The Silver Bullet. 172 Project from Australia

[walkie86]

Hey everyone. I've had my 182 since Nov '06 and have been slowly modding it for track days/fast road. It was also my daily driver. A cheap 172 came up for sale nearby back @ the end of May and my Dad (who's got a Meggy R26) and I went to check it out. Paint was mint, drove pretty well, had recent 60k mile service (both belts changed). We could tell it needed new engine mounts, something was making noises in the exhaust & the front left shock was a bit off.

We decided to go halves and share it as a track special (still road registered) and save our respective Renaultsports from track abuse! So we paid cash & took it home then & there. It's a December '01 build and one of the early 172s to come to Australia. Mileage when we picked it up was 98 500 km (58 000 miles?).

A few pics from after we picked it up:

Have since done a few mods, have ordered some bits & have some bits waiting to go in! I'm actually changing the brakes as we speak - DS2500 pads with slotted DBA (locally made) rotors.

Lots more to come

Alex

 

[walkie86]

First mod was a wash/clay/wax & a set of Anthracite stripes (I know you lot don't like striped Clios but we love them over here :rasp: ). Mind the photoshopped n'plates too:

 

[walkie86]

We had a spare set of Corbeau buckets out of a Lotus lying around, so decided to get them retrimmed in black leather to maintain the classy hatcback feel lol now we just need to figure out how to fit them...

 

[CHRIS-172]

Greetings!

Good to see you finally got the post up!
I live down the road for Walkies and hopefuly will be allowed to help as often as work/schedule allows.

We have always watched on at some of the great theads on here eg Burp, BeanieMoo, Barron/Bazzon etc (many more i know!) and always wanted to see something in Aus.

Alex the car is looking great and look forward to some more updates this week!

Ps those seats looked well mint in the flesh!

 

[Limca]

nice one alex.... keep us updated. I no longer own a 172 now, so when I come to Aus, u better take me for a spin in the 182...

It was a year ago nearly when u boys came down to the UK for trax.. was good

Jay

 

[walkie86]

nice one alex.... keep us updated. I no longer own a 172 now, so when I come to Aus, u better take me for a spin in the 182...

It was a year ago nearly when u boys came down to the UK for trax.. was good

Jay

Cheers Jay. Can't believe it's almost been a year since Trax! Let me know when you're in town & I'll take you for a spin in the 172 + 182

 

[walkie86]

These arrived in the post today. KW v2s. Took exactly 1 week from Demon Tweeks!

Been busy tonight, so lots of photos to come in the next few days

Also picked up these last week:

 

[walkie86]

Seeing as I can't edit my posts, I thought I just add a timeline until present day.

30th May: Picked up 12/01 Iceberg Silver 172 w. 98 900km.

2nd June: Ordered K-Tec group N engine mounts & Compbrake solid strut tops.

9th June: Bought Anthracite stripes from Grafico.

10th June: Booked in for check-up service.

20th June: Washed, clayed & waxed. Removed centre caps. Added anthracite stripes

23rd June: Engine mounts arrive. 1x upper engine, 1x upper gearbox, 1x twisted rear gearbox

25th June: Bought new SSW S093 16" rims + fitted to left-over Kumho v700 205/45/16

1st July: Car serviced + engine mounts fitted - things noted: front left shock stuffed, timing & AUX belt not fitted properly (need to be redone). Booked it in again, for 11th August.

11th July: Ordered KW Variant 2 coilovers from Demon Tweeks

24th July: Picked up new DBA slotted rotors

27th July: Fitted DS2500s (from my 182) and slotted rotors. Fitted new rear springs & shocks.

28th July: Fitted front coilovers

29th July: Fitted SSW 16s

Pics to come soon for each update

 

[Gray]

You should of gone for 15" wheels

I use the KW v2 coilovers, you will not be disappointed.. They are brilliant!

 

[Chris205]

Kw are an excellent make and never had any problems when running them 110mm down on my megane

 

[Martin_172]

does that have 15" dynamique wheels on it? looks very small

 

[CHRIS-172]

Clio 172's only got 15 in wheels here in Aus.

the 16in are a trial, ill wait for alex to explain but the available semis from the lotus meant it was worth a shot. Im sure in the future both 15 / 16 in will be tired.

There is already some 15in and Semis that can used if need be.

KWs and the top mounts, cant wait to see the difference!
Good work Al.

 

[Limca]

good work alex. 1 week from tweeks is flipping great! have you started stripping the car out, i'd say do it before you fit the coilovers

 

[walkie86]

UPDATE: 27/28 July

Over the course of this week Chris & I worked on the Silver Bullet. We fitted the KW v2 coilovers, Compbrake solid top mounts, DBA slotted rotors & DS2500 pads on Monday/Tuesday night & I fitted the new wheels on Wednesday afternoon.

I'll let the pics do the talking 8)

Rear shocks & springs

 

[walkie86]

Stock Brakes

New slotted rotors

Chris' patented "corking-gun caliper pusher"

DS2500s from my 182

All back together

 

[walkie86]

Tuesday night!

Old standard bits

Many hands make light work (thanks fellas!)

Compbrake top mount fitting guide from CS.net (thanks 172Ben!)

Out with the old (right one had spewed fluid everywhere)

In with the new

Compbrake solid top mounts

On its guts

Next step is to get it set up properly! (corner weighted & camber adjusted)

 

[walkie86]

Fitted my new wheels on Wednesday arvo

Need to take some proper pics now!!

 

[walkie86]

UPDATE: 17 August

Just picked up the Bullet from its service. The previous only did the belts only back in October, but the mob that did it did such a bad job that we had to do it again... The timing was 20deg out, there were holes in the cam cover, bolts missing and the timing belt was loose!

