Restoring Little Bluey - my 182 FF ClioSport in Racing Blue

[Mr Underhill]

Fantastic roads, was the photographer out on the hairpin after the cafe on hartside pass?

I never noticed anything tbh. The Pendragon Stage Rally was on and I got sandwiched between a few cars coming out of Warcop. I was behind Barry Lindsay, who I know, and was flashing him. He must have thought “who the fook is that”. 😂

 

[Flob]

Ah so you’re the guy who did that. I knew I’d read it somewhere. I shot blasted the steering knuckles for that very reason and left the races in place while I gave them an overnight dip. You probably saved me ruining them.

Yes, there is/was a very tiny chance that both FAG bearings were from a faulty batch and hence the press fit was wrong but I really think it was just my own stupidness.

I left them in waaaay too long, and the water was kept warm - they came out like new though. Just read my thread and I said 'next day' but in reality thats BS I put them back in and left for over a week.

The amount of material (iron) citric acid/Deox removes is absolutely tiny! but then a good bearing fit is also a tiny tolerance. As said there is a chance the issue was with the bearings and not the hubs but bearing manufacturers like FAG are pretty on point with tolerances so its something I've been wary of ever since.

So I guess its a warning rather than a 100% certainty

 

[Louis]

If you leave the old bearings in too long you also need many tons to remove them. Ask me how I know.

Best way is smearing thick grease on the surfaces.

 

[Flob]

If you leave the old bearings in too long you also need many tons to remove them. Ask me how I know.

Best way is smearing thick grease on the surfaces.

The second set of carriers I did this, and honestly both bearings (originals that I pressed out before dipping and new ones that I pressed out after dipping) needed many many tons to remove. Like 10T, some heat and a few mallet whacks....

 

[Advikaz]

This is why I’m getting someone to do mine for me 😆

 

[Mr Underhill]

@FrogJam Motorsport said mine popped out easy enough. One bearing was fairly newish, the other looked original. As a rule of thumb I’ll avoid dipping anything for a prolonged period that has a hi-torque thread or bearing face. In the case of the calipers, I left the piston in place until the rebuild.

 

[Mr Underhill]

Sound up!

 

[Mr Underhill]

I took a trip over to Croft in Little Bluey after dropping out of my track day due to injuring my back. I'm on the mend, but I was quite peeved as it was my last one for this year.

It was a bit of short notice, and unfortunately, I couldn't find anyone to take my place, which is a shame because it was a perfect day for it and attendance was quite low.

I'm still able to drive, so I parked the old girl in the garage but watched the action from the pit lane.

I love the buzz of a trackday, even if I’m not out in my car.

I went shortly after 1pm when some random dude walked in, looking around the Clio, and happened to mention he'd love to do a track day. His face was a picture when I handed him my wristband, sticker, and the garage.

This was the last I saw of him going to get his car 😂 Turned out to be a decent day after all, well for him at least.

Thank you for reading.

 

[NickReilly063]

Love it Jon - is the RB now staying in your stable or are you still thinking of letting it go

 

[Advikaz]

Love it Jon - is the RB now staying in your stable or are you still thinking of letting it go

He's not allowed to sell. I have forbid it.

 

[Mr Underhill]

Love it Jon - is the RB now staying in your stable or are you still thinking of letting it go

The RB is staying. I’m giving her some new parts in the spring and a refresh.

 

[NickReilly063]

He's not allowed to sell. I have forbid it.

I keep watching all your fantasic progess with your little Gem Sir - looking forward to seeing your end result

🚗🏆❤️

 

[Mr Underhill]

I keep watching all your fantasic progess with your little Gem Sir - looking forward to seeing your end result

🚗🏆❤️

He can’t afford me to sell it, in case I forget all the part numbers 😂

 

[NickReilly063]

The RB is staying. I’m giving her some new parts in the spring and a refresh.

Great news - at least I've got a couple of you to look upto - and get some fresh idea's.

 

[Advikaz]

I keep watching all your fantasic progess with your little Gem Sir - looking forward to seeing your end result

🚗🏆❤️

Thank you good sir

 

[Advikaz]

He can’t afford me to sell it, in case I forget all the part numbers 😂

Also this.

