The 519 197

[Dan519]

Well, after I sold the 172 to dmallett I had a space for another project. I'd been watching around for a suitable 197 for a few months, including one I spotted with over 160k on the clock. Then this appeared on ebay. Questionable history, cambelt overdue by 9 months and mismatched tyres (1 of them a snow tyre).

So after I'd insulted him and taken it away for a lot less than he wanted, we went to the pub for lunch and made the carpark look faster.


Christmas eve, I got bored and reached for some parts I had in stock:

Ultra-Racing front lower brace

Ultra-Racing Rear ARB

Early January I escaped the family stuff and went to the workshop to give it a damn good service. Also changed the Cambelt kit, aux kit and water pump, I found the timing was out by a notable amount but it looked to have been that way from the factory. Well done Renault.

Part of the process of getting it back to good standard health meant new brakes. This isn't a track car so Good quality OE spec was the way I wanted to go

I've learnt to trust Pagid brakes far more than any other so straight on with a set of disks and pads

Early feb, it was off to SRR to help charlie run the clio day. Got home that night and found someone had got a great shot of my car looking FILTY Love it!

Well the Clio day at SRR was so busy (over 30 cars run) I never got round to running mine. I just wanted to go home to bed by that point. but I have got round to running it back at 519 HQ

Pretty happy with that from a very near standard car (bar a panel filter)

And to bring this right up to today, I finally got round to fitting the springs I ordered in over a month ago

PI springs. Gives a lovely height drop, and the ride quality feels identical to standard. Again, this isn't a track car so a road setup was my aim, and this has given me just what I wanted.

Now I need to find time to work on some more serious mods

 

[Scotty-boi]

519 spec manifold. More custom work! Lol.
Lookin forward to the progress on this.

 

[fil_b]

Looking good the start, what you expecting?

Do they makes the braces for a 172?

 

[Gaz_]

set of black speedlines would finish that externally

 

[Dan519]

Looking good the start, what you expecting?

Do they makes the braces for a 172?

No idea, don't even know what it's going to fit in there like yet. Up and over runners, but thats as far as I've got.
Market is flooded with 172 stuff so no, they don't unfortunately

set of black speedlines would finish that externally

I was actually looking at Laguna wheels. I think they really suit

 

[Bluebeard]

The 17 inch silverstones?

 

[Dan519]

thats the ones. Some kind of Gunmetal/Anthracite finish was what I was thinking

 

[JackJack]

Love RB, look forward to seeing the bodies go on.

 

[Adamm.]

Awesome mate looking forward to see the progress on this.

No doubt it will be pretty epic like the 172 was .

 

[dmallett]

Chop chop fitting those bodies!

 

[Chris205]

Dan, how are you finding the mpg difference between the 172 and 197 on a daily basis?

 

[Dan519]

complete joke. worse than the cammed and ITB'd 172. 5th in a 197 i shorter than 4th in a 172

 

[Ian_R]

This will be an interesting thread, will keep an eye on it

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

complete joke. worse than the cammed and ITB'd 172. 5th in a 197 i shorter than 4th in a 172

FLOL !

Pierre, did you put 6th gear into the plan pour le Chief Engineer ?

Non Jean-Claude, it'll be alreet. No one will notice...

 

[Rob]

LOL!

Dan I can't believe you've gone over to the darkside, any reason you've moved away from the mk2's? I thought you'd never go mk3 as you're such a mk1 man that even a ph2 must have seemed a compromise.

 

[Dan519]

LOL!


Dan I can't believe you've gone over to the darkside, any reason you've moved away from the mk2's? I thought you'd never go mk3 as you're such a mk1 man that even a ph2 must have seemed a compromise.

Nobody else is doing anything decent with them without swapping the engine. I'm going to

 

[Rob]

Fair point, does it feel a bit soft and lazy?? Or are you quite liking the added refinement?

 

[Scotty-boi]

Nobody else is doing anything decent with them without swapping the engine. I'm going to

LIKE

 

[Chapppers11]

Looking forward to some updates mate.

As you say, Megane lumps are the only way to powaaaaa with these!

 

[JackJack]

What sort of mpg are you getting out of interest?

 

[Dan519]

What sort of mpg are you getting out of interest?

27ish

 

[GeorgeH]

Car looks great on springs, always thought pi weren't that good? And quit ya moaning im lucking to get 30mpg driving like a grandma in my 1.6!!

I like the under brace, notice much difference with them?

 

[Matthew]

27ish

Pha! I can only dream of such figures. Ha

 

[Bobby.]

Nice project dan, good to see your pushing the mk3 modding scene, as you say, theirs not many people doing it.

Did you notice any difference with the strengthening bars?

 

[Scott™]

Lovely motor

 

[Dan519]

Car looks great on springs, always thought pi weren't that good? And quit ya moaning im lucking to get 30mpg driving like a grandma in my 1.6!!

PI are fine. They're not what you'd go for building a track car, but I'm not doing that. Used them on many many cars myself and yet to have a problem. Evcen seems slightly less crashy than standard after putting a few more miles on it.

Pha! I can only dream of such figures. Ha

Wouldn't mind if it was fast.

Nice project dan, good to see your pushing the mk3 modding scene, as you say, theirs not many people doing it.

Did you notice any difference with the strengthening bars?

I've only got the ARB and the front lower on at the moment. Re-stocking on the uppers as soon as they land in the country and I'll fit them then. Good kit though. To be honest the weather has been too crap to drive so I'd notice the difference since fitting them.

 

[scaryopa]

The 197 is looking good Dan, hope to see the ITBs make an apperance soon, il be coming over as soon as there on to have a listen for sure, did alot of thinking about what was said last night and have decided to go down the ITB and cams route rarther than boost.

 

[Dan519]

Gave it a wash today just to get the salt off, as the sun came out. Springs have settled down lovely!

 

[Adamm.]

Pffft cleaning it! Looking good on the springs, looks like it has a nice bit of rake.

 

[Dan519]

Pffft cleaning it! Looking good on the springs, looks like it has a nice bit of rake.

ok, pointing the jetwash at it

I'm all over 20mm spacers, maybe even 25mm on the rears. The wheels are sitting in the arch by miles.

 

[Rob]

One day, onnnneee day, you'll take decent photos of something (alternatively, I'll come up, have you do something on my car, and I'll wash and photo it).

Looks good though, even if through a vaseline covered lens.

 

[Adamm.]

That's more like it Mines currently in a right state.

Spacers are a good shout the 197/200's sit very well with a wide stance imo.

 

[klem]

Car looks good!

Would spacers effect the handling at all?

 

[Yellow Dave]

The 17 inch silverstones?

FYI these wheels seem to be quite soft, have seen a lot of them buckle and flat spot

 

[Adam.P]

I missed this completely Dan! Great work, as you've said things are limited for the 197, and I'm glad out of all people you're the one doing it.

 

[Martin_172]

Looks good dan, really like the early 197's with the silver wheels and brembos.

 

[JP83]

Anymore details on the Ultra-Racing gear?

 

[Justin BBP]

Looking good mate

I would love to replace my 172 with a 197 but not with that MPG

 

[Jay Payne]

Anymore details on the Ultra-Racing gear?

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/show...-and-ARB-for-Clio-197-200-from-519-Automotive

 

[Jay Payne]

Not seen this thread before mate, will keep an eye now. So boddies going up and over like the early car the cheltenham based company did?