Pearl Black 172 PH1

[Filipe Dias]

Thermotech heat wrap

Engine oil & gearbox oil

Aux belt kit

Eibach Pro kit spring

i spent months deciding wich springs to pair with the sachs shocks. The grams are too low for my roads and would touch on the ground entering my garage. HR same thing. So decided for the black eibach and keep almost stock ride height.


Since Renault top mounts are on back order, decided to buy bilstein ones.

 

[Filipe Dias]

All ready

 

[k_Leo]

Awesome! Where did you buy the gearbox oil ?
I've been looking everywhere and there's no stock

 

[Filipe Dias]

Awesome! Where did you buy the gearbox oil ?
I've been looking everywhere and there's no stock

Autoparts logistic. But a few months ago. I always have lots of parts in stock (Fluids / Filters etc) , but if you can´t find i would try Castrol Syntrans 75w80 GL4. Gestilube is the oficial dealer for Castrol in PT.

 

[k_Leo]

Thanks! I'm going to try and wait a couple weeks to check if it comes back to stock, otherwise going with the Castrol !
Obrigado 😄

 

[Filipe Dias]

How it´s going...

Since everything was out decided to get the starter refurbished, and removed all the engine wiring harness to check everything. Didn´t have any problems, but since am looking at it, inspect, measure and repair everything just to be sure.

 

[Optimista]

Damn Filipe, you are really giving it love

Happy to see this taken care of

 

[Filipe Dias]

Well, it´s ready! Collected it a week ago, but a couple days ago a massive gearbox oil leak appeared. Turned out it was the left hand side boot that cracked !

Lost all of this during the night parked in the garage!

I assume it was due to the fact that the car is lowered and is working on a different position that it previous entire life. Thankfully solved straight away with the help of the internet and my mechanic.

How the car sits with the Sachs and springs...on a flatbed

Now, on a brighter note, my remarks regarding the modifications:

- Powerflex engine mounts - Since i installed all the engine mounts brand new, and then added the timing belt insert, i have no major vibrations. I know a lot of people complain about nvh but to be honest that´s due to the fact that their engine mounts already have some slack on them. I only remembered i had installed the Powerflex insert when i got home and opened the bonnet.

- Sachs Shocks - Way firmer than i thought they would be. They remind me of my Bilstein Group N from my 106 Rallye, firm that´s the world that i would describe them. Need to try them on my mountain road.

- Gearbox - Transforms the car. Besides the lower final drive, the shorter 5th gear truly transforms the car. Best money spent on the car.

Next is installing powerflex camber bolts, proper aligment, recharge AC, and make a proper shakedown before the Nurburgring road trip

Thanks for reading

 

[k_Leo]

What a transformation!

 

[Filipe Dias]

So, one more (frustrating) update.

Since i installed the top mounts they sit rather high, as you can see in the pictures:

Both sides are the same. I bought a bilstein top mount kit with the new Renault Nut/Spacer. I have researched a few topics and this seems to be normal, but i can´t get my head around it.

Stupid design.

I am considering setting the car on fire at this moment

 

[Mr Underhill]

So, one more (frustrating) update.

Since i installed the top mounts they sit rather high, as you can see in the pictures:

View attachment 1657462View attachment 1657463

Both sides are the same. I bought a bilstein top mount kit with the new Renault Nut/Spacer. I have researched a few topics and this seems to be normal, but i can´t get my head around it.

Stupid design.

I am considering setting the car on fire at this moment

The top nut is only really there to stop the damper/spring from falling out when the car wheel is jacked up and off the ground.

I have ASTs fitted to mine and am running the standard top mounts. Mine's worse than that.

 

[Filipe Dias]

The top nut is only really there to stop the damper/spring from falling out when the car wheel is jacked up and off the ground.

I have ASTs fitted to mine and am running the standard top mounts. Mine's worse than that.

Thanks for the input It´s really a stupid design. The only reason i don´t install some solid top mounts from pure is because they are illegal in Portugal

In the meantime, my expansion tank with 2 years (Meyle) old decided to collapse.

The hose wasn´t too tight. If it was, the plastic would crank, but due to the bad quality of the plastic with the heat it just melted. It´s nuts. When removed, i noticed that the entire expansion tank was starting to get deformed.

So, for now the old expansion tank is installed until i can get a new one from Renault. Hope they have them still in production...

