Best bang for buck power mods: 172 Cup

[Gibbo205]

Hi there

So I am restoring my 172 cup, now suspension and brake refresh along with sticky tyres is done, along with full major service. It handles great and stops well!

So I have some questions about power:

1. ITG panel filter, worth it, 1-2HP gain?
2. Does my 172 cup have RS inlet?
3. If I order this: http://www.k-tecracing.com/show_product.asp?id=2907&appid=2
I assume I just remove my old lower, fit this and job done, or should the upper inlet also be ported?
4. Sports cat, any gain or not worth hassle?
5. 182 manifold, again any gain, worth the hassle?


That is it really, be nice to get the car to around a healthy 185HP.
Once I've done the modified parts, I shall then get it custom mapped at EFI, or maybe the remap alone will give more gains than all the above?

 

[car.crash]

Forget points 1-5 and just enjoy the car.
Brakes and suspension are key along with tyres. The rest is just tuner bullshit. A few Hp will make no odds.

 

[robzracing]

182 manifold is the best place to start. That and the ITG filter plus a ktec exhaust (or Pure Motorsport if budget allows) both have a stealth option, and that’s about as good as you’ll get ready for a remap. After that cams are the next upgrade.
I’m not convinced the matched/ported inlets are really worth all the effort for the gain that they may give.

Of course I’m sure you’ll get some differing opinions here.


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[Gibbo205]

Forget points 1-5 and just enjoy the car.
Brakes and suspension are key along with tyres. The rest is just tuner bullshit. A few Hp will make no odds.

I am enjoying the car but would be nice to know what gains the above offer if any, generally on most cars NA bolt-on gains are always minimal to none existent, but sometimes there can be a few choice mods that give good results with minimal spend.

 

[Gibbo205]

182 manifold is the best place to start. That and the ITG filter plus a ktec exhaust (or Pure Motorsport if budget allows) both have a stealth option, and that’s about as good as you’ll get ready for a remap. After that cams are the next upgrade.
I’m not convinced the matched/ported inlets are really worth all the effort for the gain that they may give.

Of course I’m sure you’ll get some differing opinions here.


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Does an exhaust (catback) do anything for power though? Thought it was just noise.
My car has the Eurocarparts exhaust fitted, done by previous owner when it failed MOT for original exhaust leaking.

 

[adamlstr]

1. Vibratechnics Engine & Gearbox Mounts
1. Bilstein B14 Kit
1. Bush refresh
1. Nylon Rack Bushes
1. Decent tyres

Those are all you need.

And yes, they're all #1.

 

[masekwm]

Forget points 1-5 and just enjoy the car.
Brakes and suspension are key along with tyres. The rest is just tuner bullshit. A few Hp will make no odds.

Agreed, you can make these cars cracking track cars with basic mods, refreshed suspension, brakes and tyres will do well.

There is no point wasting money on power mods, unless you're going to go balls deep and then you may as well have bought an R26.

 

[Goodj]

As above, you'll get way more performance by refreshing the now ancient steering parts in your 15yr old french hatch.

 

[Jack!]

The slickest yet still road legal tyres you can get, as long as you don't mind having to buy them regularly.

 

[Gibbo205]

As above, you'll get way more performance by refreshing the now ancient steering parts in your 15yr old french hatch.

Car has had:
New cup dampers
New grams springs
New inner & outer track rods
Powerflex steering bushes
Powerflex ARB bushes
New front wishbones with new balljoints
New upper, lower, dogbone mounts with powerflex insert
Powerflex rear beam bushes
Brembo XTRA HC disc front
Brembo HC disc rear
Front yellow EBC pads
rear pagid pads
ATE fluid
Goodridge lines
R1R semi slick tyres


I feel I have fully refreshed the suspension and brakes with original or better items, its a fast fun road car.
I would just enjoy a little more power.

From looking around I think I shall go with a:
182 manifold
Pure motorsport exhaust setup with 200 cel cat (12kg saving & 5HP gain)
ITG panel filter
EFI remap

If it makes around 180HP, leave it be.
Shall also probably fit a lightweight battery, if Renault claims are true of 1021kg, then saving around 10kg from exhaust and around 15kg from battery will put car around 990kg.

Only other thing is maybe a rear ARB, but need to check more on those.

 

[car.crash]

Ahhh this is another one of those ask everyone’s opinion thread and then waste your money anyway. ??

 

[Goodj]

Ahhh this is another one of those ask everyone’s opinion thread and then waste your money anyway. ??

ClioSport life.

 

[Clio_fool]

What if it's already making 180bhp? Get it on some rollers before buying parts or you'll never actually know if you've made any progress.

 

[car.crash]

 

[Gibbo205]

I don't buy those, too expensive.

I buy from anti gravity batteries, stuff like this:
https://www.antigravitybatteries-uk.co.uk/oem-case-type-batteries/AG-ATX20.html

I have that in my M3 track car which also gets daily driven and left parked for weeks at a time, always starts with zero issue and the battery weighs around 2kg, I got it for £400.

I shall probably put it in the Clio to test fitment and if it fits well, probably grab another or one of the slightly less spec versions for around £300.

 

[robzracing]

It would be interesting to get it on the dyno before and after actually.

