and he has done a bloody good job. The car was excellent round Snetterton, took me a while, and a few offs, to get the hang of the stiffer and less forgiving set up but it was well worth it. I was defiantly pushing it hard, and well past my skill level (See link below), I have managed to get a full house of warning lights on the dash now !:smile:

This weeks changes:
BC Coilovers all round (spine killers on the road)
Polybushes all round
Cage fitted (still needs a couple of strengthening welds on a and b pillars but its bolted in for now)
Spare wheel well has been removed to decrease drag under the car
passenger door internals removed and window clamped in place (drivers will be done when i've got some poly carb windows)

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[Trackslag172]

Link to Snetterton Thread with track videos
http://www.cliosport.net/threads/sn...io-172-and-an-over-confident-driver-d.781961/

 

[Trackslag172]

Coilover and Polybush pics

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[Jekyll]

I run BC coilovers on my Ph1 and have had them on for over a year. Mines a daily and I don't think there hard at all.

My springs are set quite low/long on the coils though. Damping settings vary from what I fancy. I presume your set your springs quite high/short for track?

 

[Jekyll]

Also they are bad coilovers pics! Lol
Also your rear springs aren't sitting correctly in those pics.

 

[Bluebeard]

Why oh why didn't you drill the back bumper holes level???

 

[Jekyll]

Why oh why didn't you drill the back bumper holes level???

 

[Trackslag172]

I run BC coilovers on my Ph1 and have had them on for over a year. Mines a daily and I don't think there hard at all.

My springs are set quite low/long on the coils though. Damping settings vary from what I fancy. I presume your set your springs quite high/short for track?

8kg on the front and 12kg on the back and the rear was (until I could stand it no longer) set to about 70% of its damper stiffness

Also they are bad coilovers pics! Lol
Also your rear springs aren't sitting correctly in those pics.

please enlighten me, I didnt fit them.

Why oh why didn't you drill the back bumper holes level???

a combination of lazyness, frustration, lack of time and the fact that the rest of the car not in good cosmetic condition.
To me its just a track car to have fun in that is also road legal, I'm not too bothered about the looks.

 

[Jekyll]

The springs in the rear pics should be sitting in the cup on the top. They look like they are pissed and sitting off the cup.

 

[JoeMarano]

Let me know when you go back to Snetterton as I recently did a (soaking wet) evening there and loved it!

My car today has gone the opposite way of yours as i've just "unstripped" mine as I use it as a daily as well.