Colesy track car build again 172

[colesy]

Hi, so I thought I’d document my journey with my 172 into track car/possibly race car. A little bit of background about me this is actually my 4th 172 and 7th clio having had 2x 172 cups 2x172 1x 182 and 2x 1.2’s.
Day job I’m a technician for Porsche which is fun to say the least.

So back in December having just sold my hawkeye Impreza wrx situation allowed me to get another little Clio. I was going to have to use it daily for a few months while my mrs used my F56 Cooper S. I found this car in rugby, 143,000 miles Bilstein B14’s, ktec induction abs exhaust fitted, £1300. For mileage it wasn’t in bad nick at all.

 

[colesy]

So fast forward 3 months no longer needed as a daily things are going to get interesting. In the time I’d been using it daily I’d fitted a sparco seat on extra low frame and fitted a ktec bolt in cage.

 

[colesy]

At the beginning of March I took the engine out the old girl to do the belt, fit a clutch and generally tidy up the bay and engine loom as it had been out before and not refitted properly. At this time I decided as it was going to be going on track this year to strip the engine too to check the wear of everything and replace as necessary. Surprisingly it all looked good so I rebuild it as is. I will build a ‘proper’ engine for it at some point. I also decided to do group n timing thanks to @1985micheal182 for lending me the tool.

 

[colesy]

As it was all out I also Polybushed the subframe, black series bushes in the lower arms and purple series rest. I’ve also renewed the engine mounts with added powerflex insert for now although in time I’m sure these will be replaced too. Also taken the opportunity to upgrade to a 182 manifold.

Have also got some TD 1.2s, these will get refurbed in time but not a priority at the moment. I fitted a pms stud/nut conversion kit.

 

[colesy]

And that brings it up to date. Yesterday I’ve removed the dash to trim back the body loom of unneeded plugs. I have also bought an EPAS setup and cup alternator setup and full strip out has begun. I plan to get a full cage fitted even if I only do track days, hate being on track without a cage.

 

[colesy]

and some quick pics of my previous ZR race car I raced for 5 years and boxster I raced for 2 years

 

[Danith]

Bargain. Looks smart on the f1s.

If you ever upgrade the bilsteins...... fancy some for the twingo

 

[Twingo 1??]

Bargain. Looks smart on the f1s.

If you ever upgrade the bilsteins...... fancy some for the twingo

Front won't fit a Twingo but rears will.

 

[colesy]

The B14’s will stay for a while as it will be used on the road occasionally and I do like their compliance, although that’s probably changed now it’s Polybushed.
Future Plans:
Full cage
Once I’ve got a tow car/trailer
Coilovers will be replaced with a proper setup.
Remove rear beam refresh with Polybushes etc
Necessary safety bits if I’m at going to race it
And then enjoy it!
I’m still in 2 minds whether I want to go racing again in the Hot hatch series at castle combe, as I’m only 45 mins from combe and it’s a series I’ve been wanting to do for a while now.

 

[colesy]

So I’m trying to piece the final part together for my epas setup and getting the controller off eBay. I’ve seen these 2, is there any difference?

Renault Clio 2 - Kit - Electric power steering controller box - ECU plug - EPAS | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Renault Clio 2 - Kit - Electric power steering controller box - ECU plug - EPAS at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

Pardon our interruption...

 

[colesy]

Bit of progress today, the EPAS kit I bought turned up 😊
so I immediately got cracking (furloughed life) got the subframe off with the rack I know could’ve probably removed the pipes without taking the subframe all the way off but I really couldn’t be bothered to struggle. Rack blanks and link pipe from BRT motorsport should be here tomorrow. How much fluid shall I put in the rack?
Then I got the column swapped over today, now I just need to wait for the adjuster to arrive from Portugal so I can get it wired in.


Hopefully my new cup alternator setup will arrive tomorrow so I can get that fitted.

Soon progress will slow down a lot as the next things the car will need after this is map at EFI for the group N timing and ideally I’m going to get a full cage fitted. Originally I wasn’t going to with this car but I don’t intend to ever sell this one so I want to do it properly.

Just a small update today and only a couple of pictures.

ooooh also on a sidenote yesterday I took the sill trims off to have a little inspection for rust, and I’m happy to report they are totally solid not even an bubbling which I was really happy about!!

 

[colesy]

So a quick update today, removed the unnecessary wiring from the body loom. Airbag and radio wiring removed and plugs/wiring removed that were in the loom but not spec’d with. Worth it

just to make the loom look tidier even though it’ll be behind the dash.
thanks to @GrahamS for sending the links to all the wiring diagrams.
Still waiting for the EPAS controller to arrive but once that does I shall wire that in.

