Wish I could do the same 😞
You know damn right haha!!
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Martin's Track Clio 182 Project Thread
Wish I could do the same 😞
You know damn right haha!!
Had a great day on the car yesterday, and the sun was shining.
Good old @AlexW came down to take the gearbox out for me. He managed (with a tiny bit of help from myself) to remove the subframe and everything around it, then get the gearbox out in just two hours. That was with us faffing around and chatting too, not even going for it.
When I was looking at the pile of parts on my lawn I couldn't believe it had only been a couple of hours.
He also removed the entire steering rack and column, as well as the PAS reservoir and pipework. I've decided that now the subframe is off, I need to go for EPAS. I've never driven a car on EPAS but having read a lot about it and spoken to a few people it definitely seems the way to go. It would make no sense putting it all back together and then doing an EPAS conversion at a later date. So Alex is going to help me sort out and fit all this too.
He also made a start on cutting some of the air bag wires out and we removed everything from the scuttle panel to get rid of the old air con pipework. I was very happy upon finding the three sound deadening patches in there, so I quickly removed them too (weight saving yo).
I also have a suspicion now that Alex is not human, he does not drink or eat anything! Even when stuff is basically put under his nose 😂
I've also bought Porkies old gripper'd gearbox, collecting it this Saturday. So that adds to my excitement.
Stuff I need to sort out before Alex returns:
Pick up Gripper gearbox from Essex
Remove the decat, heat shield and the old gear stick setup (ready for the PMS one to go in)
Tidy up the tar residue from the sound deadening patches (need to buy some more tar remover)
Refit the heater box and blower
Refit all the scuttle panel plastics and wind screen wipers
Powder coat a few parts
Paint a few parts
Zinc coat a box of nuts and bolts
Only picture I took because I didn't want to get my greasy hands on my phone. It's looking very empty under there now!
Good old @AlexW came down to take the gearbox out for me. He managed (with a tiny bit of help from myself) to remove the subframe and everything around it, then get the gearbox out in just two hours. That was with us faffing around and chatting too, not even going for it.
When I was looking at the pile of parts on my lawn I couldn't believe it had only been a couple of hours.
He also removed the entire steering rack and column, as well as the PAS reservoir and pipework. I've decided that now the subframe is off, I need to go for EPAS. I've never driven a car on EPAS but having read a lot about it and spoken to a few people it definitely seems the way to go. It would make no sense putting it all back together and then doing an EPAS conversion at a later date. So Alex is going to help me sort out and fit all this too.
He also made a start on cutting some of the air bag wires out and we removed everything from the scuttle panel to get rid of the old air con pipework. I was very happy upon finding the three sound deadening patches in there, so I quickly removed them too (weight saving yo).
I also have a suspicion now that Alex is not human, he does not drink or eat anything! Even when stuff is basically put under his nose 😂
I've also bought Porkies old gripper'd gearbox, collecting it this Saturday. So that adds to my excitement.
Stuff I need to sort out before Alex returns:
Pick up Gripper gearbox from Essex
Remove the decat, heat shield and the old gear stick setup (ready for the PMS one to go in)
Tidy up the tar residue from the sound deadening patches (need to buy some more tar remover)
Refit the heater box and blower
Refit all the scuttle panel plastics and wind screen wipers
Powder coat a few parts
Paint a few parts
Zinc coat a box of nuts and bolts
Only picture I took because I didn't want to get my greasy hands on my phone. It's looking very empty under there now!
Greasy hand on your iphone? stop being a tart Martin.
Good effort on the box removal, I was tempted to pop over actually, but didn't have my CBA vest for the Croydon badlands So you went for the Gripper in the end, glad it went to a good home.
Good effort on the box removal, I was tempted to pop over actually, but didn't have my CBA vest for the Croydon badlands
So you went for the Gripper in the end, glad it went to a good home.
GrahamS
ClioSport Club Member
335d
You did it! Good to see it all come out so quickly. I had to throw a mars bar in Alex's car once to make sure he didn't die. Don't buy the EPAS rack I want or I'll be very very sad.
