Clio v6 Dr. Atkins Diet prt 2

[v6Max]

So 2 weeks ago we stripped alot of the interior out of my Mk1 v6 to make it lighter - that got 45kgs out. Last week the air-con came out, more of the interior trim, more sound-proofing, centre-console (exposed gear linkage etc), rear wash-wipe.

Then the seats came out (and they are bloody heavy for what they are) and were replaced with some Imola 2s on composite side mounts. Seatbelts came out and were replaced with TRS 3" racing harnesses. More anti-resonance panels were removed.

Total weight removed has now gone through the 100kgs barrier. The car is noticably quicker, handles better and stops quicker. The seats are about 8-9inches lower so the centre of gravity has dropped down as well. Its also more economical - on a motorway route that I often do my best was 30mpg the last 2 times since the weight has come out I have got 35mpg!

Obviously Renault could not really do this because it makes the car too compromised for most people but there is a lot of weight in the car that could be removed by Renault being sensible about the way they do things. Whats the point of welding a large plate underneath the passenger seat just to bolt the ABS ECU to it for example?

Aside from the improvements that are important it also sounds much better from inside. It would be fair to say that it is very hot though!

Dr. Atkins part 3 is probably going to take longer but involves a trick with the underseal, electric heater and a new approach to those fans in the side intakes.

 

[SimonV6]

Quote: Originally posted by v6Max on 09 August 2004


It would be fair to say that it is very hot though!






I bet it is while this bluddy muggy weather continues...

Will be intresting to see how light you can get it though?, are you up to changing the glass windows to plastic??, because you are just using it for track days, yes??

Simon.

 

[v6Max]

I am just using for track-days but I have been warned off the plastic replacement route - its more a case of doing it as one of the last things because once its done you will be looking at replacing the plastic on a fairly regular basis, it scratches and may need a large of fixings to keep in place.

The limit on how much lighter is likely to be dependent on cost at the end of the day. We have been talking about replacing the panels with wet lay-up carbon fibre (not pretty) and that would not be prohibitively expensive.

Without getting involved in that there is probably another 25kg to come out relatively easily - then its going to start taking imagination and more money.

Dashboard is definitely up for some "modification" - probably would be next thing to be honest.

 

[SimonV6]

How heavy are the Clio V6 cup race cars?? wonder if its possible to get down to near those weights?

Simon.

 

[v6Max]

I dont know how heavy they are but I would not be surprised if I could get near their weight but it will all go badly wrong when I install a roll-cage!

The target always was 100kgs and I thought that was going to be pretty difficult to do but it has been relatively easy and cheap to get there.

Definitely have not reached the point where we are running out of ideas lets put it that way - just occurred to me that I could in a smaller battery for example...

 

[SimonV6]

well good luck, lets see some pics when youve done dieting it...

The race cars have a min allowed weight of 1100kgs.

Simon.

 

[Matt16v]

What about a carbon bonnet and see if David 16v could make you some front wings.

 

[v6Max]

Carbon bonnet was tempting but the existing one is already fairly light as it is aluminium. Carbon panel replacement is a definite phase 3 possibility although I may start with the front and rear valences which are definitely too heavy.

Some pictures of the interior (well whats left anyway...)

http://www.track-sense.com/images/clio1.gif

http://www.track-sense.com/images/clio2.gif

 

[S2 PTH]

Thats hardcore!

I did it too my 1.4 recently and it flew everywhere. Managed to beat my arch-enemies - vtrs and even a zetec_s!!!!

I bet you must be killing porsche boxter s!!!

-phil-

(Ps- i removed rear seats, sparewheel, tools, pieces of random metal in the boot! infact, if uve seen yoz car, thats wat it looked like!)

 

[v6Max]

S2 PTH I dont know yet I have not had a chance to drive it properly yet!

Probably doing another Donington trackday in September so I should find out then what the "improvements" do. I have a datalogger so I know how the car behaved before the diet so it should be very interesting.