 

[Gibbo205]

What if it's already making 180bhp? Get it on some rollers before buying parts or you'll never actually know if you've made any progress.

Good point, I shall give EFI a ring, get it booked in with them, for a dyno run and remap, see what it gets, if it seems low, then look at resolving the issue, if it seems healthy, then probably leave as is, good advice.

Though I don't mind the idea of a new exhaust, as the ECP value item on it has no sound to it and is cheap nasty setup, so I'd not mind a decent exhaust system (not too loud) on the car and the pure motorsport system does look nice and I guess its then a case of do I get it so it fits upto a 172 manifold, or do I grab a 182 manifold as you can find them for £50 and fit that at same time.

My thoughts are Renault must of put the 4-2-1 manifold on the 182 to make more top-end power, so it must work one would of though.

I shall call EFI and speak with Chris, see what he says and see if they are willing to map my car as is, see what it gets and then map it again for a reduced price with 182 manifold and pure motorsport exhaust, to see the change, unless of course it makes around 180 as it is now, then maybe its simply not worth bothering, but I guess Chris can advice as he maps so many he will have an idea of what works and does not.

 

[Jack!]

Does anyone still make that inlet thing that gets you near 200bhp? Seems like you've already spent a fair chunk, might as well go all in.

 

[imprezaworks]

@bloke

 

[Knuckles]

Does anyone still make that inlet thing that gets you near 200bhp? Seems like you've already spent a fair chunk, might as well go all in.

Rs2 or similar intake plus 197/200 cams iirc.

 

[Jack!]

Rs2 or similar intake plus 197/200 cams iirc.

b**ch to map iirc though. There's only a couple of places you can take it, I think Mick might be able? Not sure what Woodford is doing these days.

 

[Simon998]

Bring it to bloke and get it grp n timed, seems to be the latest go-to mod.

 

[masekwm]

I wouldn't bother with an RS2, you can pick up used turbo kits for a few hundred pounds more and they actually make the car a fair bit quicker.

 

[green]

Pound for pound a diff fitted to these will make the most difference out of all modifications your thinking about also cost less too.
Wouldn’t bother with 182 manifold as no real gain..pretty sure they are good for mid range toque not high top end.
Never really got the RS2.. yes you get to keep the Oe throttle body but ITB’s are so much better and you lose some weight too..win win.
Anyway... just my experience as I’ve done it all and wish I’d diff’ed mine years ago.
Good luck.

 

[White16valver]

How about getting some driver training?

Good driver in crap car > crap driver in good car.

 

[Gibbo205]

How about getting some driver training?

Good driver in crap car > crap driver in good car.

I've done 100 plus track days, I've done driver tuition years ago and I've raced. I think I am OK on that front.

 

[White16valver]

I've done 100 plus track days, I've done driver tuition years ago and I've raced. I think I am OK on that front.

One never stops learning

 

[Gibbo205]

One never stops learning

Very true, but its a thread about power mods, not driver training.

Spoken with Chris at EFI.
He says bring it up, he will tune it, then if I want to add more any re-tune will just be the cost of time on dyno and not the map, which seems very fair and good service.

He suggested, check for RS inlet, if not get one as worth it and about £50 from ebay.
He said 182 manifolds give 5-6HP in his experience, so if your OK with hassle of fitting or doing a new exhaust its worth it and he also recommended the PMS exhaust system.
If going for 98+ map another 4-6HP up top, much greater gains down low.

So I think I shall do map, then fit a panel filter, RS inlet if my car don't have one along with a 182 manifold and PMS exhaust, go for a new map.

 

[robzracing]

Sounds like a good plan. Good luck with it.


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[imprezaworks]

Yeah sounds like a plan

 

[bloke]

just see what it makes first before you start planning what mods to do, standard healthy ones can make anything from 165bhp to 190bhp.

 

[Gibbo205]

So it seems my 172 cup does not have an RS inlet (52 plate) as I've just tried looking by using camera phone to look under injector guard:




I am assuming if it was an RS inlet, I'd see RS stamped above the two middle injectors?

 

[hsustyle]

Decent tyres, fresh suspension and rear arb. Hard to make power from these but easy to make them handle well!

 

[Greeny.]

Usually it’s 182s that have RS inlets from the factory.

Power mod wise: Matched inlets, Induction Kit, Cat back exhaust, sports cat/decat, AC delete, Remap are the usual suspects, although if you have a cam belt due soon might be worth considering cams at the same time.

 

[Gibbo205]

OK just won a lower RS inlet for £40 delivered.

 

[imprezaworks]

Rs inlet just listed on here for £25 delivered within 24hrs.

I joked but there is, just listed lol

 

[donnylad]

sounds great, let us know how you get on. make sure to get a power run before any fettling or mods take place, great to have something to compare too!

 

[bigfella2]

Another thing to consider is if it's been timed correctly, because even if it's just a tiny bit out it will cost a fair bit of power.

 

[Gibbo205]

Rs inlet just listed on here for £25 delivered within 24hrs.

I joked but there is, just listed lol

Bloody typical! LOL

Another thing to consider is if it's been timed correctly, because even if it's just a tiny bit out it will cost a fair bit of power.

I would hope so! It was all done recently by Birchdown specialist and they seem highly regarded, car certainly felt stronger after they did it all.

 

[imprezaworks]

Yeah will be spot on