Big Steve's RB Clio 182 Cup Restoration

[Big_Steve_T]

Great job mate 👍
who built the engine?

Thank you sir!
A Guy on here built the engine, Carl Wadeson, aka BLOKE

 

[JamesBryan]

While you're in there put some dielectric grease in the white plug

You'll thank me later!!

Dielectric grease doesn't conduct electricity does it? Surely you wouldn't want that on the pins.

 

[G Hut]

Dielectric grease doesn't conduct electricity does it? Surely you wouldn't want that on the pins.

Its about preventing the corrosion, you wouldn't want it conducting across all the pins and shorting the loom

The metal to metal makes the contact not the grease

 

[JamesBryan]

Its about preventing the corrosion, you wouldn't want it conducting across all the pins and shorting the loom

The metal to metal makes the contact not the grease

This is what I read

The grease does not conduct electricity, so it shouldn’t be applied directly to the mating surfaces (pins and sockets) of an electrical connection.

 

[Louis]

This is what I read

The grease does not conduct electricity, so it shouldn’t be applied directly to the mating surfaces (pins and sockets) of an electrical connection.

Itll have a breakdown strength thatll most likely be overcome by how close the pins are to the sockets. You're right though, it's not ideal

 

[Krarl]

I've always used dielectric grease. Never had an issue, it's only to stop the ingress of water and keep connections as clean as possible

This page is quite helpful

 

[Big_Steve_T]

I've ordered a couple of small tubes of Dielectric grease, some syringes and needles.. My plan is to inject the grease into the female ferrules of the loom and not just dawb it all over to avoid any shorting or funny business.

Here's to hoping my car doesn't catch light the first time I connect the battery?! 🤔 🤦‍♂️

 

[Big_Steve_T]

Had a bit of luck with Eurocarparts this week.. needed a new alternator for the Clio and saw they were having a 60% sale this week (to be fair they’ve got a bloody sale on every week!!)

Entered the details of my Clio onto their website and they said they could get me a Lucas alternator for circa £122 with an exchange unit, so I ordered one.

Went to pick it up today but when I compared it to the old unit, it wasn’t the right unit.

Thankfully the guy in ECP was helpful so cross referenced the part number on my old Alternator against his system and nipped off to find the right unit. Few minutes later returned with this:

An old Valeo unit that’s been refurbished in a Lucas box that should be £254.99

Lucas | Euro Car Parts

Lucas at the lowest UK prices from Euro Car Parts UK’s No.1 for Car Accessories, Car Styling & Car Care. Buy today Online, In store or by Phone + Branches Nationwide – Next Day UK Free Delivery.

www.eurocarparts.com

After a little bit of “negotiation” he agreed to honour the price of the other unit their system recommended, so I walked out with it having paid £121.44!

Thanks for reading!! 🙂

 

[Big_Steve_T]

I've ordered a couple of small tubes of Dielectric grease, some syringes and needles.. My plan is to inject the grease into the female ferrules of the loom...

So far my master plan seems to be working:

Got some dielectric grease, and managed to get it into a 5ml syringe easily enough 💉

Will report back how this went...

 

[andy_coops]

Brilliant restoration. Loving the attention to detail.

 

[joel93]

Your really going all out on this 182, this car will be nearly brand new almost 20 years after it was built. Brilliant 👍🏻

 

[Big_Steve_T]

Brilliant restoration. Loving the attention to detail.

Your really going all out on this 182, this car will be nearly brand new almost 20 years after it was built. Brilliant 👍🏻

Thank you gentlemen 👍👍

Yeah I enjoy the build up of a minty fresh engine bay. So often overlooked but when it’s cleaned up, they look great! 👌🏻

 

[Big_Steve_T]

Fitted my new Alternator today, together with a trial fit of some of the air conditioning and Power steering hoses:

And I finally got the engine bay fuse/relay box looking something like:

The Dielectric grease was too thick to go thru the needle of the syringe, 😢 but it worked well coming out of the syringe itself, so I’d recommend a few 10ml syringes if anyone is wanting to put some grease in their connectors??

In other news, I had a day on the engine bay of the 11 Turbo yesterday, and that’s nearly complete also..:

Thanks for reading 🙂

 

[DomP182]

This is unreal, well impressed! Question is will you ever want to use it?

