Clio 172 Cup - Track Project

[williamsclio1]

26/02/2015

So here we go again, this will be my third project thread and something a bit different to my previous ones:

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=141157

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=348885

I used to own a Clio 172 Cup years ago, however being young and naive I bought one which was a Cat D and the car was visual very nice however the whole car was completely twisted and dropped gear boxes, drive shafts and wheel bearings, until one day I sold it at a huge lose. A lesson learnt.

Now here we are almost ten years later and its time to try again. I recently sold my 1.4 Civic run around and have put the money towards this Clio 172 Cup that I managed to get for just £1300.

Reason for being so cheap is that the rear hub is damaged and the rear disc has cracked.

Some back ground history on the car, only 54,000 on the clock with the important Cam Belt, Auxiliary Belt and Dephaser all replaced at the end of 2014, as well as a rebuilt gear box, no recipe of the clutch being replaced at the same time, so I am hoping to find out if it was from the previous owner.

Condition, well the exterior is generally clean but has got a number of car park dents which, I will look at having removed or having the doors replaced, however as the intention is to use as a track car I must remember that I don't need to keep it in the condition that I do of my FRP and Clio 182.

The front bumper has had a whack and has been cracked so I am already on the look out for a replacement, as well as two new front plastic arch liners.

Recently refurbished Turinis with 4 brand new Michelin PS3's so that a bonus, as recently had these fitted to the Clio 182 and they are incredible.

Interior, not really had a chance to have a look at the interior however not that it matters to much as most of it is being stripped out, eventually.

Here are a few photos of how the car stands at this time:

A friend of mine has sourced a rear hub and I bought these from eBay for just £60 delivered:

I am going to be fitting a none FIA approved cage, Bucket seats and harnesses, I did try to buy this set that recently came for sale, however I missed out. But it is pretty much the equipment I will have once all fitted.

The other thing I will be getting is the popular Renault Sabelt Steering wheel and extended boot carpet:

Fortunately I am self employed and work from home so I don't need to use the car as a daily so it will do very little millage, the main intention is to have the car as a track car, however I will not be fully stripping it as when I do use it to go places I don't want to be sat in a bean can.

To do:
Remove blacked out window tints
Move battery to rear of the car
Remove white engine cover
Full detail

To Buy:
Front bumper
Arch liners
Cage
Bucket seat x 2
Harness x 2
Extended boot carpet
Smaller front registration plate
Silver Tek bulbs

Long Term:
Suspension upgrade
Uprated brakes
Remove rear bench

Just one last thing a message of thanks to Jay, for sorting the car out for me and letting me have at his cost, owe you some details.

 

[Iain C]

Looks good. I'd make removing the tints my first job.

 

[williamsclio1]

Yeah really dislike them, taking them off before I do anything else.

 

[PP200t]

Looks nice but in the 2nd picture is that how the wheels sits or is it loosely fitted? I know you said the hub was damaged. Probably a noob question.

 

[williamsclio1]

Funny you should say that I noticed it and thought ah up, yeah just the top bolt in loosely so wheel is on the piss.

 

[williamsclio1]

I am tempted to put the silver 172 Cup wheels on my misses Clio 182 on to the Cup and put these darker ones on the hers. But I really do like the silver on the silver. Not checked what offset the darker Turnins are as yet, thinking they are probably refurbished Cup off set in Trophy colour rather than Trophy offset wheels.

 

[BREMBO]

Will be following this one too. Nice one!

 

[williamsclio1]

03/03/2015

Couple pf replacement parts arrived today, two second hand wheel arch liners, which look to be in excellent condition, just need to give them a really good clean before fitting.

Also a replaced o/s brake calliper as there was an issue with the old one when trying to replace the rear discs pads and wheel bearing.

Once these are fitted in the coming days I will have the car back at home and I can start at giving it a full detail and removing the rear bench etc.

Yesterday I purchase replacement Front Registration plate 520mm x 90mm, silver trek bulbs, Washer jets, extended boot carpet and spare Turini wheel complete with tyre.

 

[williamsclio1]

04/03/2015

Few more parts arrived:

 

[TarkMalbot]

Interesting project but the photos in the original post don't seem to work for me.

 

[williamsclio1]

Interesting project but the photos in the original post don't seem to work for me. 😧

Cheers mate I mov the photos in my Photobucket album, so I have asked Admin to reload the links.

 

[williamsclio1]

Right well what an evening I had, had a league badminton match about 50 mins from where I live, and it goes through Cheddar Gorge which I would add is an AWESOME road, so I thought good chance to use the FRP, so good to take it on on a really good run, so much more confidence in it than the Clio 182 (have however been driving it a lot longer, and the FRP gives soo much grip), anyway on the way back heard a loud scraping noise, pull over look under the car and the centre section of the exhaust has sheered off, was in the middle of no where 6 miles from home with no phone signal, This is where the importance of mentioning badminton came in, after scratching my head and swearing a lot a had an idea to snap one of my older racquets and managed to wedge it down the centre section and have enough over hang just to rest nicely in the Cat. couldn’t believe it worked, got me to my mates unit where I picked up my Cup 172, so looks like new cat is required, no doubt expensive.

