Joe's Racing Blue Project

[Joe#]

Had a good time at Trax, although it didn't start of too good when my alternator cable decided to snap (again) on me, just outside in 3 lanes of traffic. Brilliant! Managed to rig it up temporally which got me home ok. The nut had seized onto the stud, so I was unable to remove it to replace with a new one. After messing around a little before with some fluids it still wouldn't move, and I needed up snapping the stud. So it's time for a new alternator.

Anyway a quick snap that someone posted up


CSOC by laurence.hucker1234, on Flickr

 

[Kyle 86]

Looked awesome mate huge cred to you

 

[Joe#]

Looked awesome mate huge cred to you

Thanks Kyle, nice meeting you dude!

 

[Dan]

New alternator after having the belts done

 

[Joe#]

New alternator after having the belts done

Yep, a bit of a pain but these things happen. I can't reuse the aux belt can I either? Even though it's a few weeks old?

 

[f0xy]

Aux belt will be fine.

 

[Dan]

Yep, a bit of a pain but these things happen. I can't reuse the aux belt can I either? Even though it's a few weeks old?

Ye it won't be a problem as long as it not contaminated or anything like that.

 

[Joe#]

Thanks! Swapped it over yesterday, I'm just waiting for some eyelet crimps to come then it's good to go

 

[Dan]

Thanks! Swapped it over yesterday, I'm just waiting for some eyelet crimps to come then it's good to go

Did the stupidly thin eyelet on the alternator snap on yours too?

 

[Joe#]

Did the stupidly thin eyelet on the alternator snap on yours too?

Yep. And the nut seized onto the stud, and snapped when I tried to loosen it.

 

[Dan]

Sounds about right? What size eyelet have you put on now?

 

[Joe#]

Won't be here until later on in the week. But they need to be M8 16mm2 iirc

 

[Joe#]

Well it's been a while seen I've posted anything in here. And after sorting through some video's from the RS track day, I thought I'd post this up. @Cub. 12 minutes in ish :smile:

 

[imprezaworks]

Great video joe. Same sort of times (I know it's not a race) as I was getting. Car sounds awesome

 

[JamesBryan]

Looking good mate!

 

[Cub.]

Yyeeeass! Footage of Le Flamer.

Love the RB. Epic car

Hope you're well bud.

 

[Joe#]

Great video joe. Same sort of times (I know it's not a race) as I was getting. Car sounds awesome

Thanks Dan Your right as well mate, seemed to be going round fairly well most of the day.

Yyeeeass! Footage of Le Flamer.

Love the RB. Epic car :smile:

Hope you're well bud.

Haha You too dude!

 

[TimR26]

Great video Joe Engine sounds fantastic.

I can see why @Cub. needs a supercharger :tonguewink:

 

[Cub.]

Great video Joe :smile: Engine sounds fantastic.

I can see why @Cub. needs a supercharger :tonguewink:

FLOL. Warm down lap. But I didn't expect Timmah 'Mr Mechanical Sympathy' to know much about that. In fairness, Joe is bloody fast at Oulton, as is @aucky. Both went past me on non-cool down laps, just not as quickly as the vid! Lol!

 

[p@blo]

Looking good Joe, seemed to be running well at the RS day.

 

[Joe#]

Looking good Joe, seemed to be running well at the RS day.

Thanks Paul

 

[Joe#]

Just a little update. Had the car in for it's MOT the other week and it passed with no advisories which is always nice :smile:

Also had a drive through North Wales and took a couple of photo's

IMG_7400-2 by Joe_Harding, on Flickr

IMG_7401-2 by Joe_Harding, on Flickr

After talking about getting my steering wheel retrimmed I finally decided it was time to get it sorted. I Received the wheel back today from Snappy, and I have to say the guy is a genius. Top work! I'll probably fit it back onto the car at the weekend.
Before/After

That's all for now :smile:

 

[MrBox]

Just read from the start to finish.. cracking car buddy! And sounds amazing in the videos! Hope to see it around this year

 

[Adam93]

Just read this from start to finish; great diary and so many nice upgrades you have done for the car.

Remember seeing it at the RenaultSport day at Oulton back in August and it looked so clean.

 

[Joe#]

Just read this from start to finish; great diary and so many nice upgrades you have done for the car.

Remember seeing it at the RenaultSport day at Oulton back in August and it looked so clean.

Thanks Adam

Oh do you? That was a great day. I've got quite a few trackdays planned for this year but I'll hopefully do the RS day again.

