Jekyll's RB182 Progress Thread

[Jekyll]

Such a good little car Mark. And some cracking pictures with the gas masks.

Thanks mate. It has been a good car to me for sure, just feels lately that it's getting tired and parts need replacing. Probably placebo as it's just become a normal car for a while now.

And thanks on the pics. It was a EV charge place but after 9pm, all the shops are shut so its a self serve place and it was dead apart from one other car there. We must have looked funny in our masks and overalls on the CCTV!

Lucky with that aux belt, mate. Could have gone while the engine was running and spat it into the cambelt.

Do you have the plastic splash guard behind the front grille fitted? They protect the alternator from excess water ingress.

Very lucky really as I planned on leaving about 2 mins afterwards.

Yes i have that plastic part. I managed to source one, once again from Alex, a few years back. I think they are quite rare now?

oooof that could have been one expensive alternator failure!

Long live cup alternator setups, swapping them is a piece of piss... Unless you're me and your battery cable decides to just snap every f**king time you look at it 😂

Indeed it could have been mate. Very fortunate really.

Yes, I do too. A very simple setup and easy to get to everything. And belt changes are easy peasy.

Haha, not had the battery cable snap yet. It looks pretty good, so im sure its due!

One of these was mine!

I spoke to him when ordering my Bosch one back in September and he said then, that theres been a few that have failed. He said at the time that the Valeo ones was most common, which is crazy seeing as you pay a premium for them.

Car's still looking good Mark.

Saw your story on Instagram and decided to get a NAPA alternator for mine as it's smelt a bit burny for a while now, so reckon it's time for a new one. Just need to get the belt ordered as well. You have aircon and everything done you? If so, i'll just go for the same Gates belt you've got.

I don't mind the Napa brand. I have a local motor factors I use and when buying Napa stuff, they always look of decent quality.

Unfortunately not Ethan. I've converted to the cup setup a few years back so this belt won't be the one you need. However I know many have had the Gates belts for air con versions and have been fine.

 

[Jekyll]

Few little updates first...

Went to go work one morning to find out my front tyre was completely flat. I couldn't check it there and then, so I took wife's car and investigated once I was home. Found the source.

Got it repaired at a local kwik fit. They charged me £30. I was a little taken back as I didn't think puncture repairs was that much. I think I was expecting half that but just goes to show that everything goes up and/or im out of touch!

Anyway, while the wheel was off I noticed the outer cv gaiter was split. Took the car to work and ordered the part. I planned to fit from the gearbox end and slide it on the driveshaft once it was all removed, but I had to remove the inner gaiter first and I couldn't see a way to do so without ruining the bearing. So I had to order a new one of those too! It wasn't a hard job and because all bolts/splines was copper greased, they all come off pretty easy. I kept the gearbox oil, draining it into a clean bucket and resued it once it was all back together.

I had an engine management light on, and i was guessing it being a lambda sensor. I had a spare at home so I fitted it into the pre cat one as its a pig to fit. Unfortunately it didn't cure it.

I thought I had another spare at home but I didn't so I have a light on still.

Gave the clio a wash and then got these 2 pics on the way to work with the sunrise. Quite cool shots I think.

 

[Krarl]

Mark, £30 is horrific mate🤣

Buy yourself one of these, they've saved my bacon so many times over the past few years!

 

[Jekyll]

Which leaves me to the the last update on this car for me....

It's sold.

I've been out of love with it since my Scotland trip and especially this year, found it hard to get motivated to really do anything, including even washing it. Cue some thinking over the last couple of months and I made a decision to break it for parts. The body work needs attention, underneath is rusty, engine could do with being rebuilt, etc, and I just don't have the drive to do any of that anymore. I don't want to keep putting money into it, just to get some love for it and as we all know these cars make more in parts.

So I spoke to a few people about it and what not. Last week a guy I know wanted a front bumper and I had a spare at work. He came round to collect and joked that he wanted to buy my car. I told him about the stripping it for parts, and he asked how much complete, which told him my price in mind.

He said he'd think about it and I thought that was that. Last night he asked to view the car today for the bits he wanted (he had a list) and then said he'd buy the car for just shy of what I wanted. So today, the RB got sold.

I was sad to see it go for sure. I'm not sure he's plans, whether he's keeping it, or breaking it for parts himself. If I was to strip it, I'd of made more money but I factored in the time to do so, and the convenience of him taking it as a whole and with the love lost, I decided to sell up.