How longs it going to be like this mate? Once this coursework is out the way I'm a bit more free until April to lend an 'and. Are you reloacting the airbag ecu or keeping the gearstick surround?
edit: got beaten to it on the phone comment!
How longs it going to be like this mate? Once this coursework is out the way I'm a bit more free until April to lend an 'and. Are you reloacting the airbag ecu or keeping the gearstick surround?
edit: got beaten to it on the phone comment!
I'll never die from lack of food. TBH it is forum reputation I have.
I plan to get back down to Martins in two weeks time, to at least get some more done, probably another couple of days after that too!
You'll have to pop down sometime Graham
Airbag ECU (And all its wiring) is being removed enitrely, properly (obviously!), already removed the dash LED's.
I plan to get back down to Martins in two weeks time, to at least get some more done, probably another couple of days after that too!
You'll have to pop down sometime Graham
Airbag ECU (And all its wiring) is being removed enitrely, properly (obviously!), already removed the dash LED's.
Got to keep the new phone fresh for at least a while!
You should have popped over mate. Although you do have a lot to crack on with yourself I guess.
Yeah man, I thought I told you!? I thought it would be silly to turn down this opportunity!
It'll probably be like this for a month or so. I think the biggest hold back will be trying to source and sort the ePAS setup.
I'm in no rush though. It'll be nice to do a proper job on it all now. And then be done with it all for good so I can enjoy it all summer. Rather than rush to get it together now and then go back and do bits later.
I'll give you a shout when Alex comes back down to see if you're free :up:
Gear stick surround? The plastic trim? That's long gone from the car haha!
Getting excited thinking about it all!!
I'll make sure I have a supply of mini cheddars next time :tongueclosed:
GrahamS
ClioSport Club Member
335d
@AlexW Stop arranging dates when my fair lady is up! Would like to see the removal of the airbag ECU as I've got only a couple of wires coming out of mine now but don't want to screw up the last little bit before I even get to drive the thing.
@Martin. Best to get everything done when it's in pieces. Yeah do mate. Glad that's gone!
Have you already got a cup alternator set up? BTW I'm going for a DCI rack now to save weight.....
@Martin. Best to get everything done when it's in pieces. Yeah do mate. Glad that's gone!
Have you already got a cup alternator set up? BTW I'm going for a DCI rack now to save weight.....
I don't have a cup alt setup. This is a topic in discussion now. Whether or not to just buy the PMS PAS delete kit and leave it all be. Or whether to go for the cup setup, which is stronger and neater. Only issue is, my alternator was brand new when I fitted it, so seems a shame to remove that and get a potentially cruddy cup alternator.
I'd go cup setup, mines buller proof & simple as. Plus 5pk belt
I'm running a looped rack on mine, wouldn't mind changing it though!
I'm running a looped rack on mine, wouldn't mind changing it though!
That would have been ideal, but annoying I've not long bought a brand new alternator! Seems a lot of money just to change a setup over form one to another.
Planning on running a looped rack on mine too
Flog the alternator, put money into the new epas.. But depends how desperate you want it. I did read someone running the pas pump disconnected to act as a not pulley.
Not the best solution i know
All that weight on the PAS pump though! Needs to come out haha!
I meant as a temp solution until you flogged the alternator.
Jekyll
ClioSport Club Member
I like Alex.
I like your car too Martin.
I like your car too Martin.
Indeed.
Do mean as to whether the PMS pulley will fit and work with the cup setup as well as my setup?
172 Cup alternator brackets purchased from Ebay.
Brand new 172 Cup alternator sorted from Renault.
New genuine steering rack bushes sorted from Renault.
Gripper gearbox collected from @Porkie
EPAS wiring kit ordered from Ebay.
EPAS column sorted from a friend of @AlexW
Still need the mounting bolts for the Cup alternator brackets. Thankfully Alex thinks he has this sorted.
Still need to clean up the subframe, powdercoat a few bits and zinc coat some nuts/bolts.
