The life of... SharkyUK's Trophy

[NorthloopCup]

Yes mate. Good guess or you know people there?

Good guess tbh mate. I've tried to get in there before, but i don't know what hoops to jump through. How did you get in out of interest?

 

[TimR26]

And I'm now broke. LOL!

I'm know how you feel! 😂

Engine looks great, hope you can enjoy driving it again soon :grinning:

 

[Filters]

Fair play matey this is starting to shape up nicely :up:
Any word on how long it will be now until she's back on the road?

 

[RMDavis]

What a spec Andy! That engine is incredible! I bet you can't wait to get behind the wheel again!?

 

[SharkyUK]

Holy s**t! What a spec!

I'm getting it done properly this time sir Looking forward to enjoying this one!

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

Looks like a great spec!

Thanks Chris. I have no set figure in mind with regards the power and I'm not sure what it will make. The main point was to ensure the use of decent quality components throughout in a bid to improve the longevity of the engine. If I can make a genuine figure slightly more than stock then I'll be happy...

Phwoar.

That's what I said when the pics came through. :up:

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

I'm massively grateful that it was worked on by an extremely competent and experienced guy who is meticulous in his work. I also paid him today. Despite budgeting for the build it still hurt! A lot!

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

Thanks mate. In truth I don't know anywhere near enough to be able to carry out the work myself. Thankfully I have good people in my circle of friends that can help (and have helped) me out. I know what I wanted, I knew roughly which components I wanted, I set a budget and then I took advice (and did my homework) in those areas where I didn't know enough. It's been quite a wait but I do believe the results will be worth it.

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

As per @NorthloopCup 's response (thanks for taking the time to explain / reply mate!)

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!

Again, as per @NorthloopCup 's reply. Thanks for the kind words fella.

I'm know how you feel! 😂

Engine looks great, hope you can enjoy driving it again soon :grinning:

Yeah, I bet you do Tim! Hopefully it won't be too much longer. We will have to arrange a meet or something!

Fair play matey this is starting to shape up nicely :up:
Any word on how long it will be now until she's back on the road?

Thanks buddy I'm not sure when it will be on the road; there's still a bit to be done elsewhere and the guys involved are busy with their own jobs and projects (and quite rightly need to prioritise their own stuff ahead of mine). I don't think it will be too much longer but I'm not going to push and become a whiner as I know the guys want to take their time and do a proper job (for which I am extremely appreciative of course!)

I'll let you know when she's back...

What a spec Andy! That engine is incredible! I bet you can't wait to get behind the wheel again!?

Thanks Rob! I have to admit that it's come together nicely and I'm over the moon with the work, time and parts that have gone into it. You're right, I can't wait to get behind the wheel. Trophy meet when she's ready? I am looking forward to seeing your supercharged beast!

 

[NorthloopCup]

@SharkyUK i know more about this engine than most people know! Lol! I speak to Steve pretty much every night on my way to work so we chat about all sorts.

 

[gambit]

Epic build , nuff said [emoji106]

 

[SharkyUK]

@SharkyUK i know more about this engine than most people know! Lol! I speak to Steve pretty much every night on my way to work so we chat about all sorts.

Cool! He seems a really top bloke (and he helped me out with the LSD a while back, too). Importantly he knows his engines!

Epic build , nuff said [emoji106]

Cheers mate

 

[steveboyslim]

I am surprised that no one has spotted the deliberate mistakes shown in the pictures.
And just to put Andy's mind at rest, they were all corrected.
Lets see who can spot them.

Steve

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:

 

[clioben182]

The belts on before the crank goes in!

 

[SharkyUK]

And just to put Andy's mind at rest, they were all corrected.

I'm not concerned mate; a top job has been done. :up:

 

[steveboyslim]

The belts on before the crank goes in!

No.

Steve

 

[clioben182]

Cam pulleys 90 degrees out compared to each other and big end caps mixed up?

 

[NorthloopCup]

big end caps mixed up

Not bad! :wink:

 

[steveboyslim]

Cam pulleys 90 degrees out compared to each other and big end caps mixed up?

No to the fist and yes to the second.
I had the crank in and out so many times when I was using plastigauge checking bearing clearance, crank and oil jet clearance, I must have took some of the pictures without noticing the main caps.
At the final stage of torqueing the ARP rods bolts, checking for a bit of side float and torqueing the main cap ARP nuts everything was in it's correct position.

Steve

 

[SharkyUK]

May 2016 - Update
Nothing much new to report right now (and I'm not even sure where various bits of the car are located). But... I did receive this funky keyring today :smiley: This is an essential adornment for any hardcore Trophy owner.

