My Clio 172 Track Bitch
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My Clio 172 Track Bitch
Thought I may aswell do a thread on PF about my track toy - I know a few of you have already seen it at a couple of track days so I thought I'd explain what I've done to it & what plans I have for it.
I bought it like this approximately a year ago......much cheapness too...Cat D write off.
First things first - time to strip it of anything unwanted...
Then I took it to my mate to fixup for me as he had a jig. It needed a new slam panel, new front panel, replacement subframe, new headlight and a slight tug on both chassis legs to straighten them up (hence the reason I decided to turn it into a track toy). It already came with a new bumper, wing & radiator which was handy.
See the crease in the chassis rail...
All fixed up (yes the new panels are a different colour of silver...couldnt be arsed having them painted - might do at a later stage though!!)
Once back from my mates bodyshop I needed to get it ready for its first trackday & MOT - so I fitted an ITG air filter I had lying around, front strut brace, bonnet pins...
....Cobra bucket seats & 2" harnesses..
...Silenced De-Cat pipe & Stainless Magnex Exhaust system with Oval outlet, new number plates....
I also fitted a rear strut brace & Alpine MP3 headunit - cant find pics though!!
She sailed through her MOT - I got her taxed & insured...£400 for the year.
I did my first trackday in her at Christmas last year at Donnington which passed without a hitch. Nothing more was done to it. I then did Bedford in Jan this year where I had my first couple of breakages....namely brake pads, discs & a driveshaft - nothing too major considering the abuse it took!
So a few more upgrades where purchased...
Eibach Springs, Braided Brake Lines, Grooved Discs & Carbon Lorriane Pads...
I sourced a 2nd hand driveshaft & filled the gearbox with Silkolene Pro Fully Synthetic Oil - we where now all ready for the Donington Track Day at the end of February.
After 3 sessions at Donington & the clutch gave up. Fortunately it wasnt that bad that I couldnt drive home on it. I was a little pissed off admittedly but thought well sod it - shit happens & it maybe a good time to upgrade a few parts. For the record the clutch material on one side had sheared from the plate & detached itself - a common fault I believe but it had lasted 50k so not all bad really.
Now this is where things start to go way out of control & the budget cheap track toy starts getting a bit serious & expensive!!!
I removed the engine & box together and instead of just replacing the clutch with a standard item I decided to go with a 4 paddle clutch. I also sent my gearbox away for an overhaul & to have a Gripper Diff LSD fitted into it. Now this took over 5 months to get back so I started buying other bits & pieces as I was bored.
New set of wheels...Compomotive 6 Spoke 16"
Jenvey Throttle Bodies..
Also purchased but I havent got pics of them yet...
3" Harnesses (to replace the skinny 2" efforts), new camera mount, rear camber shims, 182 Manifold & de-cat pipe, aftermarket management - Adaptronic, throttle body airfilter, throttle cable & throttle pedal off an early 172, powerflex dog bone mount, fire extinguisher, coilovers (should the lad ever get in contact with me), 300mm Sparco steering wheel & hub, 15" cut slicks, oil pressure & temp gauge.
Then whilst I waited for the gearbox to come home I relocated the battery into the boot..
Whilst the engine was out I also replaced the cambelt, turns out it didnt actually need doing as it had been done fairly recently as the belt was mint but least its piece of mind. I also ditched the air con pump & made a couple of bodge adjustments to the aux belt by way of a modded cosworth alternator bracket, MR2 1400mm 6 rib belt, Saab idler pulley & a 172 non air con alternator..
This brings us upto this weekends activities - engine & box is now back in place & up & running after a bit of stress getting it started due to me forgetting to re-attach the main ECU earth....anyway....
...the quip fetish has started....
Oil Cooler...
Breather...
Modded decat pipe to meet the 172 exhaust system...
More updates as & when they happen...not fitting the throttle bodies till after Christmas now as I want to do another couple of track days before the end of the year & I dont want anymore holdups!!!
I bought it like this approximately a year ago......much cheapness too...Cat D write off.