Brand new 172 Cup alternator sorted from Renault.
New genuine steering rack bushes sorted from Renault.
Gripper gearbox collected from @Porkie
EPAS wiring kit ordered from Ebay.
EPAS column sorted from a friend of @AlexW
Still need the mounting bolts for the Cup alternator brackets. Thankfully Alex thinks he has this sorted.
Still need to clean up the subframe, powdercoat a few bits and zinc coat some nuts/bolts.
Tim.
ClioSport Club Member
So true!
Update
It's been a very busy past couple of weeks for me. When the weather has allowed, Alex has been down on three separate occasions to help me get the car back on the road. Yesterday we finally got the bulk of the work done and out of the way. There are only little bits left now so one more days work and it should be good to fire up and test. In between visits I have been doing a lot of refurbing and ordering various parts.
I've got a couple of things to sort out before Alex comes back though. Mainly the near side drive shaft. As it is still attached to the hub and coilover, trying to manoeuvre it into place was not an easy task. We just couldn't get it into the diff and at one point I was thinking 182 shafts must not be compatible with a 172 box/diff. A quick text to @BIGASH confirmed that Gripper diffs are made very tight and as expected we would have to remove the shaft from the hub to stand a chance. Not having a strong enough impact gun for the hub nut to hand meant that this would have to be left for another day. So I need to take the shaft/hub/coilover to my local mechanic to get the hub nut buzzed off.
Anyway here’s some pictures, I’ll let them do the talking.
Powder coated parts.
Zinc coated nuts and bolts. (A couple came out funky, so @Ant_Smiggy has sent me down a few to replace these)
I quickly removed the sound deadening in here whilst everything was out of the way.
Graham also popped down one afternoon to help me remove the full dash, ready for Alex to work on the loom. We also removed the PAS pump, 182 alternator, PMS AC delete kit and then mock fitted the new 172 cup alternator brackets. After he left I also removed the standard gear stick and fitted the PMS one into place.
The gearbox from @Porkie and subframe were cleaned up and painted ready for refitting.
Alex sorted out the steering rack. He removed the PAS pipes and fitted some new rack bushes.
Everything went back on very smoothly, apart from one gearbox mount bolt. I've also refitted the hub, coilover and brakes since taking this photo.
This side hasn't changed much, because of the drive shaft fitting issue. Once I get the hub nut buzzed off though it should all be back on in no time.
Alex then removed interior loom and fitted the bottom half of the EPAS column.
He then made a start with trimming the loom down. Removing what he could easily and keeping it tidy.
The finished loom. Much tidier.
The pile of crap he removed. Yet to weigh it all but it's a huge pile.
That's it for the photos for now.
We also reffited the dash frame to hold the loom back in place. Alex then fitted the top half of the EPAS column and the EPAS ECU. Finally we fitted the PMS linkage, this just needs tweaking once we can put the circlip in place.
All that's left to do is:
Sort out a few bolts, a few for the alternator brackets and one for the steering rack.
Fit the near side drive shaft/hub/coilover.
Fit a pump to the 172 cup washer bottle.
Measure up the new aux belt length and source one.
Finish off the EPAS wiring and tidy up.
Two bungs for the steering rack.
Refit the full dash.
Tweak the PMS linkage.
Bit of tidying and a bit of painting.
I think that's it. Almost there. A massive thanks to @AlexW for all of his help. Also to @GrahamS for lending a hand one afternoon. Also to @sonny172cup @BIGASH for suggestions/advice over text.
It's been a very busy past couple of weeks for me. When the weather has allowed, Alex has been down on three separate occasions to help me get the car back on the road. Yesterday we finally got the bulk of the work done and out of the way. There are only little bits left now so one more days work and it should be good to fire up and test. In between visits I have been doing a lot of refurbing and ordering various parts.