 

[Joe#]

Got the wheel back on this morning, wow it feels great. It makes it feel a lot more special now, really happy with it.

Took it out for a little drive, I'm not liking the roads at this time of year..

Next to sort is the brakes and alignment before Cadwell Park in March.

 

[harry289]

Cadwell March 9th?

 

[Dan...]

Steering wheel looks great Joe! I think I need to invest

 

[Joe#]

Cadwell March 9th?

No, it's the 14th.

Steering wheel looks great Joe! I think I need to invest :tongueout:

Thanks mate, you should do

 

[Joe#]

A little more to update with.

I decided to swap my day at Cadwell for Anglesey as a few other friends are booked on, and with that in mind I ordered up a few bits.
25mm M.A.D spacers
Powerflex Black Series rear top strut bushes
Brembo HC Discs
Carbone Lorriane RC5+ Pads
Slider pins for the front calipers
Motul RBF 660 Fluid

I made a bit of a c**k up on the order for the pads, by accidently ordering rear pads 😌 So I'll be exchanging those with ktec for a set of fronts this week. I've also fitted the 15mm spacers which were on the front to back. Hopefully it won't rub otherwise I'll swap them for something smaller. Although on that note the rear seems to have risen slightly after fitting the Powerflex bushes.
Once the new pads have turned up I'll book the car in to get thee brakes bleeded properly and a few other bits need attention. Just a few photo's I took, much happier with the 'stance' now.

IMG_7432-2 by Joe_Harding, on Flickr

IMG_7433-2 by Joe_Harding, on Flickr

IMG_7434-2 by Joe_Harding, on Flickr

That is all for now :smile:

 

[JamesBryan]

What are the powerflex rear top mount bushes like mate? Might get some for mine as they're starting to knock over bumps a bit.

 

[Joe#]

What are the powerflex rear top mount bushes like mate? Might get some for mine as they're starting to knock over bumps a bit.

They seem a lot stiffer to be fair although I haven't driven the car yet. Mine never knocked before, but the lower bush looked a little tired.

 

[Cub.]

Which Anglesey day Joe? Mine on 16mm spacers on the back rubbed only when going up / down some serious hills (I.e. the one at Oulton, name I forget).

 

[Joe#]

Which Anglesey day Joe? Mine on 16mm spacers on the back rubbed only when going up / down some serious hills (I.e. the one at Oulton, name I forget).

I've booked it for the 19th April mate. Mine scrubs on the front round there too

 

[Cub.]

Pants, I'm at Anglesey on the 2nd July.

 

[Jekyll]

I'm not a lover of the MAD ones as I've seen the hub bolts come loose a few times. Interested in your views on the powerflex bushes once you put some miles on with them.

 

[aucky]

If your rears rub I'm sure I have some 10mm stub axle spacers somewhere you can have for cheap.

 

[Joe#]

Pants, I'm at Anglesey on the 2nd July. 😧

I might book that one closer to the time.

I'm not a lover of the MAD ones as I've seen the hub bolts come loose a few times. Interested in your views on the powerflex bushes once you put some miles on with them.

Oh really? I'll keep an eye on them. Torqued them up to 120Nm.

If your rears rub I'm sure I have some 10mm stub axle spacers somewhere you can have for cheap.

Thanks mate, I'll let you know how I get on

 

[Joe#]

Just been for a drive after fitting the RC5+'s and I'm really impressed so far. Once warm the bite is fantastic, but they don't half make some noise when they're cold lol.

IMG_7444-2 by Joe_Harding, on Flickr

 

[Joe#]

Not much to update on really, i've just been enjoying the car. Recently had the car at Birchdown to sort a few little things that needed doing. I need to get the car booked in again to as the PAS pump had decided to start whining.

I did a trackday over at Anglesey a few weeks back (19th April) with a few mates from on here. Car performed brilliantly, and the weather was great. I was really impressed with the RC5+'s, I found myself staying out for much longer than I ever did when running dS2500. And had great stopping force all day.
That said however, I've noticed that my rear discs (both) look they haven't been used at all. They still have surface rust on them, which I've never seen happen before.
A few pictures from throughout the day..

And then onto this weekends effort. After the trackday the car was covered in rubber, so it was a good excuse to give the car a bit of a going over. I decided to go with Tripple, and then Zymol Glasur over the top :smile:

IMG_7472 by Joe_Harding, on Flickr

IMG_7478 by Joe_Harding, on Flickr