Not Normal Dans R26 Megane F1

[Daz.]

Oooooo sounds interesting! I've been worried about looking fir an exhaust.

I genuinely love my mid box chop!

 

[not normal dan]

Good deal on the exhaust!

Yeah I thought I'd better snap it up at that price.

Bargain! Get some videos up when it's fitted.

Will do mate, it won't be going on just yet as I know you have to remove one of the shafts to do the downpipe and I'm swapping the clutch and flywheel so so I'll do it then

Oooooo sounds interesting! I've been worried about looking fir an exhaust.

I genuinely love my mid box chop!

Tbh for the money I couldn't turn it down, plus with it being 3inch it'll be more then capable for the spec I want to run

 

[Mr Burns]

I bet your missus loves you, Dan!

 

[The Russian.]

I'm guessing your the fella I was talking too ?

 

[not normal dan]

I bet your missus loves you, Dan!

She don't do too badly herself, the rule is as long as the bills are paid, foods on the table and we have monies for holidays and socialising I can spend what I want haha.

Although she knows when I get a new car she can guarantee its getting good as rebuilt haha

I'm guessing your the fella I was talking too ?

Oh yes that's me mate, your the chap with the lovely inferno?

 

[The Russian.]

Oh yes that's me mate, your the chap with the lovely inferno?

Indeed

Absolute bargain of an exhaust that

 

[Gray]

Lovely exhaust system.. about time YB released it, the final design was signed off months ago!

 

[not normal dan]

Indeed

Absolute bargain of an exhaust that

Yeah tbh I'm kicking myself that I didn't buy a few to sell on and make a few drinks for myself

Lovely exhaust system.. about time YB released it, the final design was signed off months ago!

Yeah it's a nice bit of kit and you can get an optional centre silencer which is interchangeable, although there demo had a non res with decat and that was quiet as a mouse at 4500rpm when I asked him to rev it up!

 

[NorthloopCup]

It's about time you stopped being a mangina and got this exhaust fitted!!

 

[TimR26]

As above and get some pics of it!

I wouldn't bother with the centre silencer.

 

[not normal dan]

It's about time you stopped being a mangina and got this exhaust fitted!!

I'm too bone, I'll do the lot in one go coilovers and clutch and flywheel and all that b****cks, after all why would I want to strip the drivers side hub out more then once haha

On another note yesterday the boot decided to have a turn, once trying to open itself and then not letting me get the shopping out haha

Anyway got it to open eventually and thought I'd strip it down as I know they are prone to water ingress in the tailgate.

So first of I checked the locked was operational with a power probe and that it was in good order and well greased.

Then I stripped the rear trim off and got the boot switch out and belled out all the wiring in between and checked for any signs of rubbing or moisture

Then I stripped the boot switch down and lone behold it was wet inside. I dried it out cleaned up the contacts and added some wd40 and resealed it. For now all is good but if it happens again I'll grab a new switch

 

[not normal dan]

So yesterday was the day of reckoning for the megane (and myself) as it was my first proper trackday at Donnington Park with Javelin. I booked Donnington as its only 10 minutes away and I'd like to think I was fairly familiar with the layout and area.

So I arrived slightly early as I must admit I was a tad nervous due to my lack of track experience and I didn't know what to expect of the car and how it would cope. So I found my garage and opened up and set unloading the tools and various spares I'd taken as I didn't want something minor to spoil the day. Then came the first and daftest boo boo I could of made, I couldn't find the tow eye (looks like a previous owner may have removed it) but luckily I manged to blag it and luckily didn't need it.

So I signed on then went back to the garage to give the car one last check over (torque wheels, check brakes and fluids and have a general gander). With that complete the missus turned up got her signed on as passenger and we then attended the safety briefing. Colin and the team were very informative and I thing they may have burst some bubbles of some racers that were in attendance.

So we then went onto our sighting laps and shortly after the open pit lane session kicked off. I left it 15 minutes for the have ago heroes to get the heroics out the way and then we headed out. First thoughts, well after the first lap I started to get into the swing of things and I must say how well behaved others were which helped in terms of building me confidence.

A few friends attended including @SteBurns who took some great photos and offered some good advice. Also my mate Pete who works for centre of gravity (well known in Porsche scene and race car scene for geo and suspension setup) who brought some nice intercomp pressure and temp stuff to get the most out me tyres.

So now for the pics some taken by Ste, me sister and me missus

Before I headed out

Mine and the missus pit que selfie

Some important track shots

Pete monitoring pressures and temps

Shot before we headed out

A nice shot Ste got

The missus doing some photo bombing

And the most important thing, the car came home in one piece

I think its safe to say I'll be doing my fair share of trackdays next year and hopefully the missus will be getting in the drivers seat too. I am going to have to make a few changes to the megane in the way of coilovers as it could of done with being a little stiffer and some form of track day tyre and maybe a weight loss program but its safe to say I've got the bug!

 

[TimR26]

Nice write up.

Coilovers aren't necessary, I have new dampers and Cooksports which is really good setup.

 

[not normal dan]

Nice write up.

Coilovers aren't necessary, I have new dampers and Cooksports which is really good setup.

Tbh the main reason I want to go down the coilover route is if I was to go for BC's (which I can get 30%) off there too mounts give me more adjustability in terms of camber although Pete had a few ideas then depending on ride height we will space the steering rack of we come across any bump steer issues

 

[Gray]

Looking good mate! Shame I couldn't get along...

We'll have to arrange a double date at Centre of Gravity as I need the BC's setting up.

 

[not normal dan]

Looking good mate! Shame I couldn't get along...

We'll have to arrange a double date at Centre of Gravity as I need the BC's setting up.

Yeah was a good day mate, remained dry and fairly cool which was nice on the car I guess.

Yeah I'll no doubt fit mine down there, they owe me a few favours for my clutch and flywheel changing skills

 

[Gray]

Yeah was a good day mate, remained dry and fairly cool which was nice on the car I guess.

Yeah I'll no doubt fit mine down there, they owe me a few favours for my clutch and flywheel changing skills

They weren't too bad of a job (long as nothing is seized!) we did the twist links, drop links, coilovers and oils / filter change in 3hrs~

I've got a spare set of wishbones which I've stripped down, will be sending them for powdercoat then pressing in new bushes / BJ. The car already feels 100times better with the new steering / suspension parts

 

[not normal dan]

They weren't too bad of a job (long as nothing is seized!) we did the twist links, drop links, coilovers and oils / filter change in 3hrs~

I've got a spare set of wishbones which I've stripped down, will be sending them for powdercoat then pressing in new bushes / BJ. The car already feels 100times better with the new steering / suspension parts

Tbh mate I plan on replacing it all at the same time, you know me

Plus with spending time and money on suspension the rest of the components have got to be right

 

[not normal dan]

So picked a few more bits up now for the megane ready for the surgery after Christmas.

So first off picked up a clutch off Ads, R26r jobby so 20% more clamping force apparently.



Then got a bit of a bargain on an r26r smf lightened and balanced billet at a bit of a bargain after someone backed out

Just got to buy the valeo slave cylinder from eurocarparts and some new flywheel bolts.

So now all that is left is the coil overs which I'll grab next month along with the rest of the parts to carry out the suspension/steering refresh.

 

[Mr Burns]

I'd imagine it'll be a very different car with those mods, Dan! Megane's are usually some of the hardest cars to keep up with on-track!

 

[not normal dan]

I'd imagine it'll be a very different car with those mods, Dan! Megane's are usually some of the hardest cars to keep up with on-track!

I think the biggest improvement will be when I do my Craig barley day hahaha

 

[not normal dan]

So after more than a few drinks yesterday in Birmingham with some of the lads from work I woke up this morning feeling slightly ill so what better cure then to give the car a long awaited scrub.

So here's the results

 

[NorthloopCup]

So after more than a few drinks yesterday in Birmingham with some of the lads from work I woke up this morning feeling slightly ill so what better cure then to give the car a long awaited scrub.

So here's the results

Shed! Lol!

 

[not normal dan]

Shed! Lol!

Fast shed

 

[NorthloopCup]

Fast shed :wink:

Need a head to head!

 

[not normal dan]

Need a head to head!

That's can be arranged

 

[NorthloopCup]

That's can be arranged :wink:

What track we going to then? :tongueout:

 

[not normal dan]

What track we going to then? :tongueout:

Well we've always got our section of private road to begin with haha

 

[Gavin.]

How much did the R26r clutch plate set you back Dan? I wonder if it'll fit a 175? Mines on it's way out.

 

[.Stevo.C.]

How much did the R26r clutch plate set you back Dan? I wonder if it'll fit a 175? Mines on it's way out.

R26.r and the 175 share the exact same clutch supposedly.

 

[Gavin.]

R26.r and the 175 share the exact same clutch supposedly.

Interesting! That extra grip could be useful after my recent remap.

 

[Feirny]

R26R Clutch: 30 20 579 08R

DCI 175 Clutch: 77 01 478 098

 

[Gavin.]

Boo. Only uprated one I can find is a Sachs one.

 

[not normal dan]

How much did the R26r clutch plate set you back Dan? I wonder if it'll fit a 175? Mines on it's way out.

The R26r clutch was only 130 delivered from Ads and Renault Wolverhampton. I have had to buy the R26r spec flywheel (albeit a solid lightened version)

 

[Gavin.]

I'm not in any rush at the minute, it's only slipping slightly in 6th, luckily I rarely use it.

 

[not normal dan]

I'm not in any rush at the minute, it's only slipping slightly in 6th, luckily I rarely use it.

Yeah my dual mass has a slight vibration at idle and is a little noisy, plus I'm going for a bit more power so it's got to be a good basis

 

[Gavin.]

I've read that the SMF can cause the engine management light to come on constantly due to it being lighter? It's something I'm looking into if it's possible on mine, may as well stick uprated parts in if I'm getting it opened up.
Extra power is also good

 

[Matt e]

I've read that the SMF can cause the engine management light to come on constantly due to it being lighter? It's something I'm looking into if it's possible on mine, may as well stick uprated parts in if I'm getting it opened up.
Extra power is also good :wink:

i think i read somewhere that rs tuning can map it out

 

[not normal dan]

I've read that the SMF can cause the engine management light to come on constantly due to it being lighter? It's something I'm looking into if it's possible on mine, may as well stick uprated parts in if I'm getting it opened up.
Extra power is also good

Yes it can bring the light on but as mentioned RS tuning can map this out which is handy as Paul at RS will be mapping this

i think i read somewhere that rs tuning can map it out

 

[Gavin.]

Yes it can bring the light on but as mentioned RS tuning can map this out which is handy as Paul at RS will be mapping this

I'd best get enquiring if one will fit then.