Newbie with a clean unmodified 1995 Valver

[Muzza1uk]

Hello All,

I've have owned my 1995 16v six months from new and have never modified it.

It's a low mileage (66K) car that's been declared SORN for the last couple of years since
it failed an MOT and would have cost too much to keep on the road than just sell. I went
out and bought another car for everyday use and put it in my garage until I figured out
what to do with it. I've been contemplating turning it into a track car which is one reason
for joining here, but with my lack of experience I would be open to offers from others too.

Sad as this may seem I'd like it to go to a good home, I guess this is the reason i didn't want
to just send it to the scrap heap. In the right hands I think it could be awesome, our maybe
a good donor car for someone's project.

Anyways I shall go through the forum looking for inspiration in the meantime.

Muzza1

 

[AJ02]

Absolutely love valvers, if I were you I'd turn it into a project of your own instead of selling it on. Get it back up to scratch because to have them in decent condition is a rarity as most have fallen foul of rust or careless drivers.Get some pictures up!

 

[Dan172ph1]

I miss my valver,let's see some pics.I think you should keep it mate,not that many on the roads today.

 

[daveski]

How much work does it need? Ironically it probably needs more work now than it did then

 

[It's.Lee]

I'm interested in price and pics.

 

[Stu.]

Where you based? I love valvers

 

[Beef-Mc]

Welcome to CS.

Surely you'd be better off selling it on then modifying it for the track?

 

[Rubicon_]

Love valvers.

Get some pictures up :approve:

 

[Muzza1uk]

Thanks for so many replies, I guess I'd not realised just how many 172/82/92 are out there and modified
and that clean valvers would be unusual. I shall attempt to wheel it out of the garage where it's been
residing for as a side a few years and take some piccies. I'm in the South London area if that helps anyone.
I'd considered offering this car up for the recent series of Wheeler Dealers, but that needs an MOT which it
is sadly lacking. However it think it would be perfect for the show, it need an "Ed China" like person to fix
it up, i.e. Labour Free.

 

[BREMBO]

Sounds like a nice project just to restore and gte mint, keeping it original

Sounds nice though

 

[Muzza1uk]

Hello all, time is an amazing thing so after 13 years in the garage my Valver is going to be back on the road soon,
I got it fixed up and through an MOT, a service and Cam Belt change is imminent, wheels are about to be refurbed
but I need new Tires. Do you guys have an recommendations as 185/55/R15 aren't as common as 25 years ago
and I don't want to put on naff ones designed for a Kia Rio.

Also any South East London/Kent Body shop shout outs would be cool as there are some rust items to fix
and hopefully only minor resprays, however I could consider a full Naples Red respray if I really want to do it right.

Finally any advice on getting the little red airbag battery light to stop flashing?

Cheers
Muzza1

 

[Martin_172]

where's the pics?! You cant post a title like that and then not show any pics!!!

 

[ajracer]

Christ this is better than Indiana Jones opening the Ark!
Photos would be terrific.

 

[Muzza1uk]

Evening all, glad to see the life in the old girl yet, he she is going of to the garage shortly before lockdown.

Any idea on Tires, also gotta sort out insurance, guess its a classic now!

 

[Martin_172]

i dont own a valver but assume you can fit 195/50/15 on those wheels? set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3 would do lovely on it! Tyre performance has come on a lot in the last 20 years so it would transform a valver!

Thats lovely BTW! interested if it goes up for sale lol

 

[182.tbv]

If 185/55 is standard fitment then I’m sure 195/50 would be fine - I did the exact same thing on my previous car as 195/50 is far more common (and cheaper!)

 

[DomP182]

i dont own a valver but assume you can fit 195/50/15 on those wheels? set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3 would do lovely on it! Tyre performance has come on a lot in the last 20 years so it would transform a valver!

Thats lovely BTW! interested if it goes up for sale lol

I always had 195 50 15 on my Valver, they were significantly cheaper and back then far more choice.