 

[Big_Steve_T]

This is unreal, well impressed! Question is will you ever want to use it?

Thank you for the support @DomP182 👍

She’s going to get used alright when she’s done, but it’ll just be for summer high days and holidays. She won’t be a daily. 👍

 

[Jekyll]

Keep posting Steve. A true inspiration for all of us.

 

[Waite_87]

WOW, this is unreal

 

[jay.1983]

This is awesome, next level restoration! Look forward to seeing it finished

 

[welshname]

So I get that this is a restoration, and it being a cup should remain OEM. BUT, with it being a 182 cup the Trophy dampers do fit...

Just some food for thought. Recaro's, Trophy dampers and you've got yourself an RB Trophy. Also with it being a cup it's got cloth rears and only AC not CC, so it's the same that way too.

 

[Big_Steve_T]

So I get that this is a restoration...

I love your thinking @welshname and am surprisingly aligned with your train of thought.... I like the idea of a Blue Trophy myself and could have just bought a Trophy to begin with, but I just can’t bring myself to own a Red car (long story) so this is how it’s going down.
I’m tempted by a pair of Trophy recaro’s but To be honest don’t think they are “all that”, I’ve got a pair in my Megane R26. The new 197/200 Recaro’s however... 🤔

Suspension wise I’ve got a full set of new OEM shocks and springs to go on... but I think the ride height will be terrible with those, so I recently also bought some Eibach Coilovers which I think will certainly make the car look 👌🏻 Just like @Dr Jekyll ’s

 

[Coops Mk1]

Big Steve to put da RB in da weeds, mint bruv ;-)

 

[Big_Steve_T]

Big Steve to put da RB in da weeds, mint bruv ;-)

Iz got 2b lowz bruh! Innit? Got2 match ma Reno 5!!

 

[Mbeau]

This build is awsome! Are those air con and PAS Pipes new? Look mint! I am with you on the 197/200 Recaros. Much better seats and would look lovely. The older Trophy Recaros offer very little support and there are much better seats out there, I have never been fussed on them. Look nice, but that is about it!

Cool thread this.

 

[frayz]

Lovely job on this. Nice one

 

[Big_Steve_T]

Are those air con and PAS Pipes new? Look mint! I am with you on the 197/200 Recaros. Much better seats and would look lovely. The older Trophy Recaros offer very little support and there are much better seats out there, I have never been fussed on them. Look nice, but that is about it!

Thank you @Mbeau

Yes the Aircon and PAS pipes are new, I've also taken the liberty to give them a quick polish with a buffing wheel and soap to make them come up their best. Air-Con is great when it's working on a sunny day, so I want to make sure it's all in and running ok when I do finish off the build.

I'll have to have a search and see who has already done the 197/200 Recaro seat fitment?? Would be interested to see if it lowers and moves the seat back any... if not i'll probably do what I did on my Renault 5 GT Turbo Raider and just modify the bracket to allow the seat to be bolted further back.

 

[Big_Steve_T]

Lovely job on this. Nice one

Thank you @frayz

 

[Jekyll]

@0ss Has the newer seats in his 182. Sure @Christopher. did too.

 

[Clio_fool]

Yep I've got R27 seats in mine, Christopher had after market CS's in his. The 197 ones match the 182 interior well imo, and say renaultsport on them 😉😁.
Mine are on Jon foz frames and lowered based and are comfortably lower than the standard seats. As I'm a short arse I can't comment on how much further back they go😂. The Renault bases for them were 9 inches high! I reckon their interior designer was a dwarf😂.
A mint pair would certainly look the part in your as new RB Steve👍.

 

[Big_Steve_T]

View attachment 1457909
Yep I've got R27 seats in mine, Christopher had after market CS's in his. The 197 ones match the 182 interior well imo, and say renaultsport on them 😉😁.
Mine are on Jon foz frames and lowered based and are comfortably lower than the standard seats. As I'm a short arse I can't comment on how much further back they go😂. The Renault bases for them were 9 inches high! I reckon their interior designer was a dwarf😂.
A mint pair would certainly look the part in your as new RB Steve👍.

