My Clio 172 project....

[robbie1988]

Just introduced myself and after picking up my car this morning at 10AM I got cracking straight away.

It started like this - (dealer pics)

Upto now I have;

- stripped top of dash
- removed old ICE cables
- LED number plate bulb
- LED sidelights
- aero wipers
- short aerial
- in process of removing an old redundant alarm

Plans are;

- flock dash top, lower section, A pillars
- custom strut brace for rear
- coilovers
- new tyres
- replacement bonnet
- rebuild interior with new seats and strip rears out

Once that is done I am looking into a turbo conversion - nothing massive around 250bhp



As I left it today;

Question I have for people is - anyone know anything about these cables;

Engine bay RHS - ties into a power cable before going behind bulkhead;

Then this appears to be on the interior side but cant find a module anywhere as yet - any ideas?

 

[andywa]

Very nice. You don't waste any time!

 

[ianpettifer]

I think thats a bonnet shut sensor for the alarm. Clips in the slam panel on the right hand side, going through part of the top grill.

 

[robbie1988]

It was indeed the bonnet shut sensor and has duly gone in the bin along with the remnents of a Cobra alarm and ICE wiring



Day 2 of Project.....


Painted the inlet plenum where it shows until I get another manifold to port and paint properly;

Another question today as well, this hose going to the throttle body - what is it for and why is mine blocked with a bolt?

Also got the paint cans out for some interior and exterior - the wheel centre badges have been painted anthracite as well as rear Renault badge;

Moved onto the interior and painted the dash inserts and the speaker grills to get rid of the Carbon wrap and silver paint;

Then removed the front fogs and wiring ready to make my custom ducts and also an air feed to the 3.0 V6 airbox

More tomorrow hopefully

Thanks for looking

 

[Sam]

Wow. Some great progress.

Question. Why did you remove the botton shut sensor ? Does your 172 not have a standard alarm ?

Sam!

 

[robbie1988]

Need to do more digging around on the car for the standard alarm but the Cobra was left with wire cut yet still connected to the battery - same as remote cable for ICE and few other cables. The alarm had been wired into the hazard switch for the flashing lights but the button was left not working same for the interior lock button. Shocking wiring in all honesty - fixed now though.

New driveshaft for drivers side ordered along with new set of 195/45/16 Toyo T1R tyres. Going to measure up hoses for my custom air feed tonight then can crack on with that and get it on the rollers and see how healthy it is

Rob

 

[robbie1988]

Few little odds done tonight when had a spare hour - first up fogs meshed over;

Started stripping the boot trim and measured up for rear strut brace;

More to strip out on thursday - factory changer and more wiring

Rob

 

[ianpettifer]

Good progress! you don't hang about! how did you hold the mesh in place?

Does it not look funny compared to the grills tho?

 

[robbie1988]

The mesh is glued and bonded in place to ensure it is nice and strong

Looks ok compared to the other grills but am sure I can chop up a bumper grill to make it match if it doesnt grow on me

Rob

 

[Daz.]

Why is the boot all black? I'm curious!

I thought they were all painted body colour?

 

[robbie1988]

This car used to belong to 2 members on here after tracing its history and was caged with buckets and harnesses and interior painted black.

Painting over the old strut brace location as mine is going to be slightly different design and mounting points.

Just booked the car in on saturday for the new tyres to be fitted along with the new drivers side driveshaft.

Also just ordered the following for a full service;

- Goodridge hoses
- Red silicone 8mm HT leads
- Denso twin tip spark plugs
- Renault oil filter
- Renault fuel filter
- ELF Evolution SXR oil

Cant wait to get cracking on this - also trying to sort the coilovers as cant decide between Ktec & Vmaxx

Will be ordered friday at latest as off for 16 days shortly so want to get on with the car then

Rob

 

[Paul182]

nice progress there. did you put the alarm back in or bin it? if possible could ou tell me which wires went where as im struggling with wiring mine up ! any help would be great

 

[Jimbo_M]

Good progress mate! But If your going to go for coilovers save the extra and go for a decent set of KW's or Bilsteins, or instead a decent shock/spring combo would be great aswel.

 

[robbie1988]

I ordered the Ktec's as not planning on more than 1 trackday this year and want the AST setup when ready to make it more track orientated. They are on special at present so didnt set me back much.