I've got a couple of things to sort out before Alex comes back though. Mainly the near side drive shaft. As it is still attached to the hub and coilover, trying to manoeuvre it into place was not an easy task. We just couldn't get it into the diff and at one point I was thinking 182 shafts must not be compatible with a 172 box/diff. A quick text to @BIGASH confirmed that Gripper diffs are made very tight and as expected we would have to remove the shaft from the hub to stand a chance. Not having a strong enough impact gun for the hub nut to hand meant that this would have to be left for another day. So I need to take the shaft/hub/coilover to my local mechanic to get the hub nut buzzed off.
Anyway here’s some pictures, I’ll let them do the talking.
Powder coated parts.
Zinc coated nuts and bolts. (A couple came out funky, so @Ant_Smiggy has sent me down a few to replace these)
I quickly removed the sound deadening in here whilst everything was out of the way.
Graham also popped down one afternoon to help me remove the full dash, ready for Alex to work on the loom. We also removed the PAS pump, 182 alternator, PMS AC delete kit and then mock fitted the new 172 cup alternator brackets. After he left I also removed the standard gear stick and fitted the PMS one into place.
The gearbox from @Porkie and subframe were cleaned up and painted ready for refitting.
Alex sorted out the steering rack. He removed the PAS pipes and fitted some new rack bushes.
Everything went back on very smoothly, apart from one gearbox mount bolt. I've also refitted the hub, coilover and brakes since taking this photo.
This side hasn't changed much, because of the drive shaft fitting issue. Once I get the hub nut buzzed off though it should all be back on in no time.
Alex then removed interior loom and fitted the bottom half of the EPAS column.
He then made a start with trimming the loom down. Removing what he could easily and keeping it tidy.
The finished loom. Much tidier.
The pile of crap he removed. Yet to weigh it all but it's a huge pile.
That's it for the photos for now.
We also reffited the dash frame to hold the loom back in place. Alex then fitted the top half of the EPAS column and the EPAS ECU. Finally we fitted the PMS linkage, this just needs tweaking once we can put the circlip in place.
All that's left to do is:
Sort out a few bolts, a few for the alternator brackets and one for the steering rack.
Fit the near side drive shaft/hub/coilover.
Fit a pump to the 172 cup washer bottle.
Measure up the new aux belt length and source one.
Finish off the EPAS wiring and tidy up.
Two bungs for the steering rack.
Refit the full dash.
Tweak the PMS linkage.
Bit of tidying and a bit of painting.
I think that's it. Almost there. A massive thanks to @AlexW for all of his help. Also to @GrahamS for lending a hand one afternoon. Also to @sonny172cup @BIGASH for suggestions/advice over text.
Last edited:
Cub.
ClioSport Moderator
He was in his element. He got angry when I kept trying to talk to him.
I managed to feed him a bacon sandwich this time round. And a bag of mini cheddars, he likes those.
He doesn't like drinking though 😂
dann2707
ClioSport Club Member
Well that's one way to change the steering rack bushes! Bet they're easier to get to from that angle :tongueclosed:
Alex loves it. Epas column fitted and worked ok I take it?
Seems to fit OK, I didn't do it though :blush:
Still got to sort the wiring etc out before we can test it though :smile:
Cheers :up:
Ah you know the length already? :smile:
Want to come and fit drive shaft and plastic windows with me on Sat lol?
Great progress there guys
Looking good Martin
Will defo have to blag a passenger ride next time as there is no chance at all of keeping up now a la Gripper'd box!
Will defo have to blag a passenger ride next time as there is no chance at all of keeping up now a la Gripper'd box!
Just chillin' haha
So close to getting it finished now......
Getting there!
I'm at the mercy of Alex now though lol, and desperately waiting for him to come back down and finish the wiring!
I am looking forward to feeling what the Gripper can do though!
Just seen your jazzy zinc bolts lol what you like..
OCD mate, it's a disease.
Matt e
ClioSport Club Member
looks more like a show car than a track car with all the shiny and painted bits lol :tongueout:
I'm never selling this lol! Unless something drastic happens with my life.
So when things come off, they only go back on once they are refurbished
Hate looking at rust and dirt.
CLIO 182