First things first - time to strip it of anything unwanted...
Then I took it to my mate to fixup for me as he had a jig. It needed a new slam panel, new front panel, replacement subframe, new headlight and a slight tug on both chassis legs to straighten them up (hence the reason I decided to turn it into a track toy). It already came with a new bumper, wing & radiator which was handy.
See the crease in the chassis rail...
All fixed up (yes the new panels are a different colour of silver...couldnt be arsed having them painted - might do at a later stage though!!)
Once back from my mates bodyshop I needed to get it ready for its first trackday & MOT - so I fitted an ITG air filter I had lying around, front strut brace, bonnet pins...
....Cobra bucket seats & 2" harnesses..
...Silenced De-Cat pipe & Stainless Magnex Exhaust system with Oval outlet, new number plates....
I also fitted a rear strut brace & Alpine MP3 headunit - cant find pics though!!
She sailed through her MOT - I got her taxed & insured...£400 for the year.
I did my first trackday in her at Christmas last year at Donnington which passed without a hitch. Nothing more was done to it. I then did Bedford in Jan this year where I had my first couple of breakages....namely brake pads, discs & a driveshaft - nothing too major considering the abuse it took!
So a few more upgrades where purchased...
Eibach Springs, Braided Brake Lines, Grooved Discs & Carbon Lorriane Pads...
I sourced a 2nd hand driveshaft & filled the gearbox with Silkolene Pro Fully Synthetic Oil - we where now all ready for the Donington Track Day at the end of February.
After 3 sessions at Donington & the clutch gave up. Fortunately it wasnt that bad that I couldnt drive home on it. I was a little pissed off admittedly but thought well sod it - shit happens & it maybe a good time to upgrade a few parts. For the record the clutch material on one side had sheared from the plate & detached itself - a common fault I believe but it had lasted 50k so not all bad really.
Now this is where things start to go way out of control & the budget cheap track toy starts getting a bit serious & expensive!!!
I removed the engine & box together and instead of just replacing the clutch with a standard item I decided to go with a 4 paddle clutch. I also sent my gearbox away for an overhaul & to have a Gripper Diff LSD fitted into it. Now this took over 5 months to get back so I started buying other bits & pieces as I was bored.
New set of wheels...Compomotive 6 Spoke 16"
Jenvey Throttle Bodies..
Also purchased but I havent got pics of them yet...
3" Harnesses (to replace the skinny 2" efforts), new camera mount, rear camber shims, 182 Manifold & de-cat pipe, aftermarket management - Adaptronic, throttle body airfilter, throttle cable & throttle pedal off an early 172, powerflex dog bone mount, fire extinguisher, coilovers (should the lad ever get in contact with me), 300mm Sparco steering wheel & hub, 15" cut slicks, oil pressure & temp gauge.
Then whilst I waited for the gearbox to come home I relocated the battery into the boot..
Whilst the engine was out I also replaced the cambelt, turns out it didnt actually need doing as it had been done fairly recently as the belt was mint but least its piece of mind. I also ditched the air con pump & made a couple of bodge adjustments to the aux belt by way of a modded cosworth alternator bracket, MR2 1400mm 6 rib belt, Saab idler pulley & a 172 non air con alternator..
This brings us upto this weekends activities - engine & box is now back in place & up & running after a bit of stress getting it started due to me forgetting to re-attach the main ECU earth....anyway....
...the quip fetish has started....
Oil Cooler...
Breather...
Modded decat pipe to meet the 172 exhaust system...
More updates as & when they happen...not fitting the throttle bodies till after Christmas now as I want to do another couple of track days before the end of the year & I dont want anymore holdups!!!
Last edited by Lee_R21Turbo; 25-08-2008 at 08:13 PM.
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Sold interior, spare wheel, headunit & cd changer, drivers Xenon headlight plus other odds & sods so made back about £300 by doing that.
Subframe cost me £70 used, slam panel & front crossmember was £80 ish, headlights say £60 for arguments sake. My mate didnt charge me anything for doing the work....yet...well I sort out his computer stuff & never charge him so give & take thing.
