sburrell's ph1 172 track project (maybe)

[sburrell93]

Cage painting complete! Just need some steel plate and bolts to get it fitted now.

Also pulled a seat out to trial fit my subframes and buckets (passenger side to keep the car mobile lol) but quickly found a shortage of bolts, so that plan died. Gonna hopefully go get some bolts tomorrow morning and try again.

Tomorrows main job though is to remove my fucked driveshaft. Should be getting a replacement Monday so want everything stripped and ready to rebuild on the weeknights. That's the plan anyway. We'll see how well it actually goes [emoji23]

 

[Greeny.]

Something like this for the inside to bolt through the subframe and car, M8 size:

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/191385019719?nav=SEARCH&varId=490498082684

Also depending where you attach the outside eye you might need the following:

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seat-belt-harness-eye-bolt-metric-M10-x-1-5mm-thread-/260680326084

Failing this just bolt them through the car with spreader plates I guess

 

[GrahamS]

Stu can you stop showing me up by doing such a nice job on the cage.

Looking good matey. Damn I need more funds to put in to mine.

 

[sburrell93]

Something like this for the inside to bolt through the subframe and car, M8 size:

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/191385019719?nav=SEARCH&varId=490498082684

Also depending where you attach the outside eye you might need the following:

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seat-belt-harness-eye-bolt-metric-M10-x-1-5mm-thread-/260680326084

Failing this just bolt them through the car with spreader plates I guess [emoji14]

Cheers bud, that's perfect! Single M8 ones are out of stock though. Typical lol! May just buy the pack of 20 and sell the rest on...

Stu can you stop showing me up by doing such a nice job on the cage.

Looking good matey. Damn I need more funds to put in to mine.

Lol, give it a few weeks, there was zero prep work done on that cage so I'm fully expecting flaky paint after a while [emoji23]

The seats are the only thing I've really put a decent chunk of money into, well, and the coilies but they were too good a deal to pass up lol. Everything else is extremely slow progress and buying used things. Hard to believe I've had the car nearly 7 months now [emoji33]

 

[sburrell93]

Today was a pretty lazy day. I fitted my seats and gave the car a hoover while I had the old seats out.

I tried to get the cage in place for bolting next week but that was a total disaster. I'll need to take out the carpets and stuff anyway which I didn't really think about when I was trying to squeeze it in!

Seats went in easy though, got M8 bolts this morning from an engineering company down the road from me and cracked on. My only issue now is that the subframes aren't sitting flat. I think I'll need to space them up with washers or something.

Anyway, some pics!

Passenger side trial fit...

And both in

Can see there that they're not sitting flat.

I love the height of the seat now. Its pretty much perfect IMO. Maybe needs tweaked a bit on the subframe as it feels like I'm sort of facing the clutch pedal, so makes reaching the accelerator a bit awkward feeling. Hopefully just squint on the subframe though. Or may be because its not sitting flat.

 

[sburrell93]

Done some more today. Straightened up my bucket seats. Needed to remove the spacers below the seats on one side to level things off. Eye bolts and everything also arrived today so my harnesses are now fitted in properly.

Made epic progress on my driveshaft replacement too. I've now loosened one more nut and bolt! Successful evening if I do say so myself lol.

Ordered some Brembo HC discs from George today too, so took my old discs and pads off. Sliders were sticking on the calipers so freed them up and greased them. Temporary measure until I fully refurb my spare calipers, but it at least means the new discs and pads should wear evenly for now once fitted.

Then I got bored with doing real work and decided I wanted to clean up the arches while everything was stripped off.

Went from this

To this

And the other side...minging...

Clean!

Not perfect but I couldn't be arsed going too mental on them. Attacked the grime with some Auto Finesse Verso, rinsed down, then covered the lot in tar remover (Autobrite's Just The Tonic). Will probably IPA the arch liner plastics (or what's left of them) tomorrow and give it a coat with whatever I can find that's suitable.

Not much else planned now. Going away up north on Saturday for a week, so just really getting the car in a good position to enjoy some of the roads up there properly! Need to remember and order a boss to get my wheel fitted. Bought an OMP one on here and it doesn't fit, so that'll teach me. Going Momo this time.

 

[sburrell93]

Well...that's fucked! Where have my needle bearings gone though? They never came out so I'm assuming they're lost in the depths of the gearbox [emoji45]

 

[Bluebeard]

Indeed they are. My mates did exactly the same!

 

[sburrell93]

Indeed they are. My mates did exactly the same!

Is it safe enough to run with? Nothing came out when I drained the oil...

 

[sburrell93]

In fact, scrap that. Looks like I'll need a new box

 

[sburrell93]

I has acquired another gearbox....

Its a JC5-120 and I have absolutely no clue what car it's originally from, but it has a circlip diff in a better condition than mine, so I'll be swapping that part out tomorrow.