 

[Mr Underhill]

Not much to update really other than I've discovered a minor leak from the gearbox selector seal. It’ll need addressing sooner or later, as it’s only going to get worse.

That said, it’s winter, and I just can’t muster the enthusiasm right now. I’ve got a stack of refreshed parts ready to fit, so I might tackle it all in one go come summer or maybe sell it to someone eager to take it on. The funny thing is, the car is driving amazingly at the moment. Old cars, eh!

 

[bowen86]

Let me know when you're bored and I can drop the Cup around...

 

[Flob]

FFS Bowen, thats just like when you wash the car and some throbber walks past and says "You can do mine next" then walks off chuckling to themselves and you just stand there with the bucket pretending to laugh but inside your thinking "Bring your car dickhead, I'll wash it with a brick".

 

[Mr Underhill]

Let me know when you're bored and I can drop the Cup around...

I iS rEAdY.

 

[Mr Underhill]

Hope everyone had a good Christmas. Good news: I think I found the oil leak.

Dodgy oil cap. I never noticed any oil before - the downside of having an engine cover, I guess - but I got the odd whiff of oil over the last few weeks and it obviously got a lot worse and spilled over into the engine mount.

After fitting a spare oil cap and a clean up. It all needs a proper strip down - a job for the spring.

Ran it all day yesterday, no leaks and the sump tray is still dry, so maybe the gearbox selector seal isn’t leaking as I first suspected.

Have a good new year everybody.

 

[Mr Underhill]

I meant to post a picture of the cap because it might help other 'non-techie' folks like myself.

So, the top part of the cap actually separated from the body. When I was trying to twist it, the body wasn't moving at all, which meant it wasn't sealing properly.

Been out again today and no leaks. Sump tray is dry as a bone. Happy days are here again.

 

[Mr Underhill]

Taxed for another year. £404 squids. Robbing b******s 🤬Happy new year everybody 😂

 

[Advikaz]

Taxed for another year. £404 squids. Robbing b******s 🤬Happy new year everybody 😂

View attachment 1725420

Minter

 

[NickReilly063]

At that price Mr Underhill mine will just have to sit in the garage 🤣🤣🤣

 

[Rskennedy]

@Mr Underhill took me a couple of days to get through it but a bloody good read. Some serious effort gone into that and some great insight for my project. Might catch you up Blakey ridge 👌

 

[Mr Underhill]

Took her out for a blast to the garden centre after a month sat idle - fell back in love pretty sharpish.

 

[Advikaz]

Beauty

 

[NickReilly063]

Stunning Jon - had mine out for a quick polish last weekend - also replaced the gear gaiter for a new one I picked up last year - fits like a glove now.

 

[Mr Underhill]

Stunning Jon - had mine out for a quick polish last weekend - also replaced the gear gaiter for a new one I picked up last year - fits like a glove now.


View attachment 1732963

It’s amazing how many little bits need replacing. I’ve been buying old NLA parts that are nigh on impossible to find now and restoring them, ready to fit.

 

[Elitesion]

Cont…..

There’s so many adjustments it’s really easy to get the alignment of the tips exactly how you want them.

View attachment 1644570View attachment 1644571

I like to have them just sticking out.

View attachment 1644572

While I was there I replaced the Lamba sensor with a genuine one. I know these are slightly cheaper from 3rd parties but I prefer to get genuine parts where I can.

View attachment 1644573View attachment 1644574

Next job will be tackle the seats. But that’s for another day.

Thank you for reading.

Brilliant read! Did you manage to fit this on your drive, just using axle stands?

 

[Tin.tin]

Throughout my six years of owning and restoring my 182s, I've always preferred genuine parts.

However, due to occasional supply constraints, I've had to fit non-branded parts from OEM manufacturers on a few occasions.

Here's a small list of these alternative parts, which might be useful for fellow enthusiasts. I've also reached out to Admin to explore the possibility of creating a dedicated page for sharing such information keeping it all in one place, so we'll see what happens.

