Brief guide to tuning you 172/182

[TooneySonic]

Hi guys, theres been lots of threads recently asking about what can be done to improve power, so i thought i would start on a guide that we could all contibute to/update and maybe make a sticky

I'm only an amatuer when it comes to these things so please correct me if i'm wrong or think the layout is too linky lol!

Anyway, here goes! I'll get us started

In order to get more power the efficiancy of the engine needs to be improved, so lets first look at breathing mods. Simple, the more air taken in by the engine, the greater the power it can potentially produce. So a freer flowing air filter should be first such as one of these

http://www.k-tecracing.com/show_product.asp?id=2558
If you like team it with one of these
http://www.k-tecracing.com/show_product.asp?id=2410

Its a personal thing, but the above setup is better than an induction kit which to me dont seem to be worth the money but heres an example
http://www.k-tecracing.com/show_product.asp?id=1361

Okay next stop is a matched inlet manifold! i'll let AP developments explain here
http://www.ap-developments.com/RS_Inlets.html
Companies which offer this service around the country:
Angel-works, nr huntingdon > http://www.angel-works.co.uk
Jamsport, northampton > http://www.jam-sport.co.uk/
AP developments, swansea > as above
GDI, cheltenham > www.greydevilindustries.com

A set of PTFE(sp) gaskets will help maintain lower inlet temp (cold air is more condense therefore better!) hillpowerclio is the member on here who sells these!

What do you thinks lads? Shall i continue, no worries if you think the thread is full of FAIL lol

 

[TooneySonic]

lol just realised i missed a r off in the title lol, first fail

 

[W111ALG]

GDI are at http://www.greydevilindustries.com/

 

[Brett]

Spot on so far mate carry on imo.

 

[Riley!]

looking good, but what about zorst side of things?

 

[Ali]

Brief guide....

Don't bother...

 

[Jamesstone]

Its a nice start mate, samco bend does fook all though, if any thing makes it worse, got one myself & the 90 degree angle is sharper on the sparco than the standard

Another good gain is de-cat, probarbly one of the best in my opinion! it is advised to couple it with a re-map as they tend to suffer with flat spots when using standard map

 

[TooneySonic]

Next logical thing to look at then would be the exhaust system! So lets start with the manifold, which is a very efficient design as standard! The difference is the 182 manifold is a 4-2-1 setup compared to the 4 into 1 on the 172. The 172 system is good for high end power, the 182 gives better midrange torque. Personally i dont think it is worthwhile fitting a 182 item to the 172 as first you will need to source the manifold (circa £250) but then its a b*****d to fit and therefore expensive! as the two manifolds are different lengths you will would also need a "link" pipe too > http://www.k-tecracing.com/show_product.asp?id=2333

 

[TooneySonic]

Sorry lads CS keeps failing on me!

Decats then! Flow is what matters with exhausts > the quicker the gasses leave the better, whilst maintaining pressure!

The catalytic converter is a major restriction, the way forwards is to fit a decat pipe in 2.5" bore, 172
http://www.yozzasport.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=yozzasport_clio_172_decat_link_pipe
182 (cheaper!)
http://www.yozzasport.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=yozzasport_clio_182_cup_trophy_decat_link_pipe

Noise will increase as you are effectively removing a silencer though, and your car will not pass an MOT with one fitted so hang onto your original cat! the 172 is abit of a b**ch to fit, the 182 is straightforwards

 

[TooneySonic]

Next stage then is a cat back exhaust system! Again ideally in a 2.5" bore, check out yozzasport, ktec, milltek and also look into having a custom sytem manufactured, prices and quality varies, you pays your money.... but you are looking at around £350 give or take

 

[powey]

I have a 2.5" bore on my car although I dont think there is any gains to be had here, an exhaust is a critical component for the engine and needs to be spot on to get max power.