 

[Brigsy]

Seen so many issues with aftermarket header tanks, for a lot of different cars. Im reluctant to use anything apart from oem renault these days. If you cant get new oem id prob get a half decent used oem one.

 

[Filipe Dias]

Seen so many issues with aftermarket header tanks, for a lot of different cars. Im reluctant to use anything apart from oem renault these days. If you cant get new oem id prob get a half decent used oem one.

Yes , lot´s of issues it seems . I installed my old one back . Went to Renault 1st thing in the Morning but 0 in stock and no date to receive it.

 

[Filipe Dias]

Time for a positive (finally!) update

Discovered that Optimiz Acess still have some Renault header tanks. After 112€ and 18H it was at my door. Amazing service from them. Very well packed, and super fast shipping.

Compared it to the Meyle, and it´s night and day. The thickness off the inlet and outlet pipes are substantially different. More thick and uniform. And the whole tank has much more quality overall.

 

[Filipe Dias]

And the final shakedown before this year big trip

All good for now.

The next week will be a nut and bolt check.

 

[Filipe Dias]

Everything checked , track wheels on, and tuesday morning off to Nurburgring. Will be there from 13th until 20th. So if anyone wants to show up let me know 😁

👍😁

 

[Filipe Dias]

So , a small update

Left southern Portugal on the 12th early in the mooring (03:30). Unfortunately due to fog the progress was way slower that i would like !

When entering Spain the sky cleared up!

Filled with 98 Ron, returned a average of about 6.6 L/100, the onboard computer displayed 6.4 L/100. That´s 42 mpg real and 44 mpg on the OBC.

A small break near San Sebastien

And arrived at San Sebastien

And at the Hotel

Another update soon

 

[Filipe Dias]

Another update regarding yesterday, 13th September 2023.

So, reached Le Mans, great city, great course , worth the trip no doubt. A couple of pictures for you guys

And on the public part of the track

Mulsanne straight​

 

[Whisker biscuit]

Love a black ph1, credit for keeping it alive 👍🏼

 

[Filipe Dias]

Time for another update !

When crossing France this happened on the 14th , early morning this happened when a car passed by me

A Flat tyre!

Installed the spare wheel on the Auto route with the bus drivers inches from me. Those MF with 0 traffic (due to the hour) could not move a lite bit!!

Spare wheel installed, and went to the nearest tyre shop (Norauto...). Nobody in the damn shop spoke a word of English. That leaves me perplex i´m honest. In basic French, explained the problem, and a hour later the culprit was the wheel. The inner barrel is damaged and had developed a slow leak. When the car in the midle lane passed by me, due to the lateral movement the tyre poped out of the wheel. Explained. Of course a brand new Oz Ultra was nowhere to be seen.

Well, spare wheel in place, off we go.

After 700 km reached our destination !

 

[Filipe Dias]

On the next morning, headed to the Crown Performance in Adenau to install the R888R on the Oem Spare wheel.

Being taken care of

Have to thanks the guys since they always find time to help out! Bruno that works in the workshop is a legend!


And then i managed to enjoy 6 days at Nurburgring and be with friends

Some of you may know this yellow/blue PH1

 

[Filipe Dias]

Some good laps were made, both wet and dry with the best company i could have asked, my dad

The Clio performed without any problems. With 2 people on board the brakes started to fade a little bit on the half of the 2nd lap. Without passenger no issues. Better cooling would have dialed it but i want the car with the Oem appearance and don´t want to loose the fog lights.
The suspension performed really , the damping of the sachs really suits the Ring. Of course could have more spring rate, but for what i want, that is a road car, is very good at the moment.

Regarding the engine? Perfect. No oil consumption, no overheating, nothing. The rebuilt gearbox? Like new.

Can´t be more happy with the car and modifications done to it!

Enjoy

 

[k_Leo]

Any videos filipe ?

 

[Filipe Dias]

Any videos filipe ?

Glad you asked

 

[Filipe Dias]

 

[k_Leo]

Glad you asked

Amazing POV and nice instructions!

 

[Filipe Dias]

Time for a update !

Since the return from the Euro Trip didn´t have much time for the Clio. Went on a trip to Switzerland and the poor Clio stayed stood still, but as soon as I returned took care of it

Took the undertray off and no leaks, doesn´t even seem a French car


Drained the engine oil, all good. New OEM Renault filter, the regular ELF and it´s ready to go.