I'm hoping to have more news soon. Owned the Trophy for 8 odd years now and it's been off the road for about 3.5 of those years :weary: Ever regretted a purchase?

 

[aucky]

:blush:Where's the key ring from?
Trophy owners love badges and toys.

 

[SharkyUK]

:blush:Where's the key ring from?
Trophy owners love badges and toys.

:tonguewink: Agreed! I got it from @TonkaTruck via the Clio Trophy website.

 

[Sambo2016]

Eh? What? Not sure what you mean mate... :race:

Don't worry. It will be looked after as if it were my own. I'll write more (below) about the experiences I had with it since I picked it up this morning. It's obviously a special car... and I am extremely grateful and appreciative, Fred. My goodness, that noise! :smiley:



No arguments from me fella - it certainly is epic! My goodness, that noise!



It gets my vote. :smile: My goodness, the noise! (I'll stop now; but it sounds great).



No worries there, mate. It will be treated like a princess. Or whatever it wants to be. Today was/is a good day.



LOL! Nah mate, that won't happen. Fred's V6 is awesome (and I already have fallen in love with it) but my Trophy is also more than a bit special for me personally (despite the cr*p I've been through with it!) I might just keep the V6 and ensure Fred gives me my Trophy back first... :quiet:



Yeah, anytime mate. Fred has ok'd it! I'm not far off J28... :smile:



It's already booked in for 4 sessions. Oops, did I say that out loud? Might even find it's way to Llandow as well... :tongueout:



I spent a few hours cleaning it today fella. I was going to clay, polish and wax it but the sun was too hot and I didn't have suitable cover. Still, it got a good wash and came up nicely (pics below).



Despite the stone chips the paintwork is in really good condition and looks great with the gold flake. A bit of Zaino treatment today and it's come up beautifully.

So, let's update things here a bit...

July 2013 - Friday 26th

Firstly, a HUGE thanks to Fred for the loan of his incredible Renaultsport Clio V6. Having had my trophy for 6 months (no fault of his own mind!) I am now struggling without a car and I cannot continue to share my partner's Type-R as she needs it for her own commuting, etc. Also, a change in my own circumstances mean I am finding it more difficult to share a single car with her due to the logistics of it all. Anyways, to cut a long story short I was going to hire a car and that's when Fred generously stepped in and offered me the loan of his V6! I am now in possession of this wonderful car until my Trophy is done (or Fred urgently needs it back!) As said, a huge and massive thanks to Fred. He's a star and I don't care how brown my nose is... this has helped me out massively and I can't express how grateful and appreciative I am. :smile:

So yeah, what a day (thanks also to my good lady for playing long distance taxi driver and driving me over from Wales). Fred did say, as I picked it up this morning, that I'd either love it or hate it. I think you can probably guess where I stand on that one. It really is a bit special. And I've never been in a car that attracts so much attention. If I'm honest I found it a little unnerving. When I'm in my Trophy, nobody really gives it much attention. Unless it's a fellow Clio enthusiast then most just assume it's a red Clio and that is that. But not so with the Vee. Pretty much everybody was straining to get a look on the drive back to Wales. I also found that, on the motorways and dual carriageways, a lot of cars simply moved out the way to let me by. No, I wasn't speeding either! The only issues I had were with blokes in shirts and ties in German barges that seemed to be annoyed that I was sharing the same bit of tarmac with them. Whilst the urge was great to floor it I simply moved over and let them pass.

I pulled in the services to fill up the fuel and as I was about to leave a Dutch couple in a motorhome struck up a conversation about the car; a nice couple and we spent a few minutes chatting until another car pulled up to use the pump. On the way out the station a posse of 'more mature' bikers let me pass and threw thumbs up. This is totally alien to me, but cool all the same. As I got nearer home I called in Halfords to pick up some quick detailer and microfibre towels and was greeted by two police officers when I returned to the car park. They'd pulled up next to it and were checking it out. No issues, they were just looking so I spent a few minutes chatting with PC Evans and (can't remember his name, Huw I think) about the car and the deal with my Trophy. I bet they regretted asking! LOL! To top it off, I gave it a clean for a few hours this afternoon and the neighbours were asking about it as well as the locals who pass by the house. This was weird as I don't know them (apart from my neighbours) and normally just keep myself to myself. So yeah, the car definitely has a certain air of celebrity and presence about it! :smile:

In terms of the drive, it drives real nice. And the sound is immense; it just burbles and growls as you go about your business. The gearbox is sublime as well... so smooth. I love it. :smile:

Anyways, here are a few pics after today's clean. Sorry they are driveway shots but I haven't had time to take it anywhere yet!

