Engine swap, Mk1 Ph3 1.2

[T-Unit]

Hi, first up I've tried searching but didn't turn up anything too special.
I know this gets asked by rude boys all the time but I'm actually doing something about it.
I've only just turned 19 and my knowledge is a little low so don't laugh... please.

So, basically since the departure of my R5GT, Valver and 200SX (sorry it's not renault) I've decided to play with my old 1.2, it's a '98 Mk1 Phase 3. It has no plastics or carpeting left inside apart from the main dash section, I'm making some fibre glass door cards, put in some Sparco carbon (real stuff, not chavtastic) pedals and gear knob, my old Valver 3-spoke steering wheel, some FIA approved Corbeau fixed buckets, Sparco harnesses and hopefully that's all there's going to be in there along with a 10-Point OMP cage.

I want to do an engine and brake conversion on it. I think I'm going to use Valver axles, torsion bar and suspension and use a K-Tec big brake kit, but I'm unsure about what to do about the sensor for the rear brakes underload because as you know there's a system in place to lessen rear brake effectiveness whilst the rear is under load to avoid locking the wheels up. Anyway, I'm here about engines.

The R5GT swap has been done sooo many times and I don't even like the R5 lump.

The other two options are a Valver lump (how predictable) or I was thinking of a Renault 21 Turbo engine as I haven't seen it done and they give a good 190bhp as standard I've heard. They were a bit before my time but weren't they 4-Wheel drive? Has anyone done this swap or a similar FF to 4x4 engine but kept front wheel drive?

Any information will be greatly appreciated, thanks.
Also, wasn't there a Volvo 1.7 Turbo? Fitted to Safranes or Lagunas or something?

 

[u33db]

R21T Engine and gearbox won't fit the clio full stop so thats out.

Only worthwhile engine swaps if your wanting power are 16v/williams/R5GTT/Volvo 1.7T (as this is a renault unit anyway).

 

[Ash-Lee]

Hey, whats wrong with the R5 lump?

 

[Markliquid182]

they blow up.... lol

 

[Martin_172]

its more work but you could always go for a 172 lump? its possible ive seen it done

 

[Ash-Lee]

they blow up.... lol

They are fragile i'll admit, but if kept standard and well maintained they are pretty much bomb proof. I've covered over 13'000 miles in mine and spent nothing on the engine apart from serviceables.

I think the problem starts when you try to get big BHP out of them, at the end of the day its still an old fashioned 1.4 pushrod, pushing 20PSI of boost through its defenceless carb is sure to cause problems.

 

[Ryan]

its more work but you could always go for a 172 lump? its possible ive seen it done

That would be interesting!

 

[edde]

I want to do an engine and brake conversion on it. I think I'm going to use Valver axles, torsion bar and suspension and use a K-Tec big brake kit, but I'm unsure about what to do about the sensor for the rear brakes underload because as you know there's a system in place to lessen rear brake effectiveness whilst the rear is under load to avoid locking the wheels up. Anyway, I'm here about engines.

Any information will be greatly appreciated, thanks.
Also, wasn't there a Volvo 1.7 Turbo? Fitted to Safranes or Lagunas or something?

Yep the Volvo engine is a 1.8 *v with a turbo. Its limited to about 120 brakes with the stock ECU I believe.
A Williams engine is a better transplant IMO its a better place to start tunning from value for money and simplicaity wise.

Forget the big brake conversion kit its usless apart from looks IMO. DS2500 pads with stock williams/valver disk are better and resist fade longer.
Forget rear disk IMo also as drums are much less trouble and cheaper to buy and maintain.

The 172 conversion can be done but I wouldn't the illiams engine is easier and the 172 engine needed custom mounts to make it fit which is more hastle.

 

[Ash-Lee]

Yep the Volvo engine is a 1.8 *v with a turbo. Its limited to about 120 brakes with the stock ECU I believe.
A Williams engine is a better transplant IMO its a better place to start tunning from value for money and simplicaity wise.

