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Frayz's Inferno 182 - Back in the old flame
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
Been a while since I've driven on track, (had a few cancelled trackdays due to C-19) but managed to get the Clio out at Snetterton on Tuesday.
There was a decent assortment of metal there inc many track/race cars, stripped out Minis, Clios, BMWs etc. The little Clio held its own very well and was quicker or a match every other car of its type it encountered. Matched gear for gear stripped out versions too so was plenty happy enough with that.
Not bad for a full weight car, fully sound deadened with full audio and a sub on board.
Forecast was dire and at times we experienced all four seasons in one lap, haha. However i got in a good few dry laps as well as slithering about on R888s in the rain when the heavens did open lol. The car performed faultlessly all day and my only casualty was a dead wiper blade rubber that decided it didnt want to play anymore. Brake ducts seemed to be working well too but i do think im at the limits of the RS29s on track, so may look at further pad/brake upgrade in future.
All in, a good laugh, kept it on the black bit and shiny side up.
No video as i couldn't be arsed to use the GoPro but got the usual pics etc.
There was a decent assortment of metal there inc many track/race cars, stripped out Minis, Clios, BMWs etc. The little Clio held its own very well and was quicker or a match every other car of its type it encountered. Matched gear for gear stripped out versions too so was plenty happy enough with that.
Not bad for a full weight car, fully sound deadened with full audio and a sub on board.
Forecast was dire and at times we experienced all four seasons in one lap, haha. However i got in a good few dry laps as well as slithering about on R888s in the rain when the heavens did open lol. The car performed faultlessly all day and my only casualty was a dead wiper blade rubber that decided it didnt want to play anymore. Brake ducts seemed to be working well too but i do think im at the limits of the RS29s on track, so may look at further pad/brake upgrade in future.
All in, a good laugh, kept it on the black bit and shiny side up.
No video as i couldn't be arsed to use the GoPro but got the usual pics etc.
Last edited:
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
Cheers fella, I agree they look great and must be doing a reasonable job getting some airflow in there. Without getting her in a test chamber with some airflow it’s difficult to say just how effective/ineffective they are.
I do very much feel at the limits of the brakes I have so something more needs to be investigated. I even fitted some Puretrack titanium shims in before I went to try and help the heat transfer into the braking system.
David Stuart
ClioSport Club Member
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
RBF660 and approx 1 year
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
Likewise mate, i wasn't sure which car was yours or where you were. I've not got anything more booked at the mo but would like to if i can. Lifes busy at the mo so will have to see how it goes for time.
I want to get the Cayman out on circuit again too if i can, but the little Clio does so well out there for what it is, its hard to ignore.
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
This is the thing. They offer a lot of fun at sensible money, and although lots of other things may be faster, are they more enjoyable?
I think i know which yours was, although there was a couple of Cups there. Mine too runs a PMS exhaust but ive never heard it from the outside so no idea if its loud or not haha.
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
Oil service on the daily today with the addition of fitting the @stahlbus dry-break oil valve.
This little chap replaced the sump plug and allows me to clip in an oil drain tube to perform an oil service. Upon making the connection it instantly drains the system. Upon removal the dry break valve closes and leaves zero mess or clean up. No need to undo a drain plug again.
I did however have to cut a small relief from my PMS sump guard to allow the valve to be fitted without fouling but still provide adequate protection. It’s pear shaped to still allow the motor to roll under load whilst removing as little material from the guard as possible.
This little chap replaced the sump plug and allows me to clip in an oil drain tube to perform an oil service. Upon making the connection it instantly drains the system. Upon removal the dry break valve closes and leaves zero mess or clean up. No need to undo a drain plug again.
I did however have to cut a small relief from my PMS sump guard to allow the valve to be fitted without fouling but still provide adequate protection. It’s pear shaped to still allow the motor to roll under load whilst removing as little material from the guard as possible.
