The life of... SharkyUK's Trophy

[SharkyUK]

Great news Andy any good to see again how everyone is helping out.Any idea when it will be ready ?

I can't give a firm date mate as I'm very much relying on the generosity of those helping me at times that is convenient for them That said, I don't think it will be too much longer. Now that the parts are ready I believe the engine builder said he would need (taking into account his other commitments) 10 days or so to ensure all is good and put together properly. Of course I still have the gearbox being sorted (which shouldn't take long, just waiting on the guy to have a slot available as he's currently working with some race teams during their off-season), the loom/dash (which is planned and under control) and then the likes of the pipework fabrication, fitting, assembly, fuel system, brake upgrades, etc. It's coming together though - I'm a happy bunny.

Woohoo! We can be "cars back on the road in 2016" buddies! 😂:up:

Mate - that would be fantastic. Make it happen buddy! :beers:

 

[SharkyUK]

January 2016 - Update #2
The steady progress on Le Clio B**tard Rouge continues.

I've just had word back that my gearbox has been sorted and is good to go. It cost a little more than anticipated but we didn't want any problems whereby we'd have to be ripping the gearbox out again in the near future! As a result the following was carried out:

• Complete strip down and component check
• New selector balls and springs (not sure what they're actually called!)
• Diff removed from casing so that the casing could be machined to suit the gearbox sender (thus allowing my MAXX ECU to run launch control, boost by gear, etc.)

I'm hoping to have a few photos to share soon as everything starts to come together. Thanks to Dan at SJM and Avanti for sorting out my gearbox

 

[Cub.]

I'm starting to get excited now.

I don't get excited about much. Usually.

 

[SharkyUK]

I don't get excited about much. Usually.

Mate - we're both expecting the imminent arrival of something small that will cause us many headaches and tears (of joy, laughter and pain) over the coming years... worth getting excited about!

 

[marc1330]

Great news mate, things are moving along !

 

[dablk]

Boost by gear... Nice

 

[Matt W]

Surely just full boost all the time like a pro?

 

[Stefan.]

Great news!!!!

Let the excitement begin!

 

[NorthloopCup]

Surely just full boost all the time like a pro?

Not on a jc5! Lol

 

[SharkyUK]

Great news mate, things are moving along !

Cheers, Marc They are moving along nicely. I'm looking forward to seeing / hearing about the updates to your Cup over the coming month or two as well.

Boost by gear... Nice

Agreed mate I hope you are well and a little more mobile.

Surely just full boost all the time like a pro?

I'm sure it would be fun up until the point whereby I was changing / fixing the gearbox on a weekly basis! Hence I'll settle for semi-pro in this case!

Great news!!!!

Let the excitement begin!

Thanks mate. My own excitement is being tempered for the time being. Just in case! LOL!

Not on a jc5! Lol

Very true! I don't think I'll be partaking in many traffic light Grand Prixs or dumping the clutch too often. Anyway, this is purely going to be a show 'n' shine car from now on... :tonguewink: (yeah right!)

 

[dablk]

Any more news Andy?

 

[SharkyUK]

Any more news Andy?

Nothing much at the moment, Chris.

The block is ready to go to the machine shop to be matched to my pistons (and then it's a case of having it all put back together). The main issue is the availability of the engine builder as he's a busy guy and has other work to do in addition to my build. Mike has dropped a spare engine and gearbox into mine so that he has something to work against whilst sorting out my loom. Once done, everything will be heading back to Dan at SJM for fitting of the turbo, fuelling system, intercooler, hard pipes, etc. Dan has a few ideas as the plan is to make it a real nice and tidy build so that it also looks good/neat whilst still being ready for some abuse The aim is to have it done for next month so maybe not too much longer now...

 

[SharkyUK]

April 2016 - Update #1
It's been a while so I thought I'd update my project thread.

The good news is that, earlier today, I received notification that my engine was finished and ready to go! The spec of the engine (and work carried out) is detailed below. Pictures will follow next week all being well... :smile: A massive thanks to Steve for carrying out the work; the guy's a star.

Block and Bottom End

• Standard Renault F4R cylinder block (bored)
• Block machined for turbo oil drain
• Cylinder block skimmed (minimum removed)
• Block machined for tagged bearings
• Block line honed
• Block chemically dipped
• Block oil galleries cleaned
• Block painted
• Sump and front cover blasted to clean outer surface
• M12 x 1.5mm boss welded to sump for temperature sensor
• Arrow H-section con rods with ARP 2000 rods bolts
• CP pistons giving a compression ratio of 8.2:1
• King 'race series' main bearings (two sets used to give full grooved main bearings, standard is half grooved)
• King 'race series' big end tagged bearings
• ARP flywheel bolts
• ARP main cap studs
• Oil galleries cleaned
• Oil jets replaced
• Oil gallery to head restrictor fitted
• Dephaser bolt central oil gallery blanked (welded)
• Crank balanced

Head and Inlet Manifold

• Fully rebuilt with valve seats cut, valves lapped and new stem seals
• Standard Renault Megane cylinder head casting with no dephaser
• Head casting drilled and tapped for timing belt idler pulley mount
• Head skimmed (minimum removed)
• ARP head studs
• Clio 197 inlet manifold lower section welded, machined to obtain a better port match (not perfect but a vast improvement. Welded as casting was not thick enough in area which needed machining)
• Head fitted using Renault head gasket

Valvetrain

• Clio 172/182 exhaust cam and modified inlet cam (shortened and oil gallery blanked
• Standard Megane cam shaft pulleys (inlet pulley drilled for larger dephaser bolt)
• Supertec inlet and exhaust valves
• Supertec uprated valve springs

Other

• Genuine water pump fitted
• TTV alloy auxiliary crank pulley and water pump pulley fitted
• Genuine timing belt kit fitted
• Engine timed to original timing figures/marks
• Short motor assembled with genuine Renault gaskets and seals
• AN-8 steel union dowty washer and locking ring fitted
• Custom TTV billet flywheel (as yours is turbo, heavier than normal Clio 172/182 billet flywheel)
• New genuine oil pump oil strainer pick de-shrouded, pressure relief valve shimmed, oil pump lid to pump rotors clearance reduced

I'll update with the pics as soon as I receive them :smile:

 

[Paul172sport]

Fantastic news Andy. When do you get it back? I hope it's now all the car you wanted it to be and you let to enjoy it at long last

 

[clioben182]

Nice to see progress. Good luck fella

 

[SharkyUK]

Fantastic news Andy. When do you get it back? I hope it's now all the car you wanted it to be and you let to enjoy it at long last

Thanks mate. I'm still not sure on the return date as there's still a bit to be done. The engine will be shipped from its current location to Mike in Staines for the wiring / loom, ECU hook-up and digital dash side of things. My car is actually with him at the moment (looking somewhat sorry for itself!) Once he has worked his magic it will be trailered to Dan in Glastonbury for the remainder of the work (revised fuel system, brake upgrade, turbo / intercooler / pipework, etc.) As the gentlemen involved are busy I can't really put a return date on it but I'm hoping it won't be too long

Nice to see progress. Good luck fella

It is indeed - thank you

 

[Martin.]

Can't wait to see the pics matey.

 

[Daniel]

This is awesome!

 

[Silent_Scone]

Scream like a banshee it will, for to down the b roads people will cower in fear as it screams past. Just a Clio they will say, but what a Clio. A Maste... oh ffs it's broken down again. :tongueout:

 

[SharkyUK]

Can't wait to see the pics matey.

Me neither, fella! I'll post them up as soon as they come through to me

This is awesome!

I concur. I'm looking forward to enjoying this one!

Scream like a banshee it will, for to down the b roads people will cower in fear as it screams past. Just a Clio they will say, but what a Clio. A Maste... oh ffs it's broken down again. :tongueout:

P!$$ off your troublemaker... :tonguewink: I'm hoping it's a long time until it breaks (ideally it won't break at all but past experience... well...) I'm going to miss the growl of those ITB's but looking forward to the gobbling of the turkeys. Or something.

 

[Silent_Scone]

lol I think you will be set this time round dude, keeping my eye out for updates - the spec is immense now

 

[SharkyUK]

I hope so fella! I'll be interested in the final spec myself as I've kinda lost track... :tongueout: It's certainly shaping up nicely and many folks have gone out of their way for me (for which I'm extremely grateful). I'm now looking forward to having a fruity motor for the majority of this year's "car season" and beyond.

 

[Scrooge]

Hopefully it's back in time for you to enjoy the summer with it and then it'll have been worth it in the end!

 

[Gray]

Sounds like a comprehensive build list!

Cannot wait to see you driving the car again, Andy

 

[SharkyUK]

Hopefully it's back in time for you to enjoy the summer with it and then it'll have been worth it in the end!

Amen to that :smile: Sun shining, Trophy on boost, quiet Welsh roads, Abba trance blearing out on the stereo... perfect.

Sounds like a comprehensive build list!

Cannot wait to see you driving the car again, Andy :smile:

Thanks mate.
Yes - it's had quite an overhaul from top-to-toe! I wanted it doing properly and didn't really want to do things half-arsed or by cutting corners. When I get it back I'll give you a shout as I expect I'll be up in your neck of the woods now and again

 

[SharkyUK]

April 2016 - Update #2
This is the easiest 20bhp performance increase modification I've ever made to the Trophy... the ring binder added 15bhp and the gearstick bobble hat added 5bhp.