Car drives REALLY tight and feels spot on pulls nicely and clutch and gears good, only drove it for 5 mins home, initial thing notice is the steering wheel is on the ****, but easy fix and getting the replacement wheel soon enough anyway. Roll on Saturday.

 

[williamsclio1]

Silvertek bulbs:

Before and afters:

 

[williamsclio1]

08/03/2015

Right then finally got chance to clean the car, worked on it from 11am through till about 6pm

On arrival:

Snow foamed to start then clay barred every panel which seem to take for ever as it looks like it hadn't been done previously. Moved on to Meguires Stage 1, 2 and 3.

Old windscreen washers:

New:

The damaged front bumper that I will temporary repair for now and in the long run when a Cup is being broken I will replace:

Sorting out the new reg plate:

Really happy with the results, a few things I want to sort, I will be removing the rear bumper and seeing why its not flush with the body.

There where some scratches on the rear bumper where it looked like it had been reversed into a hedge or the likes, majority of the scratches removed now. Hoping its just a slight bent ledge that I can push back in to place.

Finished for another day:

Friend also did the same stages as myself on his with fantastic results:

Few photos of the car with its injured brother:

Car back at home with the misses Clio

Chucked it down today but left some lovely beading:

 

[BREMBO]

Looks great!!

 

[Gus]

Good work. Like the quick thinking on the FRP exhaust!!

Whos are all the other clios at that garage?

 

[williamsclio1]

Good work. Like the quick thinking on the FRP exhaust!!

Whos are all the other clios at that garage?

You may of heard of Jay Tonkin on Clio Sport owners on the Facebook page, he buys and sells lots of 172/182's often ones that need work to put back on the road, he does the mechanics and I do the detailing.

 

[williamsclio1]

The plastic are beginning to look faded so I treated them, I really need to get some more C4 Permanent Trim Restorer.

I decided it was time to fix the rear bumper as it was really bugging me.

How it started:

Once I got it removed I could see that it has been damaged from I'm guessing when all the scratches where done to the bumper, the bumpers are pretty flexible so with some gentle persuasion I shaped the bumper as it should be and refitted holding the bumper in the correct position when tightening the bolts that hold it in place:

The rear arch liner is completed buggered so I will be replacing this:

Also when removing one of the bolts snapped off in the arch.I have sprayed WD40 in it and hoping that I can get some long nose pliers on it when it comes to changing the arch.

Whilst a few of the bolts where off from fixing the bumper I threw a bit of paint over them:

Before:

After:

Anyone have any suggestions on how to remove the sticky residue left from the blacked out windows?

I have tried using this product but just isn't up to the job.

All finished, and looking MUCH better:

 

[Daz.]

I really do have soft spots for cups at the moment.

Bar the front splitter I like!

 

[williamsclio1]

I really do have soft spots for cups at the moment.

Bar the front splitter I like!

Yeah dislike the front splitter also, going to order a Skoda Fabia one as soon as I get paid, only £13 and recently fitted one to the other halves 182, look really good, not as good as standard but they are around £150.

 

[Daz.]

I don't mind the skoda jobbies to be fair - I remember buying a genuine new one from renault - my wallet hurt that day.

 

[Matt e]

i removed window tints off mine at the weekend. i used this super strength nail polish remover, and came straight off.
got it from tesco for about £2

http://www.nailpolishdirect.co.uk/n..._8hMSoG6gG3jUWekfIJloLrIRWyk7zY-nIaAhwX8P8HAQ

 

[williamsclio1]

Wicked thanks mate, will give that a go, Perhaps raid the misses stuff first.

 

[Mr Plums]

pics of missus!

 

[dann2707]

Tidy as f**k man!

 

[MattDilley]

White spirit is good for removing the glue left from the tints.

 

[williamsclio1]

Tidy as f**k man!

The photos do make it look better than it is to be fair, as its such low milage the paint condition is mint, however there are the odd marks all over it, but I will do my best to resolve bits one step at a time, also must remember that its a track car and must not start wrapping it in cotton wool.

Just seen these and tempted in getting a set:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clio-RS-1...t=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item4ae562acea

Anyone got them? They worth getting?

 

[TarkMalbot]

It's looking well. Maybe a little too well for a "track project" lol

I'm happy mine to look rough as long as it goes, turns and stops well.

 

[williamsclio1]

It's looking well. Maybe a little too well for a "track project" lol

I'm happy mine to look rough as long as it goes, turns and stops well.