 

[Muzza1uk]

Afternoon all, I've ordered 195/50 Pilot Sport 3's all round as the options at 185/55 were bog standard and as we know more expensive.
Will be a few weeks at Lepsons getting a refurb, then it's tax, insurance and on the road.

I've got to then decide on the bodywork and interior, I've got a mate who's starting up a new detailing business in Essex so will
grab some advice from him especially on the latter.

I suppose the easiest (and cheapest) way to get rid of the airbag battery light would be to replace the wheel !

I'll put some pics up when I get the keys back.

 

[Pegasaurus Rex]

Please do, would love to see a thread around you recommissioning the car!

 

[Ash J]

Would love to see a thread on this.

So you've essentially owned this for 25 years (you said 6 months from new)?

 

[Muzza1uk]

It wouldn't be an enormous thread Rusty as most if not all of the work is being done by my friends at TwoTechs Dartford,
he thinks he got the last steering column at Renault! I've kept it totally stock, part replacements have been OEM.

Yes Ash, I bought the car when I was in my mid twenties from Renault Croydon, it was 6 months old and ex employee
and it ran beautifully until it failed too many MOT items in 2009, it was spend a grand back then to get it through and
not see any back on re-sale or buy something else. I chose to put it in the garage and bought a TT V6 planning on making
it a track car, now I'm glad I didn't. Looking at dealers that have spung up in the last few years that specialise in 80/90's cars
I hope to get back now what I'm putting in should I sell it on, it's a shame the Williams takes all the plaudits, suppose this the
1.6 GTI 205 to the 1.9! What made up my mind was doing a race day at Brands last year, as well as the usual Astons, Lambos, etc
they had 3 hot hatches, the aforementioned 1.9 205, a Mk2 Golf GTI and a clio 200 sport. I blasted round in the Pug and Clio
and it stirred up the juices, went to show you didn't need 500 bhp to have fun.

 

[Darren S]

I really wish you well with this. Long term ownership with a car starts to get into that foggy-area where sense and reason no longer apply and the expense you kind of shrug your shoulders at!

I really don’t think I could ever part with mine now. That’s not to say that I wouldn’t have another car alongside - but to scrap the 182 because it needed some attention would be highly unlikely. I’d rather store it than scrap it, should it ever come to that.

I don’t see may 1*2s in the roads these days - so your Valver is a very rare sight indeed. 😎

 

[Muzza1uk]

Ok, not long to go now, just a Cam Belt change and new Radiator and she'll be back on the Road
after that it will be about assessing the Rust and potential body work required.

I'm still looking for a way of fixing the Airbag light on the wheel over and above a piece of black tape,
a recommended body shop for my repairs and paint work. Finally and suggestions for Power upgrade
I've searched here and other threads but not many Valvers have activity anymore.

Pics when she's back on the road soon.

Cheers
Muzza1

 

[yeecup]

I owned a white m plate valver from new back in 2005, owned it for 5 years and loved it. mod wise there really isn't much that's worth while tbh without spending huge amounts of money. i had a full magnex exhaust and decat, air filter and had it lowered, it sounded great but performance gains if any weren't noticeable only the noise. I then moved on to a Williams 3 which was a big improvement on the valver, should never of sold it. good luck with getting yours back on the road, naples is a lovely colour for them. I preferred the turbine alloy wheels as well on these.

 

[Cookson]

Naples, mmmmmm. I miss mine (rose tinted glassed)

 

[Greeny.]

Love a valver, miss my old phase 1 apart from the interior 🙃

 

[Coops Mk1]

Naples, mmmmmm. I miss mine (rose tinted glassed)

View attachment 1490812

Still don't regret killing that rotten ugly ass pos

 

[Cookson]

Still don't regret killing that rotten ugly ass pos

And mincing around with the plate spaced properly too. You're a fuckin MONSTER.