I still have the ST albeit nearly standard now and in process of being stripped down. Also still have the Micra and currently using all 3 cars.

Bought this on saturday as came up very cheap and thought it would be ideal as a track car;

It started like this -








Upto now I have;

- stripped top of dash
- removed old ICE cables
- LED number plate bulb
- LED sidelights
- aero wipers
- short aerial
- removed redundant alarm system
- painted intake manifold
- boot stripped

Ordered;

- full set of new T1R tyres
- carbon exhaust surround
- new centre cap bolts and tool
- coilovers

Plans are;

- flock dash top, lower section, A pillars
- custom strut brace for rear
- coilovers
- new tyres
- replacement bonnet





Got the rattle cans out and painted the centre cap badges, rear renault badge, interior strips, speaker grills antracite;







Then removed the front fogs and wiring ready to make my custom ducts and also an air feed to the 3.0 V6 airbox




Then meshed up ready for ducting;



Started stripping the boot trim and measured up for rear strut brace;



Rob

 

be a great little car when done.

 

That looks brilliant fun! Is there any difference between this and the 172?

 

It has a rolling road graph for 186bhp but started out as a 172 non cup, hence the xenons and climate control.

Going on rollers shortly as not sure if it is still that power or if parts were removed before I bought it.

Currently running a 3.0 V6 airbox with Hill Power elbow, sound box removed, catback exhaust, still standard cat at present but appears there may be a 4 branch installed - need to get a closer look at this. Decat will be coming as well.

 

Got a Clio 172 ,yself, and taken it on a couple track days and it goes and handles very well. And it's totally standard. You will have fun mate.

 

Thats the plan mate - plenty of fun!

Just booked the car in on saturday for the new tyres to be fitted along with the new drivers side driveshaft.

Also just ordered the following for a full service;

- Goodridge hoses
- Red silicone 8mm HT leads
- Denso twin tip spark plugs
- Renault oil filter
- Renault fuel filter
- ELF Evolution SXR oil

Cant wait to get cracking on this - also trying to sort the coilovers as cant decide between Ktec & Vmaxx

Will be ordered friday at latest as off for 16 days shortly so want to get on with the car then

Rob

 

Rear braces make ZERO difference. I wouldnt waste your time.

As for tyres, i would have gone for Michlin PE2s or PS3s. much better than toyos.

What coilovers have you ordered? Personally, I would go with damp adjustable Koni shocks and Eibach Sportline springs. You need to look into whiteline rear ARBs. For circa Ł150, they are supposed to transform the handling.

Engine cover doesnt need to be on, its extra weight

 

I want the rear brace to mount my camera on

These are the road rims and tyres am on with at present, going for some AD08 or A048 tyres on 15 or 16" Pro Race rims for track. Going to use this car alot more than I did the ST so dont want pure track tyres on all the time.

Coilover wise going for some Ktec Racing ones to start with - this car is a budget fun car so wont be spending mega amounts.

Did look at the Sportline springs but will try these coilovers and see how they get on.

Foglights, additional wiring, secondary alarm, all boot trim is already out. Engine cover will be off once the inlet is sorted and painted nicely

Rob

 

Nice to see you on CS too

 

Yeah joined up after my brother recommended the site

Update again;


- 8mm red silicon ignition leads fitted
- Denso plugs fitted
- Oil & filter changed
- Ktec coilovers ordered
- Renault OSF driveshaft ordered
- Ktec front upper strut brace ordered


Started with the rattle cans again


Engine started in a black/grey metallic along with a red inlet







Front Renault diamond painted anthracite;





How the car sits before the coilovers arrive;








Rob

 

Looks good robbie

 

Looking good!

 

The bonnet which was fitted when I bought it was creased and buckled in places so I have bonned it and replaced it with a better one (this one isnt 100% but alot better than the original);




New driveshaft should be here with my Ktec Coilovers in the next week or so.

Started piecing together the battery relocation kit along with airbox piping - should flow more freely and more importantly get the colder air.

Also received my stainless Goodridge brake lines through in record time from Demon Tweeks

Rob

 

Well got back to a few more deliveries for the Clio;


Ktec coilovers;






Fitted rears and arches cleaned out;






New rear ride height;






Ktec front upper strut brace;





New OSF driveshaft;





Goodridge brake lines;





Positive remote battery terminal for battery in boot, new silicon induction hose;





Only one of a few parts to go from the ST to the Clio;





Streamline Carbon exhaust surround;





Rob

 

Looks good
Next time you have the inlet off its worth porting them as the match between sections is poor, especialy between the inlet and head.

 

Been looking into this - thinking of doing it but what is the best way of doing it and with what tools? Looking at it on the Clio forum at present.

Your Clio is stunning mind matey - used the link you posted about the overload in the boot - thanks for that.

Rob

 

I just marked up around the ports with a marker using the gasket as a guide, the with a burr in the drill took the worst off then finnished with a selection of stones in the dremel.
Ive just bought uprated engine mounts and trying to get topmounts justnow, also got a set of bodies and omex if the guys deal falls through.