The alarm was missing its control module and hadnt been unplugged from the battery so have no idea where the wiring went - I just untangled the knot of wiring and binned it. Wasnt safe the way it was left at all.
Update again;

- 8mm red silicon ignition leads fitted
- Denso plugs fitted
- Oil & filter changed
- Ktec coilovers ordered
- Renault OSF driveshaft ordered
- Ktec front upper strut brace ordered

Started with the rattle cans again

Engine started in a black/grey metallic along with a red inlet

Front Renault diamond painted anthracite;

How the car sits before the coilovers arrive;

Rob

 

[Šįk]

Nice buy great car! Top work so far too'

 

[Šįk]

I miss it. Just ratched these pics out, this is hhow it stood when I owned it.

 

[robbie1988]

Looks stunning matey - cant wait to get it perfected - just ordered a new OSF driveshaft and now slightly worried about the shaft being wrong.

The 172 Cup track is slightly different but I assume the gearbox is Cup and the driveshafts Non Cup in order to retain the standard Non Cup track.

Hope so anyway haha

The bonnet which was fitted when I bought it was creased and buckled in places so I have bonned it and replaced it with a better one (this one isnt 100% but alot better than the original);

New driveshaft should be here with my Ktec Coilovers in the next week or so.

Started piecing together the battery relocation kit along with airbox piping - should flow more freely and more importantly get the colder air.

Also recieved my stainless Goodridge brake lines through in record time from Demon Tweeks

Rob

 

[robbie1988]

Well got back to a few more deliveries for the Clio;

Ktec coilovers;

Fitted rears and arches cleaned out;

New rear ride height;

Ktec front upper strut brace;

New OSF driveshaft;

Goodridge brake lines;

Positive remote battery terminal for battery in boot, new silicon induction hose;

Only one of a few parts to go from the ST to the Clio;

Streamline Carbon exhaust surround;

Rob

 

[robbie1988]

Well fitted what turned out to be the strangest coilovers have had the misfortune of fitting. Seem to be working ok on the car for road use but cant see them staying on the car for long. Ktec coilovers which are the spitting double of the TA Technix I fitted on my brothers Clio 1.2 (Matty1995 on here) except for the camber adjustment which is completely pointless.

When first fitted with the adjustment in the middle the tyres were hitting the strut so have lined it up visually so it appears near straight. Is in tomorrow for alignment at my mates garage once the new driveshaft is fitted.

Will put pics up of the lowered appearance tomorrow as want to clean the car first. Some pics of todays work;

Arches cleaned and coilovers fitted - this was mid clean;

Paint marked top mounts to monitor;

Ktec strut brace fitted;

7 Series BMW power cable with exploding link;

Rob

 

[Šįk]

Great work dude!

 

[robbie1988]

Cheers matey - the traditional N111 JST numberplate will be going shortly as well as got my R500BRT plate to fit on once I have sold the ST

Rob

 

[Šįk]

!!! Nooooooo! Lol.

Have u got a buyer for it like?

 

[robbie1988]

Not yet but had it valued by a few companies and 2 have got back to me with prices of £400 and £450

Rob

 

[robbie1988]

Well today I started cleaning up the exterior of the Clio.

Started with snowfoam before clay baring most of the car and then washing with lambs wool wash mitt before drying with a drying towl. Finished with 1 thick layer of wax - if tomorrow is nice will give it another coat and a layer of Glaze as well.

Pictured here with my brothers Clio - Matty1995 off here;

Nice reflections;

Got the new driveshaft fitted and tracking redone but not happy as car is now knocking when turning left at a decent speed. Straight and right and its fine.

Back tomorrow to get them to checkover everything they did - I raised the suspension and checked everything I could on the drive but nothing found.

Rob

 

[robbie1988]

Tomorrow will see the car at MB Motorsport in prep for getting the exhaust sorted and investigating the knock from either the new driveshaft being fitted wrong or the top mount being on the way out.

Today I got rid of the useless rear wiper;

And alongside the former beast of my ST;

Rob

 

[robbie1988]

Exhaust has been rehung as a temp fix - going for the Ktec decat pipe so will get this ordered up along with new centre and front clamp/hangers.

The knocking noise has been traced to the RH engine mount being more or less completely shot so ordered the Vibratechnics mount instead. Proved it to be this mount by simply inserting a steel section and road testing the car and it removed the noise completely

Big thanks and would hugely recommend MB Motorsport in Hebburn for the top notch service once again

Rob

 

[guysy]

Looks really good how its sitting now, colour is so nice.