Done ✅


After that decided to drain the Gearbox Oil. Made 6500 Km and lot´s of hard laps.

Drain Plug

Still very clean

 

[Filipe Dias]

One thing i don´t like regarding the stock Elf gearbox oil is that after a lot of driving as the oil gets hotter i can really feel the difference in feeling on the gearbox. Decided to look at the spec sheet and to no surprise the the Hot values regarding viscosity aren´t that great. Ok for a road car driven sedately, but certainty not for my driving /use of the car specially when i spent a small fortune rebuilding the gearbox.

So i choose Redline MTL

3.2 L in place, all good.

 

[Filipe Dias]

Also flushed the brakes with my loyal RBF.

Many moons ago i bought a cat back for a 172 PH2. A Ktech Stealth version, but since my car is a PH1 with 182 Manifold/cat it needs some modifications. Gladly it needed, because what i found was shocking.

Side by side

The Ktech Sealth is 60mm ID.

A small test fit on the car

Where it conects the 182 Cat, hence the modifications i need to make.

One thing that always bothered me were the stock joints on the exhaust, always leaking. So bought some vbands to convert everything.

 

[Filipe Dias]

Removed the 182 cat.

Where it meats the exhaust manifold

60mm ID. All good.

What about the outlet?

43mm id!!!

Don´t know why Renault does this reduction, but pick one of the 3 :

- Alter flow velocity and modifying the scavenging effect to meet their goals;
- Reduce noise ;
- Don´t care


So the plan now is to cut the flange of the stock 182 Cat, convert if to Vband and try to make it a true 60mm ID to match it to the rest of the exhaust.

Will keep updates coming!

 

[Filipe Dias]

It was a productive weekend

And installed the ATS Dtc to go for a ride to test the exhaust. All good, super silent, and now need to go to the dyno

 

[Louis]

It was a productive weekend View attachment 1666291
View attachment 1666292
View attachment 1666293

And installed the ATS Dtc to go for a ride to test the exhaust. All good, super silent, and now need to go to the dyno

View attachment 1666294
View attachment 1666295

You'll need a flexi somewhere.

 

[Filipe Dias]

You'll need a flexi somewhere.

I have prior to the cat . Just like the stock exhaust was before.

 

[k_Leo]

How does it sounds ? A video

 

[Filipe Dias]

How does it sounds ? A video

Since you asked



Will post the dyno as soon as it hits my email in Pdf.

 

[k_Leo]

Amazing! How many poneis and Nm ?

 

[Filipe Dias]

And the dyno

Imho it´s the limit of optimization of the "stock" set up on a 160 000 km engine.

The set up is the following
- Ported Inlets & Ptfe gaskets
- Pipercross air filter
- 182 Exhaust manifold heatwraped
- 182 Cat with vbands 63mm straight trought
- 63mm Catback
- 200 + rpm in 4th/5th in the ecu. Tried to remap the car but gained 0 in everymap tested.

 

[Filipe Dias]

And since the numbers on the dyno in isolation mean little for me (I like dynos to measure before and after installing parts, specially in the same day to reduce all the variables to a minimum), it was time for testing the car using the Dragy, witch is by far my favorite tool to measure any car performance.
This was my regular time 100-200 Km/h with the following mods : Pipercross air filter, ported lower inlet, 182 exhaust manifold, 182 cat, stock PH1 cat back, 1060kg . Still with 089 stock gearbox.

And now with -32kg (Car weights 1028kg with 1/4 fuel on it) , Jc5-053 Gearbox, and Catback exhaust

80-120 Km/h

And tried 0-100 km/h just one time, massive wheelspin, slow gearchange to 2nd and even with that managed 6.9!

Very happy with the car
Oem +

 

[Filipe Dias]

Some small but cool updates !

By pure luck i found some uber rare Oz Ultraleggeras for sale near me!

They are the Renault dealer option version. They were available by Renault a few (good) years ago and i only knew two sets until today. One from a friend of mine who has a 182 and has bought them brand new at the time, and from another friend from Germany. The main diference? Besides the sticker that gives 10Hp 👀 they are ET 30 instead of 37 like the regular Ultraleggeras that i also have. They look amazing.


Could not resist
Renault part number and Offset 30

And to finish it off another MOT with flying colors.