Pappasmurf Mingo project

[pappasmurf]

Quick question, would a pair of xenon 172 headlights fit my 182? Found a pair but with black inserts for 80 quid.

 

[Louis]

Think something needs swapping from yours to the others but otherwise straight swap

 

[pappasmurf]

Just for general knowledge, spoke to Renault this morning and the cost of a new bonnet is £174 and a bumper is £217. Both include vat and come primed which considering some of the prices I've seen on the bay is not bad at all.

 

[Louis]

Just for general knowledge, spoke to Renault this morning and the cost of a new bonnet is £174 and a bumper is £217. Both include vat and come primed which considering some of the prices I've seen on the bay is not bad at all.

That's decent! Painting will be a fair bit I guess.

 

[pappasmurf]

Going rate is around 150 a panel but my brother is a painter and I have access to a both so I'm hoping I can get that done at cost of paint.

 

[pappasmurf]

Plus beer tokens of course

 

[pappasmurf]

Well time for an update. Car is currently at the body shop to have a new bonnet and bumper fitted and painted. Whilst it's there I thought I'd take the opportunity to order some new number plates a 3/4 front as well as a new splitter.
It also clocked over to a 100 000 miles so will be ordering a full service kit as well as timing kit so will have that to keep me busy.

Photos once it's back and pretty

 

[pappasmurf]

Shame about the weather as it's means the car is filthy and I can't wash it for a few days yet but........

 

[pappasmurf]

Gonna leave it for a few days then swap the plates over/fit the splitter then give it a proper detail. Really happy with the work carried out.

 

[pappasmurf]

So I suppose I should update this. Due weather being shite and me being up and down the country, not a great deal has been done.
First things first, this my daily so I've been racking up some miles, was on the way up to Manchester when the battery and stop light light started to flicker - b****cks.
Checked the charging rate, 10 volts, altnernator buggered then. Now if I was at home I'd of ordered one and changed it at the weekend, however, as I was up north, I couldn't risk the thing going on the way home so had it fitted at a local firm. My new aux tensioner and belt was in the boot so had that fitted at the same time.
500 notes later and were back in business if not slightly gutted about having to spend the money having it fitted.
So, like any other petrol head, there's only way to console yourself about having to spend money you don't have, spend more.

 

[pappasmurf]

 

[pappasmurf]

As I've been given some vouchers towards a track day, and Donnington is only round the corner, thought I'd buy some cheap wheels to put on as track wheels. Gonna referb the above and then fit with some r888 when funds allow.
But before these get fitted, I'm gonna need to purchase a few bits, one of which I'm in two minds about.
So, the car needs a cambelt change, and a full service.
I can either order all the bits for the service and a full cambelt kit plus dephaser as it's not been done (though not noisy) including a water pump.
Do the service, and wait till I can grab a ramp at work to do the cambelt.
Or, just spend the money on having the belt done with Diamond as I'm based in long Eaton so only a five minute walk from there. Haven't used them before but I hear good things.

 

[pappasmurf]

Whilst I'm deciding what I'm gonna do about the belt situation, today I've finally got round to fitting my 3/4 plate and new rear plate which looks loads better. I've also had the usual front headlight washer issue where they leak over night. So I've added two one way valves (one in each line) to hopefully sort the issue. Then filled it up with Halfords berry screenwash as it smells awesome.

 

[pappasmurf]

 

[pappasmurf]

Hopefully going to get the Fabia splitter fitted tomorrow so I can at least finish the front end. Will update with pics tomorrow.

 

[Clio_fool]

View attachment 1361317

I spent ages trying to get a set of these wheels a few years back and none turned up, now everybody has some! Shame about the alternator going while you were away from home, s**t never breaks at a convenient time eh. [emoji23]

 

[pappasmurf]

Haha always the way isn't it.
It won't be to everyone's taste but I got them for 80 quid and I thought "they'd do the job for my first track day". My brother owns a wheel refurb company so will get him to sort them out. Was thinking white or pink.

 

[pappasmurf]

So today has been fun......
First off, big thank you to Renault Wolverhampton who managed to get my service items and my new front bearing out to me so quickly and at what I thought was a ridiculously cheap price.
Now back to the fun, in the week, got the car on a ramp to hopefully diagnose a chirping sound I've been getting. Was worried it was belt related but after five minutes in the air, it was clearly a knackered bearing. A p**n stars clunge has had less play in it.
So managed to strip down the hub assembly which came off fairly easily (abs sensor even came out without damage).
Took the hub to a mates workshop and then began an hour of expletives and me regretting my Friday choices. What a pain in the arse. The bearing circlips were completely solid. However, a sharp chisel and an attitude adjuster eventually made it see sense.
Eventually got everything pressed in and drive back to get it fitted. Cue monsoon.
Felt some clio love though as it turns out, a guy down the road also has a sport who pulled over to have a chat whist it threw it down. Gonna sort out a drive sometime.
Built car up, road tested and noise has gone, thank God.
So tomorrow's work is to basically drink Gin, however Sunday will be servicing the Mingo and straightening the sill after noticing who ever jacked it up last has peened it over.
I promise the next update will contain pics, really need to get my head around this thread lark and taking pics whilst I work. If I stop its usually only to drink tea.

