Shed money Clio 172
Discussion
Cambs_Stuart said:
Actually, no, given the cost price is fairly close to what i paid for the car!
https://www.kamracing.co.uk/car-tuning/renault/ren...
Getting the 'box rebuilt will probably be in the region of £600, not financially worthwhile. https://www.kamracing.co.uk/car-tuning/renault/ren...
Depends what you want from the car, no better time to do it though.
The track plan will be to have a taster session in the new year and I'll see how i get on. I'm realistic about my driving abilities and i suspect it'll take me a while to get brave enough to reach the abilities of a standard 172.
If i ever get to the point where i feel the car is holding me back, I'll see what i can do.
As part of that I'm keeping an eye on the cliosport.net for sale board for some part worn track tyres and wheels. I've seen a few sets come up for £200-£300.
But brakes will be adressed as well.
If i ever get to the point where i feel the car is holding me back, I'll see what i can do.
As part of that I'm keeping an eye on the cliosport.net for sale board for some part worn track tyres and wheels. I've seen a few sets come up for £200-£300.
But brakes will be adressed as well.
Some feedback from AW. There is not too much wrong with the car, apart from the gearbox. Although i was lucky to get away with this on the rad hose:
The gearbox is toast. 3rd gear synchro dead and damage to gear. 4th gear worn, and bearings damaged by swarf. Alex is costing replacing all that vs cost of a refurb box.
The gearbox is toast. 3rd gear synchro dead and damage to gear. 4th gear worn, and bearings damaged by swarf. Alex is costing replacing all that vs cost of a refurb box.
While I've been waiting for Alex at AW to receive a refurbished gearbox and get the clio back on the road, I've also been scouring cliosport, ebay, Facebook marketplace and gumtree for wheels at a good price in the right size, pcd, and offset, and finally found this set of Oz F1s, with almost new (still with the paint marks) toyo proxes, in a very distinctive shade of blue.
These will do for track tyres. I'm aware they're not the strongest wheel in the world, so I'll get them checked for balance and shape when my normal car goes in for tyres in January.
These will do for track tyres. I'm aware they're not the strongest wheel in the world, so I'll get them checked for balance and shape when my normal car goes in for tyres in January.
Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Tuesday 17th December 08:19
Right then. I've got the clio back and had a really fun drive back through the essex countryside. This little car is such a hoot to chuck about.
The bill from AW was large, but worth it. I've got a new clutch, refurbished gearbox, new brake fluid and it turns out one of the gearbox mount lugs was snapped so that's also been fixed.
It still squeaks, knocks and rattles but I'm glad its back. Now to get on with the rest of the to do list....
The bill from AW was large, but worth it. I've got a new clutch, refurbished gearbox, new brake fluid and it turns out one of the gearbox mount lugs was snapped so that's also been fixed.
It still squeaks, knocks and rattles but I'm glad its back. Now to get on with the rest of the to do list....
One of the many rattles sorted.
There was a clunk coming from the back. The clamp holding the exhaust together was oriented so it was vey close to the rear subframe.
So I've moved that.
Plus the center exhaust mount (which i'd replaced not that long ago) was looking stretched, so that got swapped for a proper renault item.
The lesson is, don't buy cheap exhaust mounts from ebay!
Then as i had the tools out, i replaced the cabin filter and cleaned a load of leaves out of the scuttle. The cabin filter wasn't that bad, which ties up with the good service history the car came with.
There was a clunk coming from the back. The clamp holding the exhaust together was oriented so it was vey close to the rear subframe.
So I've moved that.
Plus the center exhaust mount (which i'd replaced not that long ago) was looking stretched, so that got swapped for a proper renault item.
The lesson is, don't buy cheap exhaust mounts from ebay!
Then as i had the tools out, i replaced the cabin filter and cleaned a load of leaves out of the scuttle. The cabin filter wasn't that bad, which ties up with the good service history the car came with.
LordHaveMurci said:
Will check my exhaust bracket as I also have a noise coming from the back somewhere.
Exhaust hangers are notoriously rubbish, replaced mine with Powerflex last time.
Never changed my cabin filter in 10yrs, is it an easy job?
Really easy. One trim clip in the scuttle, on the drivers side corner. Pull back the rubber strip on top on the bulk head then pull the scuttle panel towards the front of the car until its loose, then lift it up. One 6mm bolt holds the cabin filter box closed. It's a few minutes, max. But I'd recommend youve got a replacement trim clip as they can't always be reused. Exhaust hangers are notoriously rubbish, replaced mine with Powerflex last time.
Never changed my cabin filter in 10yrs, is it an easy job?
A quick update.
The refurbished gearbox AW fitted had an occasional crunch into 5th, so Alex stripped it, and replaced the 5th gear selector ring and now it's a peach.
While I was there i has some powerflex steering rack bushes fitted as there was some movement in the old ones. I'd recommend this to any clio owners out there. Less than £100 and its really tightened up the steering.
I've also ticked a job off the to do list. The high level brake light wasn't working. At some point the clio has had a cup spoiler fitted and the high level brake light for these is now discontinued, so I've had to do a fair bit of ebay trawling to find a new one.
Anyway, 6 torx screws hold the spoiler on, plus the connector to the light and the rear window washer.
Usually the connector corrodes, but the old one looked fine.
But once it was back together and connected it lit up just as Renault intended.
Nice easy, satisfying job.
The refurbished gearbox AW fitted had an occasional crunch into 5th, so Alex stripped it, and replaced the 5th gear selector ring and now it's a peach.