Seats & harnesses cost me £100 off fleabay - after all you need seats! lol
So it stood me at roughly £2000 before I started modding & going off the rails.
Jacko....please mate would be interested to see it.
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Roughly mate yes, at least double, I couldnt find anything of its age in normal condition, on the same milage for anything less than around £4500 - ok its been recorded as Cat D but well the only thing that gives it away is the crease in the chassis rail that you cant see normally as the gearbox mount covers it...very cheap really - out the box they are a crackin car for track use - only downside is the slight lack of grunt for the straights (although the corner speed you can carry especially on slicks more than makes up for this most of the time) which the throttle bodies should sort to a certain extent.
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Roughly mate yes, at least double, I couldnt find anything of its age in normal condition, on the same milage for anything less than around £4500 - ok its been recorded as Cat D but well the only thing that gives it away is the crease in the chassis rail that you cant see normally as the gearbox mount covers it...very cheap really - out the box they are a crackin car for track use - only downside is the slight lack of grunt for the straights (although the corner speed you can carry especially on slicks more than makes up for this most of the time) which the throttle bodies should sort to a certain extent.
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I seriously cant fault it mate - I did Croft in JCs 172 Clio last year, which made me buy one to be honest. Apparently I was lapping approx 1-2 seconds off Si B in his EVO & Ste_RW in his M3 - unfortunately I was unable to do Croft this year as my gearbox still wasnt back from having the Gripper fitted. I think Mr Rainbird was quite impressed with how it went at Bedford aswell - I had a good tussle with Charlie in his Cupra R & we were very evenly matched!!
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Theres a guy that usually does Dono whenever I'm there, hes got a modded Williams 3, cage, coilys etc - before I started modding we were very evenly matched lap after lap - I'm now hoping after the money & effort I've put into it I should be able to gain on him now!
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Euan, you'll love it, Went out with Lee a few times at donno xmas last year, was a good passneger ride, Even the grass cutting
I drove my mates the other day and was in it for about an hour, and loved it, handle well for a standard car
With a few mods, I'd imagine there top fun
Nice one on doing the thread, will watch this Lee
I drove my mates the other day and was in it for about an hour, and loved it, handle well for a standard car
With a few mods, I'd imagine there top fun
Nice one on doing the thread, will watch this Lee
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Coool thread and coool car! I didnt think much to these clios until i took one to croft the other month,,, now i'm looking for another to use solely for track use,,, still not sure whether to buy a standard road car and strip it, or go all out and buy a cup car,, thing that puts me off those is that there all LHD
Look forward to more updates
Look forward to more updates
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I know they are been looking at a couple,,, two thing against is that 8k is alot of money sat there when it will prob get used at a guess 10 times a year, also the sequential box although cool, will prob be alot of upkeep,,, whereas i can buy a nice 172 for 3k ish,, strip it out, set of slicks and that'll do... also at 8k i would prob prefer an evo
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Andy_R - the handling probably wasnt all that bad - was probably more my driving!! LOL!
SiB - thanks mate - yes - I'll look forward to it!!
EscyScott - bring it the fuck on pal!! LOL! Hoping to do Mallory yes - want to get it on the road first before booking anything incase summat goes tits up!!
SiB - thanks mate - yes - I'll look forward to it!!
EscyScott - bring it the fuck on pal!! LOL! Hoping to do Mallory yes - want to get it on the road first before booking anything incase summat goes tits up!!
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Jeeeeez!!
I can't believe that was February that we had rapid brake replacement at Bedford in the dark!!!
You'll be pleased to hear Johns box FINALLY came out over the weekend! The poor car has been under cover since the clutch bearing gave up the ghost many months ago
I can't wait for my new & improved passenger ride Lee
I can't believe that was February that we had rapid brake replacement at Bedford in the dark!!!
You'll be pleased to hear Johns box FINALLY came out over the weekend! The poor car has been under cover since the clutch bearing gave up the ghost many months ago
I can't wait for my new & improved passenger ride Lee