Shed of the week: Rescued Renault 5 Monaco 1988

[Adamthomas73]

Well after a lengthy search or more biding my time I finally managed to pick up a Renault 5 MONACO the 1.7 manual. I use to own 2 of these a few years ago so knew exactly what I wanted and what I was getting myself into! (The Mrs was unexpecting though) transpires that the car I picked up was actually a SOTW shown on PH 5 odd years ago!
So a deal done, £ paid and off on the 400 miles round trip through hurricane Jorge!

[Adamthomas73]

Adamthomas73 said:

Well after a lengthy search or more biding my time I finally managed to pick up a Renault 5 MONACO the 1.7 manual. I use to own 2 of these a few years ago so knew exactly what I wanted and what I was getting myself into! (The Mrs was unexpecting though) transpires that the car I picked up was actually a SOTW shown on PH 5 odd years ago!
So a deal done, £ paid and off on the 400 miles round trip through hurricane Jorge!

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Brilliant. I'm looking forward to this.

[Veeayt]

This engine may be considered large for such a car Great one, enjoy

[RicksAlfas]

Sumptuous seats from memory!

[Adamthomas73]

RicksAlfas said:

Sumptuous seats from memory!

Pretty comfortable and have come up well with a bit of treatment!
Normal bolster issue on the drivers side but I have a spare one I’ve managed to keep hold of for a good few years!

[Adamthomas73]

Veeayt said:

This engine may be considered large for such a car Great one, enjoy

Looking forward to getting the ponies released ! lol
Full straight-through exhaust planned!

[rossub]

Seem to recall it’s a Volvo engine? Or maybe I dreamt it....

[Adamthomas73]

rossub said:

Seem to recall it’s a Volvo engine? Or maybe I dreamt it....

Its used in the Volvo 340 same OHC unit FN2 engine ref

[Adamthomas73]

rossub said:

Seem to recall it’s a Volvo engine? Or maybe I dreamt it....

[Adamthomas73]

Adamthomas73 said:

A bit cleaner now and running idle at about 1k rmp (although currently without sore filter)

[Adamthomas73]

Dejunked and steam cleaned looking a bit cleaner !

[Cambs_Stuart]

What a great find. I love the period interior! Following with interest.

[J4CKO]

We had a GTX, same engine, 90 bhp in not much weight it went nicely but it attracted boy racers when we came to sell as at the time it was the cheapest insurance for the most performance. Was quite quick and had a nice ride, not that reliable, gearbox died.

We had two lads turn up in a pristine mk1 MR2, really pampered, driver of the MR2 being the car guy examining it for his mate, drove it like a complete loon (60 down our road ffs) and scared me witless, I got back and remarked on his MR2 being a nice example, he produced the keys with a flourish and handed them to me, meaning for me to take a look and maybe have a sit in it (was like a shrine inside, proper anal car owner style).

Anyway, I didn't twig and thought he was offering me a spin and my wife said he looked utterly mortified when I sped off in it, I went and battered it senseless for ten minutes and arrived back with it ticking and smelling of hot brakes, clutch and engine

Didnt buy the car though.

Think the engine was shared with the Renault 21 and Volvo 480.

[Cambs_Stuart]

The 480 had a 1.7 Renault engine, both the N/A and turbo versions.

[Teddy Lop]

One of these lives in the shared garaging of a client of mine in Kensington, don't normally car much for renaults but its a delightful time warp oddity of a thing

[Adamthomas73]

Cambs_Stuart said:

The 480 had a 1.7 Renault engine, both the N/A and turbo versions.

The Monaco has a F2N ref 1721 engine same as the 340&360
The F3N 1721 has fuel injection that was used in the 440&460 ford he 400 series also had a turbo version.

[Usget]

Looking forward to seeing the rescue - did you buy from the person who bought the original SOTW? How did it get into such a state?

[Adamthomas73]

Usget said:

Looking forward to seeing the rescue - did you buy from the person who bought the original SOTW? How did it get into such a state?

I think It was sold from them as a project and I got it from a guy who was going to sort it but never did! I’m now the 6th owner.
Only 44k miles and full MOT history up to about 2015.

Issues that I found:
Carb gunked up
No air filter filted
Front brakes rusted and seized
Rear brakes seized
Front bumper mounts rusted
Rear bumper mounts rusted
Jacking points/bottom corner seals need replacing
Radiator fan not working
Exhaust full of holes
1 electric window not working
Rear brake light disconnected
broken choke lever
possible leak in power steering oil store

Lots of major MOT failures so I expect the list was too long to be able to sort!

I have it in my garage and have all the tools or external resources to get it sorted? Also a bit of spare income to get bulk parts! (Also not in a rush, although keen to get it on the road ASAP!)

So far I have:
External Jet washed/clean
Interior fully cleaned and leather treated (musty smells)
removed front and rear bumpers
removed bonnet
stripped the front and rear brakes (waiting for new parts all round)
cleaned up all wish bones and front/rear running gear
changed the cambelt and water pump (lovely tight job)
de-gunked and steam cleaned the engine a couple of time - (hate working on crappy engines!)
stripped off the carb and cleaned through
charged battery
stuck £25 of 97 RON fuel in it.
re-welded 1 rear bumper mount
added satin black clio 16V turbines
re treated all leather
cleaned a few rust patches across the car.
cut old rear box off
replaced choke lever
rear nearside panel broken
nearside side skirt off the car

the car now starts on the key after a few turns and few pumps of the accelerator and hunts a bit before sitting idle at about 1K rpm.

it also moves although no brakes yet!

items coming up:

other rear bumper mount
paint underneath spare wheel area
fit rear bumper
new rear Brembo drum brakes, shoes and pistons (full kit replacement)
New rear shocks (probably GAZ fully adjustable)
rear spline lowering
clean and paint all front suspension arms (wishbone) replace shock (probably GAZ fully adjustable) although just picked up a set of cheap lower GTT springs
front brakes, caliper clean and paint (satin black) , new discs, pads, brakes lines front and rear
front bumper mounts
fit front bumper
change oil and all fluids
Fit pancake type air filter
full power flow exhaust system.

when I can get it moving and stopping safely without anything falling off ill head to the workshop to get the seals professional redone!

[Adamthomas73]

As it sits now!