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
Dropping the Clio with Alex @ AW Motorworks tomorrow and hopefully normal service will resume shortly.
The current “daily driver” due to a dead Clio isn’t that bad though.
The current “daily driver” due to a dead Clio isn’t that bad though.
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
The Clio has developed a bearing noise that I believe is a bearing failure in the gearbox.
MrBlonde
ClioSport Club Member
I will keep an eye out for you spluttering past 😆
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
Lol, it drives perfectly. Just had a bearing noise 😅
Does that mean you are hoping to be back on the road for the event of the year?
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
Highly doubt it to be honest mate.
If Alex can get her built in time, ill come. I’m leaving it with him so he can crack on as soon as time allows. If that happens before the 5th, then the 5th will be it’s shakedown.
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
Absolutely massive thank you to Alex and the team at @awmotorworks for the amazing service and turnaround on my gearbox this week.
Alex pulled out the stops to get WZD back to full health as swiftly as possible. I had a feeling the transmission wasn’t quite happy lately but wasn’t 100% sure, as whatever it was wasn’t significant enough to pinpoint.
Then after my Snetterton track day, I started to hear what I thought was a bearing noise. This then progressed recently in to what I thought was a diff bearing dying and I decide to park it till Alex could look at it.
The box in the car was a “professionally refreshed” JC5-129 with a Quaife diff that went in 25k miles ago. I bought it from a lad building a race car and was forced to break it before completion. At the time I saw it as the most cost effective way to fit a refreshed box and Quaife diff. I even called the transmission shop to confirm what had been done to it.
It was new/unused when I bought it 25k ago, I have performed 4 gearbox oil changes in that time too. So rather unimpressed it failed.
Alex then stripped the noisy 129 box and my original JC5-130 gearbox which had done 115k miles.
I’m an automotive development engineer so have always driven with a high degree of mechanical sympathy so was surprised the 129 box bearings had failed. Yet was equally pleased to see my original 115k miles old 130 box (which has lived 90% of its life in my ownership) was actually in very fine health all things considered. The oil was still gold and uncontaminated.
The decision was made to fully overhaul the original 130 gearbox with all new bearings, seals and synchros and rob anything from the 129 box that maybe found to be in better condition.
The Quaife diff was stripped, cleaned and deemed perfect to refit. Unbeknown to me, Alex had all the hardware and brightwork re zinc plated and refinished better than new.
Details like this really show how much Alex cares about the quality of the work that goes out of AWM.
With the box getting swapped I decided it was a fine time to remove the standard flywheel and replace with a billet steel lightweight item from TTV.
The clutch was new late 2019 so that was checked and refitted as it is still in perfect condition. The last item on the gearbox was to refit the PMS linkage with a fresh pivot bush and add the OEM dust boots. These were packed with grease to further cut NVH on the shifter.
Always one to go that step further, Alex always goes over my car fully, no matter what it’s in for. One item to note was the auxiliary drive belt. This was done also late 2019 but has now covered 26k miles and showing signs of wear. As we were getting near the 30k interval, I asked Alex to change that too while he was there.
Alex also found one of my headlamp adjusters had broken so replaced that for me too. My car wears a PMS alloy sump guard which comes with spacers bonded on to provide clearance for the transmission. These are only bonded with adhesive and all but one have come away, so new spacers were turned up and TIG welded into position. Having these fixed properly makes refitting of the guard much easier.
Finally the front tyres were low so these were replaced with another fresh pair R888Rs.
All the above work was carried our over the course of a week and without any fuss whatsoever. As always Alex would keep me updated as to what progress was made and any delays due to parts deliveries.
Pleased to report my drive home was a pleasure. There is ZERO transmission noise now as you would expect but also absolutely ZERO noise from the PMS shifter. This is the first time it has been silent at all speeds and RPMs. The shifter and gearbox is the best it’s ever felt. Slick, precise and the gear changes are absolutely pin sharp.
Theres now not a hint of slop in any of the shift mechanism or drivetrain now it’s like a different car and the flywheel makes a nice change. Not exactly night and day, but suitably noticeable.
So a huge thank you to Alex and his team at AW Motorworks. If you need anything doing on your Renaultsport, give him a shout. Excellent service as always and cannot recommend enough.
AW Motorworks - 07936 934406
AW Motorworks - 07936 934406
Alex pulled out the stops to get WZD back to full health as swiftly as possible. I had a feeling the transmission wasn’t quite happy lately but wasn’t 100% sure, as whatever it was wasn’t significant enough to pinpoint.
Then after my Snetterton track day, I started to hear what I thought was a bearing noise. This then progressed recently in to what I thought was a diff bearing dying and I decide to park it till Alex could look at it.
The box in the car was a “professionally refreshed” JC5-129 with a Quaife diff that went in 25k miles ago. I bought it from a lad building a race car and was forced to break it before completion. At the time I saw it as the most cost effective way to fit a refreshed box and Quaife diff. I even called the transmission shop to confirm what had been done to it.
It was new/unused when I bought it 25k ago, I have performed 4 gearbox oil changes in that time too. So rather unimpressed it failed.
Alex then stripped the noisy 129 box and my original JC5-130 gearbox which had done 115k miles.
I’m an automotive development engineer so have always driven with a high degree of mechanical sympathy so was surprised the 129 box bearings had failed. Yet was equally pleased to see my original 115k miles old 130 box (which has lived 90% of its life in my ownership) was actually in very fine health all things considered. The oil was still gold and uncontaminated.
The decision was made to fully overhaul the original 130 gearbox with all new bearings, seals and synchros and rob anything from the 129 box that maybe found to be in better condition.
The Quaife diff was stripped, cleaned and deemed perfect to refit. Unbeknown to me, Alex had all the hardware and brightwork re zinc plated and refinished better than new.
Details like this really show how much Alex cares about the quality of the work that goes out of AWM.
With the box getting swapped I decided it was a fine time to remove the standard flywheel and replace with a billet steel lightweight item from TTV.
The clutch was new late 2019 so that was checked and refitted as it is still in perfect condition. The last item on the gearbox was to refit the PMS linkage with a fresh pivot bush and add the OEM dust boots. These were packed with grease to further cut NVH on the shifter.
Always one to go that step further, Alex always goes over my car fully, no matter what it’s in for. One item to note was the auxiliary drive belt. This was done also late 2019 but has now covered 26k miles and showing signs of wear. As we were getting near the 30k interval, I asked Alex to change that too while he was there.
Alex also found one of my headlamp adjusters had broken so replaced that for me too. My car wears a PMS alloy sump guard which comes with spacers bonded on to provide clearance for the transmission. These are only bonded with adhesive and all but one have come away, so new spacers were turned up and TIG welded into position. Having these fixed properly makes refitting of the guard much easier.
Finally the front tyres were low so these were replaced with another fresh pair R888Rs.
All the above work was carried our over the course of a week and without any fuss whatsoever. As always Alex would keep me updated as to what progress was made and any delays due to parts deliveries.
Pleased to report my drive home was a pleasure. There is ZERO transmission noise now as you would expect but also absolutely ZERO noise from the PMS shifter. This is the first time it has been silent at all speeds and RPMs. The shifter and gearbox is the best it’s ever felt. Slick, precise and the gear changes are absolutely pin sharp.
Theres now not a hint of slop in any of the shift mechanism or drivetrain now it’s like a different car and the flywheel makes a nice change. Not exactly night and day, but suitably noticeable.
So a huge thank you to Alex and his team at AW Motorworks. If you need anything doing on your Renaultsport, give him a shout. Excellent service as always and cannot recommend enough.
AW Motorworks - 07936 934406
AW Motorworks - 07936 934406
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
So I’ve had an idea for a long time about using the barge board on the side of the rad shroud to make a cold air feed. So with the help of @04-182 he made my idea a reality. I’ve had this for a while but hadn’t had a chance to fit it.
