Strugglers back!! ph1 172 project! (bit of a read)

[Struggler]

Im sure some of you will remember my previous two projects.
ph1 non-sport

Track mk1

Well as of july this year i hung up my driving gloves for good because i was off to university, i broke up my F7R valver and put the money to one side for my next project, which was always going to be the same as the mk1, stripped out, bucket seats and rollcage!!

So after just one term at uni i found the perfect base to start my project!! this ph1 MOT failure cropped up on ebay just over a week ago and caught my attention, so i threw in a last minute bid of 535 and won it!! popped along on my way home from uni and picked it up!!

its bog standard with 90k,
no history (so ill be doing the cambelt before shes finished)
no rust, dents or colour mis matches,
seems pretty tight but i obviously havnt had a chance to drive it!!

problems with it
Discs and pads too low
Exhaust leaks
snapped spring
PAS pumps knacked and makes some funk arse noises! lol

obviously none of this matters to me as it will all be changed!!
pics

i have most of the parts i want to use with the build either already knocking around from breaking up my valver
Seats, Cage, Harnesses, Bonnet catches, Steering wheel, wheels/tyres, dogbone mount

also using the valver PAS delete kit and alternator to get rid of PAS and AC
got a non-sport mk1 rack and column that i held on to aswell but only time will tell if i can make them fit!!

Also have
Pure motorsport top mounts
Gaz coilovers
whiteline ARB
powerflex bush kit
front camber bolts and rear shims
Brembo HC discs
Goodridge braided lines
vibratechnics mounds
pollybush dogbone
genuine rear discs and pads
manual mirrors

my bedroom floor is looking a bit of a mess, as is my nans garage

still need to buy
Brake pipe and manual bias valve (i dont plan on running ABS)
braided fuel line
full exhaust system (not decieded what one i want yet)
manual windows

Im sure ive missed something, but cant think of it off the top of my head. I plan to have the build ready for summer 2012, because the car will be storted at my parents place while im at university, and ill be back for a month now, a month in easter, then 3months in the summer. Unfort ive got to keep the car looking like a car and movable or it cant stay at my rents (their rules annoyingly) so over christmas if i can bare the cold, ill only be doing the interior (strip, detar, paint, cage, seats, etc) and rear beam, (fit arb, brakes, shims and coilies etc). But since i have a lot of time on my hands im going to try and make a decent project thread out of this one, and keep everyone updated on how its going thanks for reading and watch this space!!

 

[Toms_clio]

Nice to see tou had another car!! I has a set of gaz coilovers and loads of other bits you may want?
K tec stealth, gaz coilovers, forged coolant pipes...

 

[Struggler]

Cheers dude
i already have the coilies in the garage

but how much you looking for the coolant pipes?! may be intersetd!

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Glutton for punishment :rasp:

Enjoy :clap:

 

[Toms_clio]

Ermm probably about 100 but would need standard in exchange.
No idea how much there worth tbh

 

[Harpham]

1. Nice feet
2. Haii Titanium Ph1 Shed Fweennddd...

Will keep my eyes on this project!!

 

[Struggler]

1. Nice feet
2. Haii Titanium Ph1 Shed Fweennddd...

Will keep my eyes on this project!!

thanks, you answered one of my upcoming questions about the colour

Ermm probably about 100 but would need standard in exchange.
No idea how much there worth tbh

theyre on the bay for 160, i could probs push for £60 for my standard sent 2nd hand and buy a new set for the same price!! lol

 

[B4RK3R]

Sounded like it was ready to give up when you turned it round lol

 

[Struggler]

lol that was the powersteering pump complaining!!

and also big thanks to chris (B4RK3R) and ollie (brillco) for helping me get the car home!!

 

[B4RK3R]

Stopped at that garage to put some air in my tyres, i had 7 psi in the rears !!!!!!

 

[Stu.]

Look forward to the end result. Your last cars were epic!

 

[couzens]

nice toes! lol, our car history is the exact same! ill be keeping an eye on this

 

[Struggler]

nice toes! lol, our car history is the exact same! ill be keeping an eye on this

I had noticed this!! clearly have good taste!! lol

Look forward to the end result. Your last cars were epic!

cheers dude!! i loved your red ph1, and the 2118s on you 172 make me happy in my pants!

think im gna give it a clean, even though it might rain at any moment, its looking abit mouldy after fitting for months on end! lol

 

[akaboogie]

yh i remember seeing the mk1 u had when i come to pick up them buckit seats i had from u. that car looked nuts...