Roll on the French Car Show tomorrow!

Cheers,
Andy

This car is gorgeous! No wonder people stopped to look lol:up:

 

[SharkyUK]

Hahaha, yeah - the Clio V6 is certainly a special kind of car mate. I've never known / experienced anything quite like it.

 

[davo172]

Hahaha, yeah - the Clio V6 is certainly a special kind of car mate. I've never known / experienced anything quite like it.

Fred should of let you keep the vee for all the time he had yours the hassle and expense !
Hope it's sorted soon mate you really deserve it to be perfect and all that you expect after all you have been through.:up:

 

[Cub.]

Engine looks epic.

Truly epic.

Top work Eder, as ever

Need a catch up soon.

 

[SharkyUK]

Fred should of let you keep the vee for all the time he had yours the hassle and expense !
Hope it's sorted soon mate you really deserve it to be perfect and all that you expect after all you have been through.:up:

That Vee cost me a fortune! I should have stashed it away and kept it

Engine looks epic.

Truly epic.

Top work Eder, as ever :smile:

Need a catch up soon.

I can't claim any credit for it mate. I just kinda suggested what I was looking for and let the experts do their thing. Hahahaha!

I won't lie though - I am REALLY, REALLY missing it now. More so than at any other point during my ownership. I've had a weekend of sheer driving fun with mates over this Bank Holiday weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it; mixing it up with my mate in his brand new Type-R, another friend in his E92 M3 and myself and another friend in our EP3 Type-R's. It's been a hoot. But it also hits home just how much I am desperate to get back behind the wheel of Trophy #165. It's really sad to say that it has actually been years since I last enjoyed a drive in the Trophy. When I got it back from after the high-comp ITB build I didn't get chance to enjoy that due to the issues with the gearbox and the engine failure I was looking back over my thread recently and this has been going on since March 2011 (or even earlier). I just want it back and to be able to enjoy it for a while

 

[dablk]

Likewise been working all weekend looking at stunning weather and my own car not moving a yard.

I guess that's that tough line between good will/mates rates and paying for a job. It's only possible to start kicking off when your firmly in a paying full price for everything situation.

Worst case you will get it home.. See something new and end up flipping both the T and the ep3 for that.

 

[T.Trophy]

Mine is getting Mot'd when I get home. Been having too much fun in the R26 so have kind of neglected. Then its new gearbox with gripper diff

 

[SharkyUK]

Likewise been working all weekend looking at stunning weather and my own car not moving a yard.

I guess that's that tough line between good will/mates rates and paying for a job. It's only possible to start kicking off when your firmly in a paying full price for everything situation.

Worst case you will get it home.. See something new and end up flipping both the T and the ep3 for that.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not having a go or a dig at anyone - people have their own work and lives to deal with and I'm always grateful for their help. It's just the frustration due to the car spending nigh on half my ownership time in a workshop.

The Trophy won't be going anywhere as I've invested too much in it. I'll never get the thick end of 40 grand back! Ouch And the EP3 won't be going anywhere as my other half loves it and, to be honest, it is technically her car at the end of the day. Plus it's such a sweet drive still even after 110k miles.

We'll get there mate

Mine is getting Mot'd when I get home. Been having too much fun in the R26 so have kind of neglected. Then its new gearbox with gripper diff :smile:

Nice one mate - that will be fun You can't really complain though having had the R26 to enjoy in the meantime

 

[clioben182]

Keep your chin up fella. Iam sure the thing WILL be EPIC when its done.

 

[SharkyUK]

Keep your chin up fella. Iam sure the thing WILL be EPIC when its done.

Thank you - I hear what you're saying mate I'm just struggling to maintain the enthusiasm and I don't have much of that right now!

 

[Stefan.]

Keep going mate, it will all be worth it

 

[SharkyUK]

Keep going mate, it will all be worth it

I'm trying mate - cheers!

 

[dablk]

Agree it's tough. Best mate is struggling with a mega r56 Mini Cooper build. It's been a year in bits. Finally it's back together and throwing vanos codes.. He's Pretty much tried everything to fix it. Wasn't the kind of problem he was expecting to get stopped by..and he's not even fitted the compound turbo yet.

 

[NorthloopCup]

I had the exact same dilemma when I was building mine up mate. When it all comes together, it's worth it. Trust me on that one!!

 

[SharkyUK]

Agree it's tough. Best mate is struggling with a mega r56 Mini Cooper build. It's been a year in bits. Finally it's back together and throwing vanos codes.. He's Pretty much tried everything to fix it. Wasn't the kind of problem he was expecting to get stopped by..and he's not even fitted the compound turbo yet.

Oh dear It sounds like a cool project though. One to persevere with! What sort of spec is he looking at with the Cooper?

I had the exact same dilemma when I was building mine up mate. When it all comes together, it's worth it. Trust me on that one!!

I do trust you mate Just feeling a bit flat and down in the dumps at present! LOL!

 

[dablk]

Cooper is decompressed, open deck of block has been closed fancy bits all over the place. Plans for ALL the boost.. Lol.. Once he gets past this niggle.

 

[SharkyUK]

June 2016 - Update
I had this sketch of my Trophy commissioned so that I don't forget what my car looks like. A big thanks to Chris' Car Sketches (via Facebook) for the sketch

 

[shu90]

Hi @SharkyUK, i have more questions about engine build .
I See that you (@NorthloopCup ?) remove oil squirtels in block.
My question is how did you install this squirtels again, use some MOT tools or what? cause in workshop said two must be in 3deg, two on 5deg.

Last question is can someone explain about oil gallery restrictor in block? I ask one guy in Poland about it and he says to modyfiy oil gallery to prevent oil low pressure in some places?.
but nothing special about it...

Appologise for my bad english, Cheers
Paul

 

[SharkyUK]

Hi @SharkyUK, i have more questions about engine build :wink:.
I See that you (@NorthloopCup ?) remove oil squirtels in block.
My question is how did you install this squirtels again, use some MOT tools or what? cause in workshop said two must be in 3deg, two on 5deg.

Last question is can someone explain about oil gallery restrictor in block? I ask one guy in Poland about it and he says to modyfiy oil gallery to prevent oil low pressure in some places?.
but nothing special about it...

Appologise for my bad english, Cheers
Paul

Hi Paul - no need to apologise, your English is good

Yes , the oil jets were removed to allow the block to be machined. As for installing them again.... I'm not sure. Maybe @NorthloopCup will know as he has more experience of this and knows the engine spec well (and the engine builder). I think the jets can simply be tapped back into place with a drift (although it's important to ensure they are fitted to the correct position and orientation). I'm not sure if there are specialist tools that are recommended or that make the job easier.

The guy in Poland is correct - the oil gallery restrictor in the block is a safety measure to prevent low oil pressure. As Northloopcup has informed me (and I've seen for myself) the F4R engine isn't always great when it comes to oil pressure so the restrictor was added to help maintain a healthy oil pressure.

 

[shu90]

This is one of few things i cant find on internet.
This tool cost 90$ so use it for one time will be pointless....

 

[NorthloopCup]

@shu90 the oil jets can be removed by welding a piece of threaded bar on the top of them and using a slide hammer. Simple. Just note the position of them on/in the block before you remove them.

For refitting you can't knock them in too far otherwise the skirt of the piston will hit them and snap them off, so make a note of how far the originals are pressed in. You also run the risk of them blocking/restricting the oil way in the block too.

I don't run the restrictor in the block on mine as the oil pressure is very good, but that's because of the cylinder head that I use. On a f4r 730/736/738 the oil pressure is shockingly poor, hence the use of a restrictor.

Anyone who tells you otherwise has NEVER monitored the oil pressures at various rpm's and temperatures on an f4r before. It's as simple as that.

We've done a lot of research as to what's needed and we are still learning now. My own engine in particular was one that we learned with.

 

[SharkyUK]

May 2016 - Update

So, we're into September 2016 already and the 'car season' is pretty much coming to an end. 2016 has not been a great year for many reasons (most of them not car related) and I've sorely missed being able to just jump into the Trophy and go out for a drive as and when I felt like it. As I've mentioned elsewhere, I've written-off this year as I don't expect to get the car back soon and I certainly don't expect to be able to get it run-in and shaken down before the bad weather months arrive.

Car insurance was due recently so that was paid in full for the year. However, this policy is still based on my 'old' spec as I can't yet provide the details for the new build. I'm hoping the policy isn't affected too much (although I appreciate it's going to be quite a different beast to what it was before).

On a more positive note, a friend kindly picked up some of my parts and transported them cross-country to Mike so that he could make a start on my loom. With a bit of luck this will soon come together as he now has sufficient (and necessary) bits to be able to measure up and form the loom and block adapter. We're also deciding on heat-shielding options at the moment, too.