Forget the big brake conversion kit its usless apart from looks IMO. DS2500 pads with stock williams/valver disk are better and resist fade longer.
Forget rear disk IMo also as drums are much less trouble and cheaper to buy and maintain.

The 172 conversion can be done but I wouldn't the illiams engine is easier and the 172 engine needed custom mounts to make it fit which is more hastle.

8v OHC, not really tunable either and as quoted above 120BHP is quite poor from a 1.8 turbo.

 

[edde]

8v OHC, not really tunable either and as quoted above 120BHP is quite poor from a 1.8 turbo.

Its not the engine its the ECU which is the probelm it doens't like much boost.


Mor important in the car is making sure the suspenion including all bushes etc are good quality stuff (ie Renault original for the bushes etc and expensive shocks etc). Also use some decinet tyres. Those two things alone make for a quicker track/ road car than twice the money spent on the engine.

 

[Oliver_K4M]

I had also a 1,2 8V and put a 1,6 16V in, with some mods now 133hp/178Nm.....it´s nicer to drive than a valver, because the K-bloc is not so heavy than the F-block (fewer understeeer) and better torque curve.


http://home.vr-web.de/seegi/Umbau/Umbauengl.html


http://home.vrweb.de/~alexandra.hoch/Neuer_Ordner/Clio/

 

[theduck]

what about the VAG 1.8 20vT??

 

[Martin_172]

I had also a 1,2 8V and put a 1,6 16V in, with some mods now 133hp/178Nm.....it´s nicer to drive than a valver, because the K-bloc is not so heavy than the F-block (fewer understeeer) and better torque curve.


http://home.vr-web.de/seegi/Umbau/Umbauengl.html


http://home.vrweb.de/~alexandra.hoch/Neuer_Ordner/Clio/

nice car mate, this got me thinking about my 1.6 16v conversion again.

 

[Oliver_K4M]

what about the VAG 1.8 20vT??

PUKE!

I would never put any f****** VAG parts in my Clio!

Then buy a TT or GTI if you like it!

 

[theduck]

PUKE!

I would never put any f****** VAG parts in my Clio!

Then buy a TT or GTI if you like it!

first of all that wasnt a suggestion for you, it was a suggestion to T-Unit, secondly, the 1.8 20vT is a very capable, reliable and extremely tuneable engine.

 

[Oliver_K4M]

I don´t like these mixtures! What is the result? A Renault or an Audi? It´s a question of pride driving a Renault! If it must be this engine then I would take a VW Golf Mk.2.....

 

[theduck]

the result is an audi powered renault. Just like when volvo put used a renault egine, it was a renault powered volvo, or when seat used a porche engine, it was a porche powered seat. I cant see what your problem is!

 

[Oliver_K4M]

O.K. maybe there is a different understanding about engine swaps between us.

But if the VAG 1,8 Turbo will fit incl. Gearbox in a Clio Mk.1, why not also the 2l Turbo of the R21 when you use a Safrane-Gearbox and install it transverse??

 

[theduck]

as far as i was aware you couldnt get the r21 turbo engine to fit....

 

[Martin_172]

yep someone asked and apparently its not possible but suppose anything is possible if you have enough time and money.

oliver have you ever came up against any 172's or other bigger engine cars? how did you do? just wondering as i fancy the conversion myself to the 1.2 16v

 

[Oliver_K4M]

I´m at the moment quite satisfied with the power.

This year I was on a Renault-Meeting in Austria, where they make a hill-acceleration.

I did it in 6,25 sec, my club-colleague with a valver that´s equipped with a Mégane-Cup engine and about 180hp did it in 5,80 sec, another colleage with the 140hp-F4R engine (from a Espace) in his valver in 6.10 sec.

here the videos:

http://www.badongo.com/vid/149798 (Megane-engine)

http://www.badongo.com/vid/149800 (Espace-engine)

http://www.badongo.com/vid/149768 (me)