Fiona's Project 172 - Winter Car

[- Fiona -]

Hello there!

I've been lurking on here for a while now picking up many helpful tips along the way (thank you CS). I recently went to view a 172 for sale not far from me with plans to use it over winter. Was the first one i looked at and ended up getting the guy down to a really good price.

Now.. i have no mechanical experience apart from the very basics but would love to learn and attempt it myself and hope that by starting a project thread i could maybe get some advice on problems i come across.

Soo the car... a basic 172. Planning to swap over by Nov the latest.

The exhausts really loud and from a quick look underneath looks like it may need a new centre section.
Has some kind of aftermarket air intake that looks like its come off a spaceship! Want to return that to standard.
And cosmetically the body actually isn't bad just needs a good wash and grilles/wing mirrors etc returning back to standard.
Seems a good little car that pulls well so far.

For now my plans are to tidy it up, get the exhaust changed and standard air intake put back on and go from there.

 

[- Fiona -]

So on Saturday i decided to make a start on the exhaust. What a load of fun that was! Chose to remove the rear bumper for better access. Was probably no need but i found it helped

Finally after few hours battling with the bolts!! Success! Removed from cat back Now.. im not 100% sure what a standard 172 back box looks like but im thinking the one on mines a copy?? thought standard ones were more rectangular than oval. And also the catalytic converter?? doesn't look standard :S

Centre section looks standard though i cant see any sign of exhaust leaks

So now i'm wondering if i should go standard or aftermarket??

 

[- Fiona -]

Today i tackled the headlights! Never have i seen clio headlights in such a state!! So after searching on here for tips i purchased the 3M headlight restoration kit and well..

Good as new! Very impressed!!

 

[daveski]

Aftermarket exhaust as the standard ones all go rusty.