All good now though: she feels good and strong

Off to the track soon!

 

[StevenMc29]

Looks like an awesome project

 

[Greeny.]

I never saw any Clios out in Aus when I was out there, my mate drove a v8 panel van!

Lol at the previous cambelt change, epic bad

 

[walkie86]

UPDATE: 23 August

Started stripping today. Removed everything except tar & seatbelts (I know, I know) from the front seats back, plus the lower front door trims. Better pics to come but here's some of it:

Also de-wipered the rear. Couldn't believe how much the mechanism weighs!

Next is the carpet & lower front trim. Door cards are staying for the moment.

Battery re-location is happening soon, then cup-racer induction setup and alignment and corner weighting

First track day should be within the next few weeks... can't wait! :race:

 

[nick.]

good work m8, nice additions so far will look forward to more updates

 

[walkie86]

good work m8, nice additions so far will look forward to more updates

Thanks mate

Some more photos for you! I can't believe how much the rear raised up - I reckon about 3-4cm with all the stuff out!

Seat belts are staying in for the moment for 'legal reasons' :nono: lol

 

[Guppy]

Good progress!

Will be keeping an eye on this

 

[CHRIS-172]

Gents, can someone here post up a link to what is involved in removing the rear seatbelts, did a search seems you need a resistor even for the removal of the rear belts? i think it was mentioned as a 3 Ohm is required?

Is there some sort of removal guide?

Also Alex, how about you bring it around tonight, we can borrow the SWIMBOs hair dryer and attack the tar!

 

[froggygwen]

can you guys recommend places to get wheels brakes etc etc over here in oz as iam struggling to find anywhere.
if not might have to see what i can get when iam back over in the uk at christmas

 

[BoomOne]

looking good and nice dude. Did you have to pay customs on the coilovers when they got sent to you?? I had mine snet to SA and cost me 34% to the value of the coilovers modding clio's from anywhere outside europe costs a small fortune

 

[CHRIS-172]

can you guys recommend places to get wheels brakes etc etc over here in oz as iam struggling to find anywhere.
if not might have to see what i can get when iam back over in the uk at christmas

What exactly are you looking for bud?

Wheels - you can try tirerack in the US? (where i got my enkei's from)
Brakes - Uk tuning shops are good for pads, DBA (homemade in AUS!) for rotors.

If you can give me some items i can run you through some costs.
Are you a member on our site in OZ?
www.ozrenaultsport.com

fair bit of info on there!

 

[maynard]

excellent progress! mmm i want your coilovers! how comes the 'legal' reason for the seatbelts staying in??

 

[walkie86]

excellent progress! mmm i want your coilovers! how comes the 'legal' reason for the seatbelts staying in??

Thankyou!

Seatbelts - in Aus if your car is registered as a 5-seater then it has to have 5 seatbelts in it! You can re-register it I think. The authorities aren't as relaxed as yours seemingly are!

Wish we could decat without the threat of testicle removal lol...

 

[maynard]

Thankyou!

Seatbelts - in Aus if your car is registered as a 5-seater then it has to have 5 seatbelts in it! You can re-register it I think. The authorities aren't as relaxed as yours seemingly are!

Wish we could decat without the threat of testicle removal lol...

ah fair enough - just get it re-registered then!

yeah even though ours are still registered as 5 seaters, as long as the buckle and belt are both removed - it can't be tested for so it doesn't matter!

 

[walkie86]

looking good and nice dude. Did you have to pay customs on the coilovers when they got sent to you?? I had mine snet to SA and cost me 34% to the value of the coilovers modding clio's from anywhere outside europe costs a small fortune

Thanks mate. We got lucky & didn't get hit with customs tax! Plus we got the 10% members Cliosport Members discounts from Demon Tweeks

 

[walkie86]

More detailed updates to come (more stripping + corner-weighting + first track day write up) but here's a teaser pic!

 

[walkie86]

Jeez - been a while since I updated this!! A fair bit has happened in the last little while (not to CS standards yet lol) but have fitted a Quaife LSD, clutch, exhaust, intake etc etc. Will be doing a big update in a week or so once I'm done with uni for the assessment! But here's a pic on current road wheels:

Cheers fellas!

PS. Not sure why it looks like a 4x4 in those pics lol

 

[walkie86]

More random pics:

Tape was from ripping the front bumper off coming out of the drive

More here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkie86/sets/72157623245473613/

 

[subarufreak]

what wheels are those? they look awesome!

 

[bluecup182]

Looks hot alex. Good to show what the Aussie's are doing with the little animals.
We don't all drive V8 Shaggen wagons, most drive B&S specials.
Braden

 

[walkie86]

what wheels are those? they look awesome!

SSW S093 Spiders in 16x7

 

[walkie86]

UPDATE 28.07.10:

Fitted:
- Quaife LSD
- Helix clutch cover with cerametallic drive plate
- New driveshafts
- Carbon wrapped badges, side bullets & rear wiper blank
- Odyssey battery behind drivers seat
- phI box with ITG filter + samco hose
- K-Tec Stealth cat-back + 100cell hi-flow cat

To fit:
- Engine Dynamics short-shifter
- Whiteline front lower strut brace
- Whiteline rear anti-roll bar
- OMP front upper strut brace
- OMP rear upper strut brace
- 2x Corbeau Pro-series buckets
- matte black tw*t strip
- Peugeot 307 splitter

On order:
- K-Tec 4-point bolt-in rear half-cage plus harness bar

Pics to come!

Track day at Wakefield Park on August 16 coming up

 

[walkie86]

These are the carbon wrapped badges on my 182, but I also did my 172: