Raps Clio 182 FF Arctic Trackcar

[raps]

Hi everyone - well I thought it about time that after lurking for quite a few months that I put up a thread and join in with the forum.

First a bit of history...

I've never owned a Renault, nor really paid them much attention if I'm honest - having started out initially with Vauxhalls and then moving to VAG cars. I've always liked modding, tinkering and playing with spanners and have always modded my cars - I'm also in a decent position as the missus likes her cars too :blush:

I recently managed to get a week in Germany and spent a week at the ring - after many years of trying but always having a reason not to go, kids, work, in between cars, house rennovations etc... and never quite managed to get to go.
However some guys who I work with were going, I had no commitments, had the car (a new Audi S3) so went for it.
The trip was awesome and if you've never been - go !

However... sat in the bar after a few days of driving some awesome roads and a good few laps around the ring and evenings on GP circuit - I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Being in the S3 whilst it being a capable and very quick car, it just wasn't fun...plus there was the lingering "what if I bend it" in the back of my mind, as the car was partially financed and I didn't fancy writing off a £38k car.

So over a few beers a cunning plan was formed :smilingimp:

Sell the S3 - take a company car - buy the missus her own car - buy/build a track car to stick in the garage :up:

I looked around the net, M3, Civic, Astra VXR, Leon Cupra R... but kept on getting drawn back to the little Clios that were taking the P out of me at the ring and on the GP circuit in particular.

I then found this forum and the rest is history so to speak :smiley:

I began reading and reading and if you have a build thread in here then I've probably read it 😂

I then came across the Clio that I now own for sale in the classifieds on here - local to me, already a few mods done, plenty of serviceable work already done, spending plenty of time at various specialists, RS Tuning and Clio turbo etc.

Plus not a bad price so away I went with a fist full of £20's and returned with @matty1995 's Clio 182 FF in Arctic blue.

The car already had a few mods which I would have been looking to do anyway, so it was ideal.

Compbrake B4 calipers - 295mm discs, DS2500's, ATE fluid
KTEC Engine mounts
KTEC Induction kit
H&R Coilovers
PMS Solid Top mounts & brace
16mm front spacers
15mm rear hub spacers
Exhaust


That being said - it wasn't without its issues.....

 

[raps]

I've done quite a bit of work over the last few months since picking the car up - I'll post up over the next few days to catch up to where I am.


First issue to resolve was the quite frankly shocking exhaust.....

The exhaust was fixed hard up against the rear mounts and had an assortment or jubilee clips and tie wraps holding in place.

After reading on one of the threads about beefing up the hangers with some universal exhaust hangers, I got on ebay and ordered a few.

This was a vast improvement, but what was apparent when under the car was the exhaust was a powerflow, knock me up job and had seen better days and was on its last legs. The hunt for a new one began.

After a few days a Scorpion RS192 came up for sale on here - a quick clean up and it was as good as new.

Unfortunately I wasn't aware that the old exhaust had had the flange chopped off the cat - until I'd got it all off and went to fit the new Scorpion.

So chopped off this...

and welded sleeve onto the scorpion to get it to fit

Off with the old junker - (our local rag & bone man had this )

New exhaust hangers bought and "modded" by filling full of sickerflex mastic

This is a massive improvement and a much nicer place to be when driving the car - I also don't think it would have passed any noise tests also with the old system as it was unbelievably loud.