I’ll drop a thermocouple into the inlet tract and see what the ACTs are with and without the feed connected. Not expecting any noticeable difference but it can only help keep the intake air as fresh as possible and totally discreet doing so.
I’ll drop a thermocouple into the inlet tract and see what the ACTs are with and without the feed connected. Not expecting any noticeable difference but it can only help keep the intake air as fresh as possible and totally discreet doing so.
That’s super a super neat bit of kit mate. Nice work
Obviously I’ll have to add one to the list once you have given it the sign off 😂
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
Airflow is a t**t to measure at the best of times. But I think the easiest is to put a thermocouple in the air intake to the filter and measure the air temp with and without the feed. If I get a drop in ACT then it shows it’s working.
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
Just been out to try some “very” basic testing.
Dead simple, put a k type thermocouple into the inlet tract of the ITG and had it wired to a multimeter in the car.
Ambient on the car dash was showing 16c and the multimeter was flickering between 15/16c so that was bang on.
Driving the car from cold no air feed the inlet temps rose to 18c when moving at a pretty steady 30-60mph through a section of local lanes. (Pretty good)
Stopped and the inlet temp quickly rose to 31c and I moved off again. Same drive saw the ACT drop to 22c and no lower. It took a good 5 minutes of driving to see this temp come down. 22c is still very good but it showed once there was heat in the bay, it never really got back closer to ambient.
Stopped the car and allowed the temps to climb again, this time to 35c but now connected the cold air feed. Moving off saw the temps get back to a pretty decent 18c. However this happened within only a few minutes of driving.
This is as basic as it gets and I’d like to do a much better test on a fast A road to see what happens on a fast cruise.
TL;DR
In reality i doubt it would make a blind but of difference on a dyno. However it did show that having a feed, does help get the air temps back down quicker than without one.
Pre test
Without feed from cold
18c cruise, 31c stationary (2 min), 22c move off.
ith feed 35c stationary (2min), 19c move off.
Dead simple, put a k type thermocouple into the inlet tract of the ITG and had it wired to a multimeter in the car.
Ambient on the car dash was showing 16c and the multimeter was flickering between 15/16c so that was bang on.
Driving the car from cold no air feed the inlet temps rose to 18c when moving at a pretty steady 30-60mph through a section of local lanes. (Pretty good)
Stopped and the inlet temp quickly rose to 31c and I moved off again. Same drive saw the ACT drop to 22c and no lower. It took a good 5 minutes of driving to see this temp come down. 22c is still very good but it showed once there was heat in the bay, it never really got back closer to ambient.
Stopped the car and allowed the temps to climb again, this time to 35c but now connected the cold air feed. Moving off saw the temps get back to a pretty decent 18c. However this happened within only a few minutes of driving.
This is as basic as it gets and I’d like to do a much better test on a fast A road to see what happens on a fast cruise.
TL;DR
In reality i doubt it would make a blind but of difference on a dyno. However it did show that having a feed, does help get the air temps back down quicker than without one.
Pre test
Without feed from cold
18c cruise, 31c stationary (2 min), 22c move off.
ith feed 35c stationary (2min), 19c move off.
Yarp
ClioSport Club Member
Clio 182, E46 M3
That’s pretty decent then! On my Astra track car I moved the outside air temp sensor into the boost pipes. Was great to see how terrible a job the eBay intercooler did after a bit of hard driving. It was useful to have a constant monitor on it but I became almost obsessed by it after a while
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
i looked at that and reading from tests others have done, it provided too much restriction in their testing. So I was only hoping to aim a good chunk of cold air at that area. 😅
frayz
ClioSport Club Member
Got a better update before that yet. 😉
04-182
ClioSport Club Member
AB Clio 182
Is it you've decided to swap yours for mine?