 

[sonny172cup]

Looking good, love the colour.

 

[robbie1988]

Cheers for the comments - I wasnt sold on the colour initially as it hadnt been cleaned very well by the garage where it was bought.

I have snowfoamed it, lime primed, clay barred, 2 bucket wash and then a full polish session by hand then 2 layers of wax and 1 of glaze to get a lovely shine again. Piers and P0RTY used to have pics on the forum of it looking very glossy so will be staying like that in my ownership. Will be buying a machine polisher between me and my brother so will be even better shortly.

Today I have managed to get the Vibratechnics upper engine mount fitted, was an easy enough job and allowed me to paint the upper mount as well;

Time for the test drive......

 

[robbie1988]

Test drive showed the knock and rumble has now gone and car feels alot better than the day I bought it coming up to 3 weeks ago.

Will also be sorting the upper gearbox mount from Vibra-Technics - already have the powerflex dogbone upgrade.

This afternoon I have fitted the battery box and fire extinguisher in the boot - the battery wont be ran into the boot straight away but nice to have everything ready for when I pull the interior out and route the cable in. Got the cable from a 7 series BMW but need to remove the exploding link and then can get the crimps sorted to connect this to the remote BMW 3 series positive terminal.

Ignore the current boot paintjob - this was like this when I bought the car but has been scratched alot - will be repainting the boot interior when everything else is in place

Rob

 

[sonny172cup]

Looking good, I did the engine and gear box mounts last week on mine. I did find that after a long road journey your hands feel a bit numb afterwards...almost like having chill-banes.

 

[robbie1988]

So far the mount is performing brilliantly but is comfier than the ST was with the Vibratechnics mount haha

Well update for parts;

Bought/reserved the following;

- 182 manifold and decat/link pipe
- Pair of Sabelt harnesses
- New exhaust hangers
- New exhaust gaskets

Also replaced the aftermarket Pioneer headunit with a standard 172 item and also ordered the cable for the aux cable (3.5mm jack)

On sunday nearly lost the Clio in a flood trying to get it to safety but managed to get through with minimal damage - my new wipers got smashed with the hailstones though

Need some Bosch Aero's now as well

Next 3 weeks should see more progress on the car

Rob

 

[robbie1988]

Been very busy sorting more parts;

I am not warming to the Ktec Coilovers - so I have sourced a good set of H&R coilovers and the Ktec's will be up for sale.

Also ordered Carbon bullets, Pure Motorsport top mounts and strut brace, replacement rear side bump strip, 182 manifold, Ktec link pipe, all new exhaust gaskets and exhaust hangers, harnesses.

Whilst picking up the manifold and link pipe I also got my hands on a Cup Turini wheel and decided to try it;

The Turini is alot lighter and thinking of sorting a set for road use. So need another 3 and then a refurb.

Offset is 38.5 and looks spot on compared to the 172 rims;

Cup;

172 rim;

Loads to do, on sourcing the following at present;

- Carbon lorraine pads
- Cup spoiler
- Remap - including pop and bang map (I am a child!)

Rob

 

[guysy]

Would look lovely with turinis on I think.

 

[subarufreak]

I agree, would look great on turini's
great job so far!
why did you sell your st? was a great car too, have a feature in fast ford off it.

Dominique

 

[robbie1988]

Turini's with the T1R's are my road wheels.

Just bought Pro Race 2 15" rims with R888 tyres for dry track

Need some 15" light rims with Rainsport tyres now for wet track

Sold the ST as didnt use it in all honesty - it was an animal in a straight line and not many cars could touch it. After ploughing many thousands into it I wasnt comfortable thrashing it around track as I would never get another with such good paintwork.

Loved it and will regret selling it but I got slightly carried away and it ended up as a very powerful car that I didnt like using as a daily or as a track car. The Clio will be thrashed and thats it haha

Rob

 

[Šįk]

Thumbs up for the turinis, Looks so much better!

As for spoilers.. Ditch the cup idea and go the next level.. Try and find a "Trophy" or "ClioV6" spoiler instead. They look alot more aggressive.

 

[robbie1988]

Good idea matey - will see what comes up as a bargain haha

My private plate will be on tomorrow as well all being well - end of the N111 JST era

Rob

 

[Šįk]

you got a buyer for it yet?

 

[robbie1988]

No but havent advertised it as yet - was meant to be going up for £370 but might just see what sort of offers I get

Rob