 

[Cerrone]

Good write up mate, I enjoy doing my own services on my car but I used mick at diamond motors for my cambelt and he is spot on. Really nice guy, very knowledgeable, straight up and I felt he was very reasonably priced. I would definitely recommend him!

 

[pappasmurf]

Good write up mate, I enjoy doing my own services on my car but I used mick at diamond motors for my cambelt and he is spot on. Really nice guy, very knowledgeable, straight up and I felt he was very reasonably priced. I would definitely recommend him!

Cheers for the feedback, im pretty sure im gonna use him for the belt. Because I'd be buying the locking tools as well it would only work out a couple of hundred quid more for him to do it.

 

[pappasmurf]

So I finally managed to get the car serviced today, and I remembered to take some photos. Most of the stuff removed wasn't too bad, though definitely will be improved by new items.

 

[pappasmurf]

Managed to 're align the rear exhausts too, though forgot to take an after photo apparently.

 

[pappasmurf]

Also spoke to Diamond motors and gonna get the belts done at the end of the month.

 

[pappasmurf]

Not so much an update as an announcement.
Car is being dropped off with Mick at Diamond tomorrow morning.
I think the timing is out so I'm looking forward to getting it back to see the difference.
Once that's done, I'm gonna start giving it some stick as I've been kind to it so far, once I know its sound I'm gonna start looking into some tasteful mods. I've done well not to buy anything ridiculous for it yet. I keep looking at turbo and supercharger kits but that can wait until I've got some Brembos and the body work where I want it.

 

[pappasmurf]

So just received a courtesy call from Mick, the timing is way out and whomever changed it last time appears to have not tentioned it correctly and as a result, the belt has been flapping against the inner cambelt cover and damaged it. New one of those it is then and im really glad it went in when it did as ive been on seriously borrowed time. Looking forward to the drive later now though as if it was that far out, then it would be way down on power too.

 

[youngarthur]

SO, The major question. How do you know how "a p**n stars Clunge has a lot of play in it"?. Questions need to be answered!.

 

[pappasmurf]

SO, The major question. How do you know how "a p**n stars Clunge has a lot of play in it"?. Questions need to be answered!.

The same way everyone else does my friend.....

 

[pappasmurf]

So, first impressions since collecting the car.
It's a different car altogether. Sat in traffic it's easier on the throttle, better behaved at low speed and less jumpy.
Up the rev is where the big difference is though. Car pulls a lot harder throughout the range and oddly sounds different too.
All together, very happy I took it to a specialist and am happy with the service Diamond gave. Time to enjoy it before I start playing with it.

 

[pappasmurf]

Update. Since the belts have been done I've basically been gunning it everywhere. Car is so much fun to be in.
I have managed to get a couple of bits done though.
First off, I've finally got my washer pump changed and fitted the febi item.
First time I've had the linkage out etc...
All came out with no major drama, old pump is knackered and thankfully the febi item is an exact fit. Made sure to fit it back with the lug firmly in place.
I've also now got a new bosch front lambda to fit and while I'm there I may also fit the decat I've got sat in the boot.
I've also bought a new coolant expansion bottle to fit.

 

[pappasmurf]

Also, all this time in the driving seat has also given me some time to think about what direction the car is going take.
I'll be putting up a list of wanted mods up shortly I think to give a better idea of plans but, clubsport is gonna be the name of the game. I'm gonna spend some time looking at other threads for guidance but in short; rear cage, buckets (recommendations ?) harnesses, front brembos.
Still want to keep the interior as much as possible and usability of the car, just a little more focused.

 

[pappasmurf]

Got a couple of bits done this afternoon.
First off, re aligned the front wipers as after changing the wiper pump they were sitting slightly too high which was doing my tree.
Secondly, I've been getting an occasional light on due to the pre cat lambda so I've replaced that too.

 

[pappasmurf]

Hmm, apparently the photos are too large to upload ?

 

[pappasmurf]

So not too much to report other than clio has developed a very annoying habit of the alarm going off every two to three hours which isn't even remotely annoying. ?
So at three am I was sat on her looking for alarm issues. Oh, quite a few then.
Atleast found out how to lock the car without arming the alarm so the neighbours wouldn't lynch me.
Check the flashing codes on the alarm and it indicated an external sensor fault.
So now I'm thinking great, I'm gonna have to work my through switches to see which one is faulty. However, checked the bonnet pin and.......

 

[pappasmurf]

 

[pappasmurf]

Found it sitting half way down its normal position and with broken tabs. Quick search on RPD and there's a new one omits way. I've disconnected it in the mean time and hope that it doesn't go off.
In other news, my day wheels and track wheels will be painted this week whilst I'm off work. I've left it to my brother to decide on colour and finish so this may be interesting lol.

 

[Brigsy]

Lucky escape with the cambelt ! The difference is massive when timed up properly. Where did you get the 3/4 number plate from ?

 

[pappasmurf]

Lucky escape with the cambelt ! The difference is massive when timed up properly. Where did you get the 3/4 number plate from ?

Yes very lucky indeed. Could have been horrific. Plate was from fancy plates.

 

[pappasmurf]

Well as I have been away, I have left the car in my brothers capable hands and as a result, not only had work taken place but pictures have been taken too.

 

[pappasmurf]

Spitter fitted.....

 

[pappasmurf]

Dents and wheels to be sorted by Friday.
Quite a difference I'd say.