 

[Stu.]

cheers dude!! i loved your red ph1, and the 2118s on you 172 make me happy in my pants!

think im gna give it a clean, even though it might rain at any moment, its looking abit mouldy after fitting for months on end! lol

haha Cheers man, I've Hopefully got a surprise update coming next week, Although it doesnt quite include my current one

 

[Jekyll]

good to see alex i'll keep an eye on this project. i liked your mk1 even though i couldnt see over the steering wheel

 

[Struggler]

im glad there was love for the old mk1 guys!! im going to try and make this build better!! take my time more and better parts etc!!

and dont worry dude, ill bring a cushion to the next meet it attends

just gave it a little clean, paintwork have come up really nice, but i was amazed how much dirt came off it!! especially in gaps between pannels!!
also noticed a few niggles in the paint all over, but being silver it hides these quite well,

also noticed a large patch of paint peel underneith one of the side skirts,
and that i have locking wheel nuts.....no key was supplied with the car

 

[Jekyll]

lol at the cusion

theres a set of locking wheel nuts and keys in the for sale section

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/show...RB-Touch-up-paint-Coilpack-Locking-wheel-nuts.......

 

[Struggler]

thats not the issue,

im just concerned how im going to get the current wheels off, without the key, or any way of getting it to a garage! lol

 

[Jekyll]

hes selling the key too, or are yours aftermarket ones?

 

[Struggler]

pretty sure renault had a quite a few different sets with slightly different keys!!

i have set of similar lockers in the garage off a standard renaul so ill try those, hopefully ill strike lucky, otherwise ill try and smash a normal socket onto them, or trailer it to a garage just for them to take the lockers off!! lool

 

[andywa]

That's a bargain of a purchase. Can't wait to see the end result.

 

[Rob]

What locker is it Alex? Get me a pic.

Looks like a great project, it you ever want a hand or have any questions, let me know and I'll pop by

 

[Struggler]

cheers dude!! im sure ill get stuck on something with the F4R before too long, this is the first one ive ever owned!!

the lockers look like this

ill get you a pic of the actual ones tomorrow,
ive got a set of these in the garage, so ill chance using the key from that, but i dont hold much hope tbh,
ill then systematically start smashing every size socket i own onto them one by one until something hopefully gets them off!!

 

[Struggler]

Ok had a little day on the clio today! nothing too majour as i dont really want to get under the car until i know i can get everything done!!

first point of call was those horrible locking wheel nuts!!

However a bit of this,

lead to a bit of this

and eventually they were all no match for me!

i then decieded to set about the boot lit!


getting the wiper off was easier than i remembered

getting the motor off was a bit of a pain as the studs were just spinning, i got one off, but you can see the otherone couldnt be held with a screwdriver,

so i made light work of it

then proceeded to cut the inner skin of the boot out for lightness, this was pretty easy except i knew if you so much as brush the outer skin with a grinder, the pain will bubble on the outside!!

managed to get it all off thought, but this made the boot lid a little on the flimsey side!!

so i fitted these pins for extra security,

im sure theyre not to everyones tastes, but i personally love them,

tried to take the badges off to clean and paint, but they didnt survive, will have to get some more to paint black and go with the pins!!
plus the sport one left a horrible mess, so ill be painting that and refitting!! lol

also removed the fogs and electric mirrors (had the manual mirrors from my previous mk2! lol)

was going to change the front suspension, simply to get the coilovers out of my garage, and get the 172 looking sexy on the drive!! i hate high cars!!
but alas the top cups would not budge at all, and looked pretty seized on so i decieded to leave it and get my mate to come round with an impact gun tomorrow eve, and they shall not stand a chance

tomorrow, depending on if the brakes and shims get delivered, ill get fitting all the mods to the rear beam!! and as long as it isnt raining!!

stay tuned!

 

[Jekyll]

agreed, the boot catches look cool nice progress so far.