Oil Filter - P/N (8200768913) - OEM Mfr. Purflux P/N (LS932)
Air Filter - P/N (8200459852) - OEM Mfr. Purflux P/N (A1224)
Cabin Filter A/C P/N (7711228912) - OEM Mfr. Purflux P/N. (AH143)
Fuel Filter - P/N (7700845961) - OEM Mfr. Purflux P/N (EP210)
Injectors - P/N (8200207049) - OEM Mfr. Magnetti Marelli P/N (805001446001 IWP042)
Clutch Kit - P/N (7701476557) - OEM Mfr. Valeo P/N (826558)
Lambda Oxygen Sensors - P/N (7700107433) - OEM Mfr. Bosch (0258006046)
Spark Plugs - P/N (8200239321) - OEM Mfr. NGK PFR6E-10 P/N (087295136881)
Throttle Body - P/N (8200110994) - OEM Mfr. VDO P/N (A2C59513667)
Alternator - P/N (8200193100) - OEM Mfr. Lucas P/N (LRA02100)
Starter Motor - P/N (7711134301) - OEM Mfr. Lucas P/N (LRT00235)
Clutch Guide Tube - P/N (8200128328) - OEM Mfr. Corteco P/N (49376781)
Manifold Pressure Sensor - P/N (223650035R) - OEM Mfr. Continental/VDO P/N (5WK9681Z)
Intake Temp Sensor - P/N (7700101451) - OEM Mfr. Lucas P/N (SNB984)
RH Front Caliper - P/N (7701205833) - OEM Mfr. TRW-Lucas P/N (BHW242)
LH Front Caliper - P/N (7701205832) - OEM Mfr. TRW-Lucas P/N (BHW241)
RH Caliper Carrier - P/N (7701047929) - OEM Mfr. TRW-LUCAS P/N (BDA492)
LH Caliper Carrier - P/N (7701047928) - OEM Mfr. TRW-LUCAS P/N (BDA491)

Where did you buy your VDO tb? Bought one from euro car parts which was advertised continental/VDO but in typical ECP fashion I received a cheaper alternative. Also crammed in the box with tb a random fog light, complete disaster 😂

 

[Mr Underhill]

Brilliant read! Did you manage to fit this on your drive, just using axle stands?

Unfortunately, yes Thank you for your kind words

 

[Mr Underhill]

Where did you buy your VDO tb?

K-Tec were selling them cheaply at the time. NLA from them now.

Bought one from euro car parts which was advertised continental/VDO but in typical ECP fashion I received a cheaper alternative. Also crammed in the box with tb a random fog light, complete disaster 😂

I can give you the VDO part number—VDO P/N (A2C59513667). Pasting that into Google brings up quite a few. As long as it's VDO and has that part number, you should be good to go. Renault didn't make these, fortunately. Good luck!

 

[Elitesion]

Unfortunately, yes Thank you for your kind words

Unfortunately, yes Thank you for your kind words

You have inspired me to try mine on my drive so thank you. The sheets you also upload with the part numbers and OEM numbers are so useful! with each picture you post, you put the new package in the photo, so i am reading through the whole thread looking for you opinion on the part you bought. ( Door handle etc )
Excellent.

 

[Mr Underhill]

SPRING REFRESH

Amazingly, it’s been over four years since I purchased this car and completed its restoration. Of course, I’ve been maintaining the car over the 6,000 miles I’ve covered since taking ownership. As I have a few days off, I’m going to give the old girl some TLC and refresh some parts I’ve been squirreling away and restoring. These are parts I didn’t replace during the restoration, as they were—and still are—in good condition. A major service and MOT are due in a couple of weeks, so fingers crossed, it’ll pass.

Things to replace:

• Steering knuckles, hubs and front wheel bearings
• Front calipers
• ECU bracket
• Aircon condenser and dryer, along with new seals (slight leak)
• Radiator (why not)
• Stereo - with original stickers
• Brake fluid

And just a general tidy up and check.

Oil, filter and plugs will be replace when it goes in for a major service and MOT.

Thank you for reading.

 

[Advikaz]

noice

 

[16V F7R]

Fastidious 👍

 

[MLB]

Well due a refresh, look at how scruffy that engine bag looks.. 😂

 

[NickReilly063]

Looking lovely as always Jon -