In more serious news I have a larger update coming along shortly... :smile:

 

[Amos91]

With the amount of changes on this car, is one ring binder enough?? :tonguewink:

I'm looking forward to the turbo conclusion though!

 

[SharkyUK]

With the amount of changes on this car, is one ring binder enough?? :tonguewink:

:tonguewink: Yeah, yeah... whatever! Fair point though mate...

 

[SharkyUK]

April 2016 - Update #3 (Engine Rebuild Part 1)
I'm happy to be able to finally provide another update regarding the engine rebuild. It's been quite a wait and the completion of the engine build is a significant step forward in the overall work that's being carried out on my Trophy (so affectionately known as "Le Clio B**tard Rouge")...

The photos were kindly provided directly by the guy (Steve) who carried out the engine work for me. He's a legend. And I'm now broke. LOL!

Here are the photos (I'll split them over two posts) and a few comments to accompany them. Cheers!

Here's a selection of components used in the build.

King Racing "Race Series" bearings.

ARP main cap stud kit.

ARP head stud kit.

Genuine rear seal.

Flywheel boxed (unique part number).

CP Pistons

And here are a few pics from the build itself (in no particular order)...

New genuine front and rear seals used.

Genuine gasket.

New genuine water pump, original front cover fitted (after blasting).

Rear seals fitted, not flush as they hit the back of the cams.

Oil pump oil pick up/strainer un-shrouded.

New genuine oil pump.

New oil pump fitted, original plastic oil baffle plate fitted.

Turbo oil drain AN-8 threaded locking ring locktited into place

Turbo oil drain steel AN-8 fitting.

More images to follow shortly...

 

[SharkyUK]

April 2016 - Update #4 (Engine Rebuild Part 2)
Another selection of images of the engine build.

Block machined for tagged bearings, each main bearing housing and cap done.

New genuine Megane bottom pulley fitted (has Woodruff key for extra security, unlike original 172/182).

Cam cover (looking down).

TTV custom billet flywheel (rear face). Flywheel is heavier than normal 172/182 as this is for a turbo application.

TTV custom billet flywheel (front face).

Flywheel fitted with ARP bolts.

TTV pulleys fitted.

TTV alloy pulleys fitted engine timed up standard timing.

Inlet welded, mating face was bent like a banana after.

197 inlet machined after welding, ports matched (nearly) mating face skimmed.

Megane non-dephaser head used so hole for idler pulley drilled and tapped.

Balanced crank installed.

Balanced crank, ARP main caps studs, King "Race Series" bearings.

Standard balanced crank, Arrow con rods, ARP main cap studs, ARP con rod bolts, King "Race Series" bearings, CP pistons with rings gapped all fitted and torqued up.

Arrow con rods and CP pistons.

Standard F4R block bored and skimmed (minimum removed to ensure good/flat mating face).

Megane head built up, Supertec springs, Supertec valves, 172/182 cams, new stem seals, minimum skimmed to ensure flat/good gasket face.

That's it for now. As you can probably imagine, I'm over the moon with the work that's been done. Hopefully it won't be too much longer until the next update... :smile:

 

[Daniel]

Holy s**t! What a spec!

 

[Thrust-Rated]

Not sure if it's been covered already, but what power you hoping for with this build?

Looks like a great spec!
It's strange now that I work in an engine plant all this internal stuff looks very familiar. Crazy

 

[BoatNonce]

Phwoar.

 

[Euan94]

There's some serious work gone in to that!! (And I dread to think of the costs!!)

 

[mikey4410]

Incredible engine build there dude.its so much fun ain't it,I forged a starlet turbo years ago and really enjoyed building the lump myself

 

[NorthloopCup]

Not sure if it's been covered already, but what power you hoping for with this build?

Looks like a great spec!
It's strange now that I work in an engine plant all this internal stuff looks very familiar. Crazy

JLR?

 

[Jaff.]

whats the purpose of the welded inlet? have i missed something?

 

[Djw John]

Now, I'm defo no expert at all but is the cam belt tensioner at the proper angle? I thought the Allan key socket was meant to be around the 2 O'clock position?

But wow, some build!

 

[NorthloopCup]

whats the purpose of the welded inlet? have i missed something?

Its a 197 inlet on a Megane 225 head mate. Different port profiles. The weld is there to strengthen up the flange after it's been machined to suit the 225 ports.

Now, I'm defo no expert at all but is the cam belt tensioner at the proper angle? I thought the Allan key socket was meant to be around the 2 O'clock position?

But wow, some build!

That's just how it is when you convert the 197/225 head to run on a 172. The 8mm bolt for the tensioner is in a different position on the 197/225 in comparison to the 1*2. The belt tensions up and the cams line up fine.

 

[Thrust-Rated]

JLR?

Yes mate. Good guess or you know people there?