 

[kevin_172]

ooooo i haz job for you now! remove boot skin and fit pins! looking good tho mate.. love your old mk1 tho! was good at tdi

 

[Struggler]

job for me?! lol

little update!! since the weathers been so forgiving (if bloody cold) ive tried to get as many little jobs here and there as i can!!

it took me a whole day to fit the bonney catches shamefully, theyre really iritatingly hard to line up nicely, theyre still not perfect because of the angle the pins sit, and the angle in which the bonnet swings down at, but they work, and look mean so im happy!!

and since my mate made such little work of the suspension tops last night, i thought id have a little front end sort out today!!
so the wheels came off, as did the front suspension.
decieded because of the little amount im gna drive it, im not going to run arch liners, (which was good since the O/S/F was missing)
so took them and the bumper off and had a little clean up!!

after my little clean

Ive found quite a bit of evidence to imply there has been some kind of accident in the past, all on the same side; the spring was snapped, the bumper mount was torn off, half of the arch liner was missing, and the other half was nut and bolted in (badly). however the paint on the bumper doesnt seem new, and all the running gear seems straight, so i dont think it was very serious. Most likely someones rammed it up a curb faar to quickly!!

i wanted the upper slam pannel off too, but the aircon rad was too close to get the bolts out, so that had to come out!! as did the fuel purge valve since i had bumper and arches off already!

my lovely fix to stop the air leek from lack of purge valve!

so after a heavy days modding she has a new front end stance!!

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

i quite like the stance tbh, not overly low, but ill see how it looks when the rear coilovers are on too!!

i also found this shocker!!

aux belt was litterally completely slack!! and the scariest thing is, this wasnt on the MOT fail list!! im a bit worries about even moving it around the drive like this, but i guess with no slack its unlikely to cause damage if it flies off...may well remove it completely and simply charge the battery if it runs out just to be safe!!

Tomorrow, ill be fitting pins to the front bumper as the accident damage has torn one of the bumper mounts off.

thanks for reading!!

 

[Struggler]

also note, though i personally dont mind the look of her without the grill, ive only left it out because ive got new headlights on the way and cant be bothered to put it back on purely to take it off again when the headlights get here!!

also fitted side repeaters and silvervisions!! lol

 

[couzens]

I kind of like it with out the grill! looks mean

 

[Struggler]

i know what you mean dude,
gives it such a "track car" look!!

im tempted to leave it off, i will for now and see if the look wears on me! lol

 

[one in a million]

wow you legend! bet this car sounded quiter than your mk 1 lol, nice cumfy seats and a luxury journey home haha, nice thread mate, wondered where you had been hiding. anyway good luck and loving the bonnet catches, i would hate to drill through my bonnet lol.

 

[Struggler]

cheers dude!! i know what you mean, that bonnet was mint before i touched it! luckily i havnt had a chance to really fall in love with the car yet!!

and tbh, it came with a big hole in the exhaust so there was a bit of grunt there, but i yearn for more!! and bucket seats!!
and its only a matter of time until someone buys this interior and the buckets will be back!!

 

[Harpham]

Great progress already! Love the bonnet pins (on both bonnet and rear tailgate). Im actually toying with the idea of them on mine in the future.

Looking forwards to seeing next steps...

 

[Struggler]

i love the look!! going to do the front bumper too tomorrow as one of the mounts has torn off and it cant be refitted properly!!

 

[Toms_clio]

Looks good so far!
How will you stop people just opening the boot and nicking things?
Or is the standard lock still there?

 

[Jekyll]

all in a days work eh?

i love aero catches, think they look so mean and agressive i keep toying doing the same to mine but i get scared of the thought of ruining my bonnet and i pu$$y out lol!

 

[Rob]

Great work mate, pretty sure bomber or someone on here had done the front bumper with aero catches, it looked awesome and was quick release.

Put that grille back in, the rad is delicate enough as it is!!!!!

 

[Struggler]

Looks good so far!
How will you stop people just opening the boot and nicking things?
Or is the standard lock still there?

the standard catch is still there, i just added the pins because i was worries about the boot flexing!! lol

heres one or two pics from todays work!!
i stripped all the ancillaries off the engine until she was completely naked!! (filthy slut)
then i added (as you can see in the pic) two powerder coated black alternator mounts, and a valver alternator, these are the only ancillaries and has saved me around 10+kg's, plus reduced the drag on the engine by quite a bit AND made the engine bay much simpler and easier to work on!!

only drawback is, i now dont have an aux belt as the only i had doesnt fit due to (i think) bigger pullies!! so need to work out exactly what one i need and get it!! lol

also fitted the rear coilovers and arb which was a bit of a pain, no pics as the light was fading rather fast but i shall endevour to get some tomorrow!!

thanks for reading!!

and Rob, i want to get a matt black grill to go with the catches and front badge, will still give it the same kind of look, but the alternator and rad will be protected!!

 

[hybrid beeson]

looking good alex. you aint waiting around are ya. have you looked at the rack yet???