 

[Tomo3292]

So a quick update today, removed the unnecessary wiring from the body loom. Airbag and radio wiring removed and plugs/wiring removed that were in the loom but not spec’d with. Worth it View attachment 1466300just to make the loom look tidier even though it’ll be behind the dash.
thanks to @GrahamS for sending the links to all the wiring diagrams.
Still waiting for the EPAS controller to arrive but once that does I shall wire that in.

good progress mate, this is something I am looking to do. I don't suppose you have the diagrams ? would be very much appreciated and save me from purchasing a 3rd loom lol

 

[colesy]

So not much of an update recently. I have hopefully bought a full sparco bolt in cage for the princely sum of £300 and it’s FIA approved so could in theory be used for racing (not that I’m going too) will be fine for track days though. A good friend of mine is going to weld in the spreader plates for me in the next couple of months.
wiring loom is back in and it still runs 👍🏻 Dash is still out but will stay out until the cage is fitted. EPAS is also now all wired in and works, I’ve driven the car with it for about 200metres and initial impression is I really like it.

next plans will be once the cage is fitted and the car is all back together I’ll get it trailered up to EFI and get it mapped for the group n timing and 197 injectors.
Once that is done it’ll be time to drop the rear beam out and get that polybushed, then once all this is done it’ll be time for a track day. I have no rush with this build, this car won’t ever be sold so I don’t mind it taking so long, it’s actually nice to be able to take my time usually it’s 6 weeks before the start of the season so everything’s a rush!
Anyway that’s it’s for now, bit of a ramble! Cheers

 

[colesy]

Today I’ve welcomed another Clio into the family. I think my dad was feeling left out so he’s bought a 182 turbo so we can go to track days together next year and have some fun. Looking forward to developing the cars side by side.

 

[Mbeau]

Cool!! I saw that advertised on ebay. Good spec from what I read. Very nice 👍

 

[Louis]

Today I’ve welcomed another Clio into the family. I think my dad was feeling left out so he’s bought a 182 turbo so we can go to track days together next year and have some fun. Looking forward to developing the cars side by side.

View attachment 1471499

This is still on Ebay at 4.2k! What did he pay?

 

[colesy]

This is still on Ebay at 4.2k! What did he pay?

4.5k I believe, good money for the spec on it. Can’t wait to have a go in it.

 

[colesy]

Not a lot has happened recently, now being back at work progress has slowed down massively.

As I mentioned above my dad bought a 182 turbo which he has now taken delivery of. It does make some cool noises but I think I’d miss the scream of an N/a engine. (Plus when he’s bored of it I’ll most likely buy it off him anyway)
The plan with it is to make bearable for him to drive on the road but also do an occasional track day in. (He’s 64 so I think he’s doing well just owning one 🤣)



We’ve now got a trailer too for when we do track days and I eventually race mine. We bought a third 172 that came with the trailer and lots of tasty bits that we’ve either sold on or kept for our cars. I’ve now got some solid engine mounts, forge coolant hoses, white line rear arb and headlight Blanks for mine. Got a full cage coming for my car too which will get me on track but eventually will be upgraded to a fulcrum one most likely.

And that’s it really, bit of a ramble from me. Oh I still need to get to EFI and get it mapped for the group n timing too so we’ll see how that goes. Would be ideal if they did some sort of remote mapping just to allow a base map on it so I Can drive it and make sure it’s all okay before going up to Chester.
If you’ve made it this far well done

Got rid of this now so I’ve got some space again. (The wheels stayed though!)

 

[colesy]

And EFi is booked for mapping in July! I’ve now got the sparco cage to fit, and some door cards to make/fit.
Then I just need to get some track tyres (Dunlop 03G direzzas) and it’ll be ready the first trackday.
I haven’t managed to get the inlets matched but I’ll sort that out next year when I race the thing and get a map tweak at EFI.
Some pics of the cage waiting to go in:
I’ve also re routed the body loom and I’ve now got the race car look with headlight blanks!

 

[colesy]

Another small update today. Sorted out the niggly bits I need to get sorted before mapping, getting the exhaust clamps on properly and sorting some heat shielding out. Made a cardboard template for when the nimbus arrives and got a heat resistant sheathing for the starter cable that runs under the manifold.
I shall give her an oil change before mapping then it’ll be the wait to get her on the dyno at EFI!
Also fitted a splitter today to it, it came off the 182 but I quite like it on mine now.... whether it stays we shall see.

 

[colesy]

 

[jassa]

Nice progress dude [emoji1419]

 

[colesy]

Nice progress dude [emoji1419]

Cheers mate! Just hope it’s worth it haha

 

[colesy]

And the cage installation begins. Will be completed on Saturday.