While I was there i has some powerflex steering rack bushes fitted as there was some movement in the old ones. I'd recommend this to any clio owners out there. Less than £100 and its really tightened up the steering.
I've also ticked a job off the to do list. The high level brake light wasn't working. At some point the clio has had a cup spoiler fitted and the high level brake light for these is now discontinued, so I've had to do a fair bit of ebay trawling to find a new one.
Anyway, 6 torx screws hold the spoiler on, plus the connector to the light and the rear window washer.
Usually the connector corrodes, but the old one looked fine.
But once it was back together and connected it lit up just as Renault intended.
Nice easy, satisfying job.
Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Sunday 23 February 12:32
Cambs_Stuart said:
A quick update.
The refurbished gearbox AW fitted had an occasional crunch into 5th, so Alex stripped it, and replaced the 5th gear selector ring and now it's a peach.
While I was there i has some powerflex steering rack bushes fitted as there was some movement in the old ones. I'd recommend this to any clio owners out there. Less than £100 and its really tightened up the steering.
I've also ticked a job off the to do list. The high level brake light wasn't working. At some point the clio has had a cup spoiler fitted and the high level brake light for these is now discontinued, so I've had to do a fair bit if ebay trawling to find a new one.
Anyway, 6 torx screws hold the spoiler on, plus the connector to the light and the rear window washer.
Usually the connector corrodes, but the old one looked fine.
But once it was back together and connected it lit up just as Renault intended.
Nice easy, satisfying job.
Nice update Stu,The refurbished gearbox AW fitted had an occasional crunch into 5th, so Alex stripped it, and replaced the 5th gear selector ring and now it's a peach.
While I was there i has some powerflex steering rack bushes fitted as there was some movement in the old ones. I'd recommend this to any clio owners out there. Less than £100 and its really tightened up the steering.
I've also ticked a job off the to do list. The high level brake light wasn't working. At some point the clio has had a cup spoiler fitted and the high level brake light for these is now discontinued, so I've had to do a fair bit if ebay trawling to find a new one.
Anyway, 6 torx screws hold the spoiler on, plus the connector to the light and the rear window washer.
Usually the connector corrodes, but the old one looked fine.
But once it was back together and connected it lit up just as Renault intended.
Nice easy, satisfying job.
Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Sunday 23 February 12:28
My box also had a shagged 5th gear ring. Hows it driving now and whats next?
It's driving fantastically well. Really tight.
As for what's next? I've finally booked a track session:
So I've been doing a bit of checking.
The brakes have a lot of life left, but I'm tempted to get some mintex M1144's just so i don't end up cooking them too quickly...
As for what's next? I've finally booked a track session:
So I've been doing a bit of checking.
The brakes have a lot of life left, but I'm tempted to get some mintex M1144's just so i don't end up cooking them too quickly...
Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Sunday 23 February 20:54
Another little job off the to do list.
The interior plastics were sticky and looked tatty, even by old french shopping cart standards and the door lock button rattled at various RPM.
I didn't fancy removing the dash to clear this up so i attacked it in situ, with a plastic pan scrubber and some 99.9% purity isopropyl alcohol.
It required a serious amount of elbow grease, but i got there in the end.
A couple of tips if anyone else wants to have a go.
1. Don't scrub too hard or use a scrubber that is too abrasive or you'll remove patches of the blue sparkly paint underneath.
2. Mask off the area you're working on as the IPA can take the shine off the dash.
3. Don't let any switches fall down inside the dash as they're suprisingly trick to retrieve.
While i was there i also replaced the door handles, which I'd previously sprayed black, with the originals that have had the sticky coating removed.
Overall it's definitely smartened up the interior.
Looking at the speakers, they look like the originals, so
I suspect I'll replace those at some point.
The interior plastics were sticky and looked tatty, even by old french shopping cart standards and the door lock button rattled at various RPM.
I didn't fancy removing the dash to clear this up so i attacked it in situ, with a plastic pan scrubber and some 99.9% purity isopropyl alcohol.
It required a serious amount of elbow grease, but i got there in the end.
A couple of tips if anyone else wants to have a go.
1. Don't scrub too hard or use a scrubber that is too abrasive or you'll remove patches of the blue sparkly paint underneath.
2. Mask off the area you're working on as the IPA can take the shine off the dash.
3. Don't let any switches fall down inside the dash as they're suprisingly trick to retrieve.
While i was there i also replaced the door handles, which I'd previously sprayed black, with the originals that have had the sticky coating removed.
Overall it's definitely smartened up the interior.
Looking at the speakers, they look like the originals, so
I suspect I'll replace those at some point.
Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Friday 28th February 12:26
frayz said:
Nice updates Stu, deffo look at a pad upgrade but would probably go with something better than a 1144.
Personally i like the offerings from PFC.
Cheers. Where do you get PFC pads for a clio from? My googling skills are failing me. Personally i like the offerings from PFC.
If these are the ones (and I've contacted the seller) then they looks like a good deal...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324052188423
Edited by Cambs_Stuart on Friday 28th February 13:10
LordHaveMurci said:
Cambs_Stuart said:
Actually, no, given the cost price is fairly close to what i paid for the car!
https://www.kamracing.co.uk/car-tuning/renault/ren...
Getting the 'box rebuilt will probably be in the region of £600, not financially worthwhile. https://www.kamracing.co.uk/car-tuning/renault/ren...
Depends what you want from the car, no better time to do it though.
Edited by Batfink on Friday 28th February 13:44
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