[Edited by v6Max on 09 August 2004 at 2:57pm]

 

[V6'ing]

... When r u planning to replace the steering wheel? Id leave the battery to discharge pretty well before trying tho

 

[v6Max]

Steering wheel replacement is probably due in the next week or so when we drop it lower and move the gearshift linkage backwards.

I tried removing the fuse for the air-bag but the legend on the fuse cover that showed the air-bag is wrong!

Even if I dont replace the wheel the bag is going - too heavy and not needed now!

 

[McBunny]

remove heater matrix replace wiring loom with those bits needed smaller washer bottles better wheels

 

[v6Max]

Heater is already on the list and better wheels = Compomotive MOs most likely - Superturismos may look nice but they are bleeding heavy and a bugger to keep clean!

Smaller washer bottle thats definitely a good idea. Have thought about ditching the letters on the back for a sticker in the same way as a Porsched GT3 RS and could even consider replacing passenger side mirror with a blanking plate (or am I getting silly now).

 

[McBunny]

no no its all good

how about re routing brake lines inside the car so you can remove all the brackets and stuff coild overs too would help smaller and lighter

 

[Matt16v]

Get Frankie Detori to drive it.

 

[AndyG]

One of my clients ( i sell software ) used to race the V6s. They invited me to a day in the paddock at Silverstone with em and gave us a proper look around the competition cars - *very* bare inside, they did away with everything bar the essentials! There was no dash, just 1 seat, gears, wheel, fire ex. and roll cage.

The camber on the wheels was awesome, as was the acceleration - you could actually _see_ that the car was accelerating as it left the pit lane, which may not sound significant, but it was to watch!! Sounded pretty nice too! Have got lots of photos, but non-digital and no scanner, groan...

Post more piccys dude!!!

 

[Wezzie]

Get all the door trim off when you take out the dash. Keep us posted sounds interesting!

 

[Mike T]

Ive a set of Black MOs in the garage

What composite mounts did you use for the seats as the floors so not level



Mike

 

[V6'ing]

Quote: Originally posted by Mike T on 09 August 2004


Ive a set of Black MOs in the garage

What composite mounts did you use for the seats as the floors so not level



Mike







Mike, did u change back to Superturismos tho coz they were lighter than the Black MOs?

 

[v6Max]

MikeT I could be interested in those MOs if you are looking to move them on send me a PM if you are.

The composite seat mounts are from Reverie and they are very, very light.

The mounts were installed by cutting a section out of the box section that forms the rear mount for the normal seats. Then a small section was fabricated and welded in place to level the composite seat mount. This description is probably not that clear - what I will do is take a close up picture of how it was done and post it up. I will say the job has been done very, very well with excellent attention to detail.

dobmaul the car is already on KW coilovers and they are much lighter than the original part as is the custom stainless exhaust - unfortunately I didnt weigh them so I dont know what sort of weight saving I made.

Door trim is a definite on the list - I do want movable windows so what I am after really are some door cards, window lifter from a basic Clio with manual winders.

The car is going back in this week to have the gear shift moved back and some of the bracketry changed. The steering wheel is being adjusted so that it drops lower to cope with the new seating position and more trim will be removed.

 

[Mike T]

love to see those photos and yes they were marginally lighter than the 18" comps.



Who did the seat install?? PM me with details



For track I d stay 17 or even go 16" with low rubber - itll sort the gearing (which is crap), weight and the rubber choice is better and cheaper

 

[Jason C]

Quote: Originally posted by v6Max on 10 August 2004


The composite seat mounts are from Reverie and they are very, very light.

....and very expensive. They make some gorgeous parts for the elise / exige / 340r

 

[v6Max]

MikeT PM on its way.

Jason C I paid about £80.00 for 1 set of mounts - you are right - expensive but nicely made. I so nearly went for the Mulsanne seats but they were just too much money for the weight saving.

I saw their demo Lotus 340R at a show recently, fantastic quality CF parts and they will make anything you want, irrespective of complexity.