 

[colesy]

Got the cage fitted and completed. Got a good mate of mine to weld in the spreader plates so it’s done properly. (Unlike the guy I sold a full cage too who just bolted it through the floor!)

Happy that it’s in and done, oil change to go and she’s ready for mapping on the 15th July.

 

[David172]

Good progress! I have some questions, have you removed the sensor (YAW?) from in front of the handbrake? If so I assume its not required? Also, I have a wire going to the back of the handbrake but I cant see one on yours, did you remove that too? Im assuming that is to do with the hand brake light on the dash?

 

[colesy]

Good progress! I have some questions, have you removed the sensor (YAW?) from in front of the handbrake? If so I assume its not required? Also, I have a wire going to the back of the handbrake but I cant see one on yours, did you remove that too? Im assuming that is to do with the hand brake light on the dash?

Luckily mine being an early phase 2 172 it doesn’t have ESP so no yaw sensor. I believe you’ll need to keep it if you want the esp to work correctly.
And removed the wire to handbrake cable, when you put the handbrake you’re giving it an earth so the light comes on on the dash, so no earth no light. (Believe that is how it works anyway)

 

[David172]

Great, thanks for the info. I'll leave them alone for now then, especially as it needs to pass an MOT 😬

 

[colesy]

Great, thanks for the info. I'll leave them alone for now then, especially as it needs to pass an MOT 😬

Haha yeah get 12 months ticket then start playing lol

 

[colesy]

So a little update. Roll cage is now fitted and looking good. Need to get a harness bar welded into it soon but will worry about that another day.
After what feels like an eternity it’s mapping day tomorrow!! Excited to see what she makes on EFI’s dyno, but drive ability is far more important than numbers (although we all like numbers!)

Will update tomorrow how it goes!

 

[colesy]

And the results are in, 185bhp (well 184.9😅) and 170lbft of torque!
Bit of a fraught day in the end though, Chris got a it on the rollers and it immediately cut out. Long story short the lambda sensor wiring melted and shorted on the exhaust. Not too much of an issue as he deleted the sensor out anyway so it’s not going to be used.
Then after that, it cut out again and wouldn’t restart with no power to the ecu, somehow the gearbox earth strap snapped and caused that issue.
thankfully after this it went relatively smoothly. Pretty happy with the power it made and I can’t wait to give a good blast!!
Chris was really great and I would recommend EFI to anyone who needs there car mapped!

 

[colesy]

Anybody got any tips for installing the rear main seal? Mine started leaking after driving on the road for the first time, so it’s all apart again awaiting a new seal.

 

[colesy]

So after a couple of months of having absolutely no motivation to get the Clio back together due to an oil leak, the engine is finally back in and touch wood oil leak free so far!
Still some little bits to sort out, but hoping to get out on track later this year (cheap winter track days ftw😝)
And also my dads 182 turbo will soon be my 182 turbo, she’s not the cleanest car in the world but I will go through it tidy it and make it nice road car!

 

[colesy]

Not sure anyone reads this thread anymore but I shall carry it on all the same 😃
Finally after 3 months it’s oil leak free. After initially thinking it was the sealant filled main cap leaking it was actually the sump gasket. All sorted now though!
Now the engine side of things is sorted I can now start with the rear end. Got her in the air today ready for the rear beam to come off and have some new bushes fitted and whiteline arb. While I’m at it I shall also replace the brake lines across the beam and replace the little flexi sections with braided hoses. If I’m feeling really keen I may even give the beam a lick of hammerite.
The next project will the one where everything gets powder coated.

 

[Mbeau]

I still read it! Along with others, but don't always comment. Bloody sump gasket is a right nuisance on the 172/182. Good you have now sorted it though.

Interested in the details of your turbo 😁

 

[colesy]

I still read it! Along with others, but don't always comment. Bloody sump gasket is a right nuisance on the 172/182. Good you have now sorted it though.

Interested in the details of your turbo 😁

That’s good to know thank you!! It really was, and disheartening when I’d just had it mapped to then drip oil everywhere.

When the turbo eventually comes up to my house I shall start another thread. It’s currently my dads but I’m having it off him as he’s retiring to the coast, and he blew the gearbox up on it!

 

[Mbeau]

Are you going to keep both of them?

 

[colesy]

Jury’s out yet to be honest. My heart says yes to keeping both but my head says one will have to go. But we’ll see how it goes

 

[colesy]

Thinking out loud this but bare with me. I’ve got a pms lightweight pulley on an alternator, do you think I could fit it to my cup alternator and run a 4pk848 belt in replacement for the 5pk847? Would it work, any downside?