I've owned the RB nearly 7.5 years and done 70k in it. Had some real good times with it and it's been a decent journey. But alas, its end of an era for me with the RB.

 

[Louis]

 

[frayz]

Sad day for sure bro but totally understand your reasons.

What’s next? Any ideas?

 

[Bluebeard]

I feel really sad. 😢

 

[RustyMojo]

Oh god! I wasn’t expecting that after such a wonderful thread for it to end so quickly! But understandable if you aren’t feeling the love anymore mate. Looking forward to seeing what’s next!

 

[Stefan.]

 

[Owen]

Insert sad face - but I know the feeling Mark, mine has done about 200 miles since 2013 so think I’m building up to the same decision.

 

[barnesautos]

Sorry to see the car go Mark , do you think your decision was helped by the fact that we are getting older and a Clio just doesn’t cut it anymore ?
Be interesting to know your view and others actually.

 

[Mr Underhill]

When you have children your priorities change. It’s hard enough bringing up kids without fannying about with old cars. Sad to hear but you can now throw your energy into other things.

 

[Clio_fool]

Good riddance I say, they are s**t cars anyway. 😭

3 series wagon for family duties next then?

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Really sad news. One of my favourites on the forum. Looked perfect with the 2118s against the RB.

 

[Brookie.]

 

[leeds2592]

Totally get your decision, I've been feeling the same way about mine for a while now, especially since getting the BMW. I get the odd wave of motivation but then it soon passes, hence why it's been sat on the drive not moving since last year.

What you thinking of getting next?

 

[rctempire]

One of my favourite cars on here too. Sad.
Hopefully it stays as is and lives on. There is always hope!!

 

[MrBlonde]

Very sad but can totally understand why.Had a lot of adventures,photo days,car pissing about days with mark & his RB.

Looking forward to his next project tho.

Some photos of past days with the RB.

 

[MrBlonde]

 

[Jamess182]

End of an era for sure!

 

[v15ben]

Really sad to hear it has gone, easily one of my favourite cars on here over the years. Always enjoyed your photos of it as well. Priorities definitely change with kids though, so it totally makes sense to me.

 

[Coops Mk1]

Super sad and feels a bit of a knee jerk sale, but I guess you've been mulling it over for a while now.

I also get what you mean, I fell out of love with mine maybe 18 months ago now and it's frankly just been a car ever since, but I'm a glutton for punishment and just kept on trucking, mainly as there is zero value in mine, and I mean zero.

Hopefully you're not out the game though mate and there's something fruity lined up for the next chapter for you and the family to enjoy and grow with, does seem your son may get the bug

 

[R29TJR]

As posted on FB, this car was the reason I got my RB. There always becomes a time when selling is the only option and even without knowing the figures I'm sure selling as a whole was the correct decision. If you broke down the hours to split and the extra money you would have gained, surely spending those hours with the family is far more valuable.

Looking forward to your next project,

 

[Brigsy]

Sad to see its sold as great looking clio. Fighting the rust and old car stuff when using as a daily driver can get tedious and time consuming, these are more weekend/occasional use cars now.

Keep us updated on the next project.

 

[Clio172T]

its not been broken yet!

 

[ajracer]

Sad to read this but as others have said I understand.
Good luck in whatever car you move on to.
You are a high quality Petrol Head!!

 

[MrBlonde]

its not been broken yet!
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Nice mate,you found your old profile.

 

[Jekyll]

Appreciate all the positive comments regarding the car guys. Feeling the love for sure!

I always wanted an RB and the box has been ticked. I wanted to keep it mechanically sound with some mods on the way and that was done. It was a clean car to start with and I feel I've kept up that, the best I could. I've tried documenting the car throughout my ownership, showing the good and bad to show its honest work that's been done. I've had inspiration from many members cars and I've probably inspired some too.

I can't knock it, the RB has been a great car to own. I've invested a lot of time and money in it over the years and have no regrets in doing so. Unfortunately it's very hard to keep up standards while using a car like this on a daily basis.

Certainly having a child has changed an outlook in life and I've lost a fair bit of interest in working all weekend tinkering with the car. The love for it was still there but just not as strong. 7 years and 70k done and its been a good ride though.

As for what's next? Not sure. I currently have a daily C5 estate which is decent enough for what it is. Its a comfy barge. It's mechanically pretty decent with service history including belts and clutch, so that's the bigger jobs done. It needs some attention cosmetically which I knew when I bought it, so i'll keep mechanically up to date and get the paint/cleaning up done on it. It's not really a car to mod so I'll just enjoy it for what it is.