Turbo cars feel the benefits from enlarged bores whereas an N/A engine benefits from 'pulse tuning'

 

[Riley!]

take it next stage is going to be the re-map route craig . . . . need mine mapping in the summer. Still unsure whether to go down the fastchip route or the rs tuner route

 

[TooneySonic]

same difference lol

can you tell i'm off work ill with no car and nothing to do lol!

okay then onto mapping aka in the olden days "chipping"

Only two thing worth considering IMO, an RStuner which is made by fastchip based in holland or a custom live map, which is done on a rolling road. I'm sure others can expand on this better than me but here goes

First of all i would rec that a map is one of the last things you do to gain the full benefit from your mods. Your MPG will improve fractionally and the car will accelerate better, when i had my car mapped i gained 8bhp peak and 10lb/ft torque, but there were bigger gains across the whole of the rev range. A raised rev limiter (usually 7400) will also help accel.

1) RStuner by fastchip based in holland http://www.fastchip.nl/component/pa...,18/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,26/vmcchk,1/
from what i understand you plug the unit into your car and laptop it downloads all the necessary info and then you upload one of their prewritten maps onto your ECU, clever! You can pay extra if you like and have Henk write you a custom map based on the data the kit records.

2) custom live map eg www.rstuning.co.uk based in leeds. done on a rolling road this is far better than a generic "group N ecu" map as its individual to your car and your modifications, based on live data from runs on the rolling road. this also provides you with concrete proof of your gains/highlights any problems through before and after results graphs

 

[Riley!]

i meant rs tuning lol my bad and yes can tell your bored lol

 

[powey]

you can also have a custom map made by henk via the rstuner...

 

[TooneySonic]

Summary

1)panel filter £35 token benefit
2)matched inlets £dependant on company but £ for £ the most effective mod you can do to the 172/182. Usually £150, 7bhp ish
3)182 manifold on 172? dont bother £££££ benefits unproven
4)decat £150 fitted, worthwhile midrange torque increase
5)cat back, a proper one teamed with a map can see good gains, but to me its more about the noise! worth doing as the standard renault pos will fall off in the next 5mins anyway
6)remap 100% yes, around £350 but think make sure you do it last, tuning is addictive and before long you will want CAMS!!!!!!!

which are next....

 

[TooneySonic]

you can also have a custom map made by henk via the rstuner...

yeah i mentioned that dude, this service is offered at extra price

the price of the kit depends on the strength of the euro against the pound, and personally untill it falls i think a custom live map on a rolling road is better VFM

 

[Riley!]

what i want to know is why hardly anyone bothers with getting head work done when they go for cams? or is it the cost factor again . . .

 

[TooneySonic]

we need BenR along or Icarus etc etc to answer that one but from what i know £ for £ headwork is an expensive mod, the only benfit i have seen is midrange torque, but i could be wrong

http://www.cncheads.co.uk/Renault_clio172.html

 

[sideways danny]

what i want to know is why hardly anyone bothers with getting head work done when they go for cams? or is it the cost factor again . . .

a lot of people want reversible mods, most can't stretch to the cost of headwork and cams in one hit, and the ports are fairly reasonable (certainly a huge amount better than production items were. going back a few years.

 

[Riley!]

yer i know its pricey just wondered why no one seems to mention it ever

spose 750 notes for only a few bhp increase is a good reason not to do it lol

 

[TooneySonic]

a lot of people want reversible mods, most can't stretch to the cost of headwork and cams in one hit, and the ports are fairly reasonable (certainly a huge amount better than production items were. going back a few years.

there we go

plus dont forget theres fitment costs on top of that!

 

[Brett]

I have a 2.5" bore on my car although I dont think there is any gains to be had here, an exhaust is a critical component for the engine and needs to be spot on to get max power.

Turbo cars feel the benefits from enlarged bores whereas an N/A engine benefits from 'pulse tuning'

Yozzasport, Ktec, Milltek etc all use 2.5" bore on their 1*2 exhausts.

They're all specialists so i'd trust the their professional judgement.