 

[CallyTeee]

I always wondered if there was a differnt box you could fit to the clios. Like I know the 106/saxo's fit 4speeds from 106 rallye's as a budget box change.

4 speed Clio Sport Ftw!! 😂

 

[sburrell93]

Only need 4 gears at knockhill anyway 😂😂

This is just essentially the same box as the ph1 but with a couple of different ratios. 1st and 2nd are shorter, and 4th and 5th are longer. Think its possibly a diesel box, maybe from a Clio dci or a kangoo or something. Will at least get the car mobile again!

 

[cpaterson76]

interesting to see how that works mate....

 

[m&l172ph1]

Looking like a lot of fun!

I'm hoping to do a few track days in mine!

Where did you get the wheel centres printed? And what cost if you don't mind me asking? I need some for the wifes f1's.

 

[sburrell93]

interesting to see how that works mate....

Won't be using the whole box so no changes to the ratios but I hope that me mucking about with the diff holds up lol.

Looking like a lot of fun!

I'm hoping to do a few track days in mine!

Where did you get the wheel centres printed? And what cost if you don't mind me asking? I need some for the wifes f1's.

Its only fun fixing it when the weather is good. Been lucky this week, its usually pissing down lol!

There was a guide for the centre caps on here mate, I'll find it when I'm on a computer but they weren't expensive. 30 quid or something for the set.

 

[AlexW]

Good progress sir, Have fun with the box, they are a right pig to take apart and put back together unless you do them everyday.

 

[sburrell93]

FUUUUUU. I thought that bit came out the gearbox once the circlip was out. Didn't know the box had to come apart to change it!

 

[m&l172ph1]

Thanks i'll take a look.

I have my own workshop and i still have to work on my cars outside! 😂

 

[sburrell93]

Today has been a long ass day! Acquired new gearbox yesterday, attempted to remove diff cup today. Tried, failed, gave up, and decided to fit another box.

So thanks to @Fraser.J. and @Stu. I got a new box fitted tonight, and all is well again. Got the box out in under 2 hours, and the new one was pretty much back in in the same time but the steering was notchy as hell and felt like it was catching when it all went back together.

Think the rack had twisted a bit, so some further playing with that and it was sorted.

So yeah. Car lives again! In amongst all of this I actually fitted some new front discs and pads top. Will dig through photos of everuthing tomorrow and fire them up when I get a chance. Everything can get to f**k just now though, I'm knackered and going to bed 😂

 

[barnesautos]

I was going to say if you needed any help with info on stripping Id be able to help - but just read you put a unit straight in no messing about . Lol .

With regards to notchy steering check the U/J at the base of the column

 

[sburrell93]

I was going to say if you needed any help with info on stripping Id be able to help - but just read you put a unit straight in no messing about . Lol .

With regards to notchy steering check the U/J at the base of the column

Yeah, somehow it seemed the best way [emoji23]

Cheers mate, I might end up stripping down one of the other boxes in future and rebuilding it if I'm feeling brave, so may still call in some help lol!

I think the steering was exactly that. Loosened the rack off a little and got it to the point where it turned easiest and just tightened it there, so I'm assuming it was the UJ being slightly twisted and not turning freely.

 

[sburrell93]

Not much of an update, but been on holiday this week and took a drive out today through some of the roads up the north of Scotland.

The roads were quite simply awesome! Wish I lived up here! [emoji23] That's the only pictures I really took at that one spot. The rest was just driving although I got it all on my dashcam so I'll have a look through all that when I'm home and maybe put a few clips up!

Anyway, cars feeling decent after the box change! Doesn't rattle me to death any more...

 

[dann2707]

Looks like you're need for speed drifting around that corner on that pic haha

 

[sburrell93]

Been a productive week this. Gave the car a proper clean and decon on my bank holiday Monday there. Starting early with the Scottish Car Show prep work lol. Was minging! Tar remover, iron x, the lot...was still a mess afterwards so attacked it with a clay mitt and eventually got it clean. Seemed like it'd ever been properly decon'd in its life!

Note...DO NOT use a clay mitt on areas that still have tar remover on them! Ruined the mitt, and it decided to leave half the mitt material on the car! Came off mind you, but still scared me a bit.

Also tackled a few scratches (of which it has MANY) with the machine polisher. Came up fairly well. Anyway, photo wh0ring time!

Scratch removal. Google+ decided to put the 'after' photo first here for some reason...

So, done that, some other bits on the side panels, the spoiler, and bootlid. All came up fairly well as far as scratch removal is concerned! Will get it under some harsh halogen lights closer to SCS to reveal the proper issues and get started on swirl removal. For now though it's made an awesome improvement. Lol at detailing a track car though! It's a practice canvas, that's my excuse 😂

 

[sburrell93]

So now this weekend's work. Continued with some scratch removal yesterday afternoon when I got home from work.

This abomination under the mirror was never coming out, but it's been dulled down a lot

Had another go at the scratch from the previous post with some G3 scratch remover. Improved it a little more

Then some marks on the door from rings and keys by the looks of it

Also gave the headlights a quick going over

Then I got bored of polishing. So trial fitted my old 25mm spacers I had lying around.
Before:

During. Weird high amounts of camber going on with the car in the air:

And after:

Such an improvement! Will probably sell these and get a set of H&R's or something though. There's a tiny bit of vibration at speed from the wheel balancing not being perfect once they're on and I don't really want that on track. Perfect for road use though.

Oh, then I fitted my skoda splitter. Looks so much better now

And polished my exhaust...LackOfStealthBecausePh1FTL

Then got carried away with photoshopping the front end. Is it bad that I like the smoothed bonnet look? Also, can't help but think the lack of vertical fin bits on the lower grille would look epic with a big intercooler behind it...

Then I got bored of car things.

 

[sburrell93]

Today, I headed round to @benji93's for some more car things, since he'd just got his back after it being away at a garage for 5 weeks! Got some new exhaust hangers fitted to his 182, then I got mine indoors for some more polishing, and his outdoors for a bit of cleaning.

Panoramic photos ftw

Front end polishing was going well until I caught the number plate and it came flying off...
Although I do kinda like the look of it without a number plate 🙈

Some more scratch removal shots now.

Front was in a s**t state. Still is, but just a slightly better s**t state...

Back bumper came up well though. Before and after photos are all mixed up again here

That's about it for now. Looking no bad for a 15 year old sub £1000 car!

 

[dann2707]

Love this dude. Love the after and befores though "see this clean panel, i'm now going to scratch it" haha

 

[sburrell93]

Love this dude. Love the after and befores though "see this clean panel, i'm now going to scratch it" haha

Cheers buddy :smile: Hahah yeah, "this panel would look much better with a big scratch in it!" Google seems to just put the photos in any order it wants when I merge them together!

 

[sburrell93]

Got some track tyres last night

Set of R888s and a pair of kumho's supposedly used in the clio cup series. Couldn't pass them up at the price, so might try and find another pair and that'll be 2 full sets I have.

Gonna put the R888s on my old 15" dci wheels for now though if they fit. 205 width of a 6.5j rim could be interesting.

Plan for the weekend is hopefully fit tyres and cage. Order some RC5+ pads and fit them in prep for an open pit day next friday.

 

[sburrell93]

Fitted cage today. Became 10% more racecar.

Still have all the tar to remove

And another photo I found quite cool for good measure

Put my R888's on wheels too. Productive day. Just brakes to sort and book up for friday. Oh, and get spacers so the R888's will clear my coilovers.

 

[GrahamS]

I keep meaning to reply to your thread Stu! Car is coming along really nicely, lots of good and perfect mods to make it a real cracker on track. Surely our cars are pretty much along the same lines! I've even got a failed tripod on a driveshaft at the moment ha

 

[sburrell93]

I keep meaning to reply to your thread Stu! Car is coming along really nicely, lots of good and perfect mods to make it a real cracker on track. Surely our cars are pretty much along the same lines! I've even got a failed tripod on a driveshaft at the moment ha

Lol cheers man! Looking forward to getting out in it on proper track rubber. They're SG compound (softest) though so we'll see how long they last!

Get that driveshaft sorted! [emoji33] Before it ruins your diff like it did to mine haha

 

[Fraser.J.]

You're welcome.

 

[JP83]

Get a heat gun for the tar (cheap one from screw fix). Makes it 10x easier.

The. A good degreaser to remove the remaining glue.

 

[sburrell93]

You're welcome.

Oh my bad. Don't know where I'd be without you :kissingheart:😂😂

Get a heat gun for the tar (cheap one from screw fix). Makes it 10x easier.

The. A good degreaser to remove the remaining glue.

Think I've got a heat gun in the garage. Between that, some tardis and whatever apc I have it shouldn't be too difficult. I hope...

 

[JP83]

Think I've got a heat gun in the garage. Between that, some tardis and whatever apc I have it shouldn't be too difficult. I hope...

Well, it took me about 30-40 mins doing it at a gentle pace. Just don't leave the heat in one place for too long.
For a scraper I used an old window ice scraper. The idea being the plastic would be more gentle than using a metal scraper.

 

[JoeMarano]

Where you going friday? Tar removal is one of my favourite jobs!

 

[sburrell93]

Where you going friday? Tar removal is one of my favourite jobs!

Knockhill hopefully. Still need to book up lol and get a few bits before it though. Last minute as usual!

 

[sburrell93]

New shiny things! All set for tomorrow now!