I've a few ideas on possible future tinker projects but for a bit, I'll just take some time out I think.

 

[Rob]

Can’t believe that mark! At least it’s staying around!

 

[Toms_clio]

so I’m finally back in a RB after 10 years 🫣. Thank you again mark for the car. A true credit to you.
For now it will remain as it is with a few of my personal touches and I will enjoy it over the summer months bringing back lots of great memories!

Here’s a picture from its clean on Tuesday.

Just scrolled through my phone photos and found a one of us and some of my old clios 😎

 

[Mr Underhill]

so I’m finally back in a RB after 10 years 🫣. Thank you again mark for the car. A true credit to you.
For now it will remain as it is with a few of my personal touches and I will enjoy it over the summer months bringing back lots of great memories!

Here’s a picture from its clean on Tuesday.

Just scrolled through my phone photos and found a one of us and some of my old clios 😎

Don’t be selling or breaking it. CS is watching 👀 😂 Enjoy it fella.

 

[Jekyll]

I did notice that since fitting the BCs, the track was wider. I was running 16mm front spacers before with the Bilsteins and it looked visually bang on for my liking, but it sat too far out with the BCs. It looks like the part where the hub mounting holes are, is wider than the Bilsteins, so wondering if it pushes the hub out more? I'm not sure why, but it definitely stuck out further, so for the time being, I'm now running no spacers at all. I've also reverted back to standard wheel bolts as my stud/nut kit was too long as they accounted for the previous spacers.

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The pic doesn't really show how far the spacers stuck out, but it was too much for me. I'd like to add a 5mm to 10mm spacer just to give it a little extra but the 10mm one I'd have to get machined whereas a 5mm is off the shelf. Plus being 10mm, I'd lose a bit more hub lip. I'll do some homework at a later date and once the spacers are fitted, I'll order some new stud/nut kit to fit once the measurements are figured out.

So once the coilovers was fitted, I did 40ish miles and all felt good. I had a day out and when driving back, all was good and I was coming up to a roundabout. Engaged the clutch and bang, clutch pedal goes completely floppy. Coasted over the roundabout and managed to ease into a lay by I knew of. (I'm approx sub 10miles from home)

Had a little nose around and turned out my clutch cable had snapped. This pissed me off a bit as it was a brand new genuine Renault item bought and fitted last year. But alas, it was broke and i was broken down. Called the AA who we are with and the AA man tried making a cable in situ, but it was dark and late, plus he was at the roadside so was limited. Basically I ended up being towed, but work was only 10 miles away so he took me there and I had wife pick me up. (The funky shorts was because I was coming back from a day at a outside park and paddling pool! 😅)

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Once i was back at work the next day, i ordered a new cable from our local motor factors. Ordered at 8:30am and delivered by 10:30am!

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@MrBlonde

 

[Jekyll]

Once back from Scotland i started to look at a kit i had my eye on for a while. One thing that prompted me to buy the BCs when I did was a found a chap that made conversion kits for the rear shocks to make them a full coilover. In fact I had a picture saved of his kit months before I made the purchase.

Once I was back from Scotland, I decided to drop him a message and get the ball rolling. Now I'm not saying the BC separate shock and spring on the rear is bad, it's not. But I like the idea of full coilover units and im led to believe that it'll handle better still.

A few messages back and forth and I ordered the kit. I opted for a 225lbs spring on the rear as its still a daily. This is what I had on some gaz units I fitted years ago. I was I. Between 225lbs and 250lbs but glad I went with the softer of the 2. In fact I contemplated 200lbs after fitting but I've decided against that now.

Turns out the seller is a old member on here but not sure how active he is @Hutchie

Ordering was easy, well communicated and descriptive. Parts arrived quickly also. Once they did arrive, I got them fitted and played about with the heights until I was happy and took it for a test run. They do look snug in there but they clearly everything so all is good. Its definitely stuffer on the rear and feels more flat. A old purchase I think 👍

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@MrBlonde

 

[Advikaz]

Best damn Rb in the history of rb’s

 

[Jekyll]

So from these vids, I'm using the BC top hat with the integrated bearing and lower sleeve.

Then the PMS mount. The bearing has a slightly wider ID so there's little play. However I'm using the PMS top sleeved nut and it seems to centralise it all, leaving no play as the bearing is now pressed down on the BC lower sleeve and the top nut has sleeved out the excess play, thus making it fine.

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@MrBlonde