Fabulous information @0ss !! Thanks chap. That interior certainly does look rather WIN..!! 😍

 

[Big_Steve_T]

Had a couple of cheeky hours in the garage last night and made a start on the HVAC system. Radiator and fan is already prepared and assembled, but I'd recently got hold of an AC condenser, so I thought I would fit it:

However when I look at the old one I took of the car, the black anodised brackets are all rusty & sh1te, so I masked them up:

And gave them a little lick of gloss black paint to hopefully stop the tin worm from taking hold:

Whilst I was in the painting mood, I cleaned up the throttle body, and gave it a bit of a spruce up too. Wire wheel to get all of the old crap off... then a lick of etch primer:

followed by a couple of coats of Eastwood Aluma Blast paint:

Whilst sitting on a plane this week, I also tried to write a list of everything still left to do:

Remove front load bearing elements

• Shocks
• Hubs

Remove rear load bearing elements

• Axle
• Shocks

Prep/Paint/Dress

• Prep main ECU Bracket & Powdercoat
• Blast, Prep & then Powder-coat front hubs
• Powdercoat rear axle
• Fit new bushes to rear axle

Fit components to front of car

• Front triangle sub frame Braces
• Pas bracket
• Driveshafts
• Gearbox Oil
• Front coil-overs
• Replicate/fit front to rear brake lines
• New front brake discs
• New Wheel Bearings
• Front Brake Calipers
• Front Brake Pads

Fit components to rear of car

• Exhaust heat-shielding
• Rear Axle
• ABS Sensor
• New rear brake discs
• Rear brake calipers
• Rear Brake Pads
• Rear Handbrake Cables
• Exhaust

Engine bay

• Alternator belt
• Spark plugs
• Spark Plug wires
• Inlet manifold with gaskets
• Engine oil
• PAS Fluid
• Thicker washers for Engine mount
• Positive power cable
• ECU
• Radiator air-con condenser & Fan
• Coolant Bottle
• Coolant hoses
• Refill coolant
• Air-box and cold air feeds

.....I was surprised how much is still ahead of me!! 😬 (And I've not yet added the interior!!?) You'll be able to read all this progress on here

Thanks for reading

 

[Mbeau]

View attachment 1457909
Yep I've got R27 seats in mine, Christopher had after market CS's in his. The 197 ones match the 182 interior well imo, and say renaultsport on them 😉😁.
Mine are on Jon foz frames and lowered based and are comfortably lower than the standard seats. As I'm a short arse I can't comment on how much further back they go😂. The Renault bases for them were 9 inches high! I reckon their interior designer was a dwarf😂.
A mint pair would certainly look the part in your as new RB Steve👍.

They look absolutely awesome! You need a set of those @Big_Steve_T

 

[Big_Steve_T]

They look absolutely awesome! You need a set of those @Big_Steve_T

You know a man @Mbeau ??

 

[Mbeau]

You know a man @Mbeau ??

I did! Will find out if he can still get them?

 

[Krarl]

I've found writing lists helps a lot. When I rebuilt my Monaco I wrote lists upon lists to make sure everything got done and that I didnt buy 3 of the same part😂

 

[Clio_fool]

I've found writing lists helps a lot. When I rebuilt my Monaco I wrote lists upon lists to make sure everything got done and that I didnt buy 3 of the same part😂

You still have more than 3 clio's worth of bits though 😂.

 

[Krarl]

You still have more than 3 clio's worth of bits though 😂.

I got rid of some bits, only enough to rebuild about 1.5 now😂

 

[Big_Steve_T]

I got rid of some bits, only enough to rebuild about 1.5 now😂

You got a good condition carbon canister to connection under the car pipe?? Mine seems bent out of shape.. 🤔

 

[Krarl]

You got a good condition carbon canister to connection under the car pipe?? Mine seems bent out of shape.. 🤔

I can have a look but I think I binned all that crap off because nobody wanted it😂

 

[Mbeau]

You got a good condition carbon canister to connection under the car pipe?? Mine seems bent out of shape.. 🤔

That is about the only thing I left on the shell I just got rid of! 😬

 

[Big_Steve_T]

That is about the only thing I left on the shell I just got rid of! 😬

🤦🏼‍♂️😂