Yeah thats my want out of it but yet again my requirement for keeping it mint is slipping in again:

Left to do:
1 x Turini and tyre (arriving tomorrow) to be painted
2 x Rachet straps (arriving tomorrow) to hold down spare Tunrini
Investigate drivers side wing and sill and refit
Remove front bumper and spray grills and fog light surrounds black
Remove splitter and replace with Skoda splitter £13
See what interest there is on a group buy on the cold air feed for brakes.
decide if to get eBay bolt in cage for £200 or FIA approved cage from Tim Finch for £295
Purchase bucket seats
Purchase harness
Purchase Sabelt steering wheel

Long term:
Suspension
Replace front bumper
Replace door protectors - passenger side
Dent removal on doors and rear 1/4's
Possible set of cams and re-map
Exhaust upgrade

 

[williamsclio1]

Just on eBay to search for arch liner, found one listed as auction with 14 mins left and listed as mint:

Won it for 99p, delivered for £4.19 would you fancy that.

 

[williamsclio1]

Okay 5th Turini arrived today and the straps.

Had a quick trial fit:

The intention will be to have the wheel professionally refurbished in the future when the other 4 all need doing as well, however for now I had some rattle cans in the garage so I tidy it up bit.

Then I repositioned back in the car ensuring that the wheel is against the rivet under the carpet and ensuring that the straps are really tight. When i am out on track the wheel will be removed and the car is only used once a week, so nice to have it on display. If the worse was to happen I am confident that the wheel is safe, furthermore once the cage is installed the wheel would not be able to get to me anyway. Lets just say its a risk I am willing to take.

 

[Mr Plums]

Where did you get the boot carpet from mate and how much?

Im thinking about removing my rear seats as they dont get used, but i want it to look nice, oem'ish.

Thanks

 

[williamsclio1]

Here you go mate,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221695189292?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

You can get different coloured carpet and different stitching as well as logos if required.

 

[Mr Plums]

Here you go mate,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221695189292?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
You can get different coloured carpet and different stitching as well as logos if required.

Brilliant thanks mate :up:

 

[BREMBO]

Really liking this! great work

Neighbours okay with you spraying on the drive

 

[williamsclio1]

Yeah they love it, actually came to tell me. :wink:

 

[williamsclio1]

HELP: Whilst driving along in my 172 Cup, I lost ALL power, lights everything, when I pulled over just as I jumped out of the car a large cloud of smoke came up from under the bonnet, strong electrical smell. The battery terminals are fine, so my question where to check first? I can see that a couple of the fuses have blown but no other damage that I can see there, where is best next to check?

Car should be back at home tomorrow and I want to take a look to see if there is anything obvious, I will remove airbox but other suggestions welcome please???

 

[TarkMalbot]

You might not have to remove the air box. Firstly I would check what fuses have blown and see if you can find out what they are for. Check the relays for any external damage or melting of the casings and even check them all with a multimeter if possible. Check any cable for outer insulation burning, change in colour or hard and brittle. All you can do is try and source the fault and hope it's something that can easily be replaced. Could be a stuck relay, faulty alternator or a shorted switch/sensor. Take photos and post them up and we might be able to help further.

Hopefully just a minor set back. Good luck.

 

[TarkMalbot]

Double post

 

[williamsclio1]

19/03/2015

Right then got the car back home and tried to figure out what the major electrical failure was down to.

As soon as I put the battery of my FRP on the Clio the earth strap between the gear box and the body started smoking, NOT good. The battery on the clio is completely buggered and will need to be replaced.

A friend suggested to me to check the starter motor cabling, which was okay, however after further inspection I came across the issue:

I cannot believe how close its located to the manifold, half of the cable was still in tact so as I didn't have the stuff to replace it I wrapped it up as a temporary fix and repositioned as far away from the manifold as possible. I also wrapped up that section in some sheet metal that used to be the bulk head heat shield for some further protection.

I have been having an issue occasionally where the car would not start and I was told it was probably the crank sensor

Removed the two 10mm bolts and ran some wet and dry over the end of the sensor:

Refitted and tested and the car starts first time every time.

Was then on to cleaning the arches, I also ran a wire brush over the callipers and discs, as time permitting I would like to stick a layer of Hammerite Silver Smooth paint on them just to freshen them up.

Noticed a broken spring, had heard a clunking at slow speeds so on the hunt for a replacement, would like to get coil overs but don't have the money at this time, annoyingly the cup springs are different to the standard 172 so will be a bit harder trying to source one.

Parts all power washed, grills ready for spraying and the arches ready for treatment before re-fitting.

Something that has been bothering me is the fact that the front arch does not sit flush with the door and after further inspection I think I have figured out why:

The next photo is of the sill and from what I can tell the jacking spot has been used and its damaged and pushed out the join, thus resulting in the arch being pushed out, I am not sure if I will be able to do much about it.

As you can see it actually broke the nut off up in the arch that holds the wing in

I might try and remove the sill and knock the gap between panels closer together and then refit, hopefully pulling the wing in flush.

All three cars all back at home for the first time:

Do really like the ride height on the misses car: