Clio 172 project - mods & reccomendations

[si0054]

looking for discussion on some reccomendations for my 2003 clio 172.

Have recently had two quotes/reccomendations for my clio, i have wanted to uprate a few items and got into two discussion with different specialists.

As the car is ready for cam belt change i thought about engine upgrades while its being done, at the moment the car is i original condition and is near perfect. I asked these dealers what they thought and got two very different answers.

The first reccomended a pipersport cam upgrade, koni coilovers, uprated brakes and discs and piper cat back exhaust. the work would include the belts, water pump and other difficult to get to replacements while the engine is out...and i also thought a new machined inlet manifold would add to this mod.

However when speaking to another specialist he totally disagreed with the cam upgrade as he said it would run terrible at low RPM without full remaps and lots of other costly and unnecessary tinkering. He also slated the idea of full upgrades on most things...to my surprise this guy was selling himself out of work!!

he did however come up with alteratives which he stated comes from years on modding any racing renaults..

a re-map with large induction kit, uprated suspension (he suggested a good aftermarket product and springs , EVO. NOT coilovers) A good metal based discs which he would cross drill himself, he said a lot of the advertised sports discs are rubbish and that the metal compond is poor. Red stuff pads all round. and a cat back sports exhaust.

And the cam belt change was £200 cheaper. and includesd a full service with top of the range parts (all perormance plugs, filter etc)

And the price difference is massive from the first...£1500 cheaper!!

I have used this guy before and i know he knows his stuff...just wondered what anyone else thought....or any additional ideas.

Also has anyone else uprated cams....and if so what was result?

cheers

 

[SuperJ]

go to a specialist. plenty around, and many post on here.

 

[theduck]

Sounds like you've wasted a lot of time speaking to the wrong people, and they have wasted your time by not first asking you what your budget is? A price difference of £1500 is silly when you are just asking 'what mods should I do'.

Give us a total budget, a list of improvements and priorties and I am sure we will come up with more sensible options for your money and point you in the right direction for proper tuners.

 

[172Ben]

He knows his stuff, but is recommending EBC red stuff?

Thats a facepalm IMO.

As above, what are you using the car for, budget etc?

 

[dibdab]

you need to no what you would like. better handing ? faster pull off? better top end?? bits like that. and the cost can just keep going so like the rest you need budget.

 

[TimR26]

Here's what I would do:

Brakes
If in good condition: Ferodo DS2500 front pads, Goodridge brake lines and Castrol Dot4 fluid, leave the rears standard.
If need changing: Ferodo DS2500 front pads, Brembo HC discs, oem rear discs and pads, Goodridge brake lines and Castrol Dot4 fluid.

Suspension
FK Konigsports and Whiteline ARB

Exhaust
Ktec or Yozza stealth catback system
Decat

Engine
519 Automotive Cams and Matched Inlets or JMS Engine Works package or JMS RS2 or ITBs from TDF
Ktec Uprated Engine Mounts (included with JMS RS2)
Powerflex Dogbone Mount

 

[ch!ppen]

As said above, state your budget and what you want from the car.

Also, speak to folk's like BTM, K-Tec and some other's which are on this forum about it. There's a fair number of specialist's on here who sound like they'll be a lot more help to you.

 

[si0054]

Thanks so far guys....

I want to get better handling,. better braking and some pull away performance....nothing to silly.

I can spend upto 2k and im also thinking of keeping this as a track car in two years time, at present it is a daily driver and i just want it to be a bit nicer on the above areas. My background has always been on VW golfs but i love this car so much better for handling. I think im going to stay away from sport cams..as i have been told these can run badly at low speeds and at idle (any info appreciated)

 

[si0054]

He knows his stuff, but is recommending EBC red stuff?

Thats a facepalm IMO.

As above, what are you using the car for, budget etc?

What do you mean by the brake pads....are they not that good..ive been reccomended them a few times now but have not used them before

 

[172Ben]

Worst pads I've ever used. Had a few sets crumble as well

 

[si0054]

Worst pads I've ever used. Had a few sets crumble as well

any reccomendations...been a while since ive done a nod and a lot of new stuff around

 

[172Ben]

What atouba has mentioned above will be good

 

[shiyan]

Worst pads I've ever used. Had a few sets crumble as well

I'm actually really surprised by that. Used a set which lasted around 110~120 laps of the 'Ring doing sub 9 minute laps. Not the best pads but pretty cheap and decent for the price IMO. Although, I guess the 'Ring isn't as hard on brakes as shorter tracks so it's possible that they don't fare as well on shorter tracks.