 

Nice - moving the V6 airbox for better airflow and chucking it on rollers as it may be mapped already.

Will see if the dremel is still in the garage haha - off for another week and half so trying to do as much as possible. Cheers for the advice much appreciated.

Rob

 

Well fitted what turned out to be the strangest coilovers have had the misfortune of fitting. Seem to be working ok on the car for road use but cant see them staying on the car for long. Ktec coilovers which are the spitting double of the TA Technix I fitted on my brothers Clio 1.2 (Matty1995 on here) except for the camber adjustment which is completely pointless.

When first fitted with the adjustment in the middle the tyres were hitting the strut so have lined it up visually so it appears near straight. Is in tomorrow for alignment at my mates garage once the new driveshaft is fitted.

Will put pics up of the lowered appearance tomorrow as want to clean the car first. Some pics of todays work;

Arches cleaned and coilovers fitted - this was mid clean;



Paint marked top mounts to monitor;



Ktec strut brace fitted;




7 Series BMW power cable with exploding link;



Rob

 

Well today I started cleaning up the exterior of the Clio.

Started with snowfoam before clay baring most of the car and then washing with lambs wool wash mitt before drying with a drying towl. Finished with 1 thick layer of wax - if tomorrow is nice will give it another coat and a layer of Glaze as well.

Pictured here with my brothers Clio - Matty1995 off here;




Nice reflections;









Got the new driveshaft fitted and tracking redone but not happy as car is now knocking when turning left at a decent speed. Straight and right and its fine.

Back tomorrow to get them to checkover everything they did - I raised the suspension and checked everything I could on the drive but nothing found.

Rob

 

nice and tidy i kinda like those little clios my brother had one till the suspension colllapsed , how often do you get down hendon those big old tanks in the background is my old plant

 

Tomorrow will see the car at MB Motorsport in prep for getting the exhaust sorted and investigating the knock from either the new driveshaft being fitted wrong or the top mount being on the way out. I have been under the car and around where I suspect the knocking noise to be and cant find its source so am bringing in my mate to source the problem.

Today I got rid of the useless rear wiper;




And alongside the former beast of my ST;



Rob

 

what are you going to do with your st then? clio looks great! love a flamer
(I'm on cliosport 2)

 

are you seeling the ST then? you had only just got it sorted hadnt you?

like the clio though, keep it up

 

Yeah the ST was at Stage 4 but no matter what I did to it I seemed to get bored to quickly and the nagging feeling I needed a new project eventually won over.

The ST is still here at present but should be gone within a month all being well.

I have used the Clio more in the 2 and abit weeks I have owned it more than the ST has moved in 6 months if I am honest.

Took the ST out tonight - its standard now and my god its awful haha. Dont regret ever starting the ST project and it will be a highlight of my motoring life - in a straight line it was absolutely immense! The noise is my parting memory I think

Rob

Rob

 

Today I have managed to get the Vibratechnics upper engine mount fitted, was an easy enough job and allowed me to paint the upper mount as well;






Test drive showed the knock and rumble has now gone and car feels alot better than the day I bought it coming up to 3 weeks ago.

Will also be sorting the upper gearbox mount from Vibra-Technics - already have the powerflex dogbone upgrade.

This afternoon I have fitted the battery box and fire extinguisher in the boot - the battery wont be ran into the boot straight away but nice to have everything ready for when I pull the interior out and route the cable in. Got the cable from a 7 series BMW but need to remove the exploding link and then can get the crimps sorted to connect this to the remote BMW 3 series positive terminal.




Ignore the current boot paintjob - this was like this when I bought the car but has been scratched alot - will be repainting the boot interior when everything else is in place

Rob

 

I've one of these, well a 1.2 version as an actual cheap runaround, but don't know much about the basic faults they possess. Mines a 2005, but I hear electrical issues is a big thing on them?

 

Its funny you say electrical faults - my brother has a 1.2 55 plate extreme 4 and within 24 hours of buying it, it ended back at the garage and had to have a new ECU fitted.

Then it started running badly and cutting out - found the Lambda was no good and this needed replacing.

Then both ABS rings cracked in half resulting in a big knocking noise when braking - it is all fixed now and runs lovely but was a bad start to a new car.

Other common faults are engine mounts on the 172/182's, ABS rings on any model, electrical faults - accelerator pedal rubbing the wiring, ecu wiring rubbing through, ecu dying.

Touch wood mine is ok

 

Been very busy sorting more parts;


I am not warming to the Ktec Coilovers - so I have sourced a good set of H&R coilovers and the Ktec's will be up for sale.


Also ordered Carbon bullets, Pure Motorsport top mounts and strut brace, replacement rear side bump strip, 182 manifold, Ktec link pipe, all new exhaust gaskets and exhaust hangers, harnesses.






Whilst picking up the manifold and link pipe I also got my hands on a Cup Turini wheel and decided to try it;





Offset is 38.5 and looks spot on compared to the 172 rims;


Cup;



172 rim;



Loads to do, on sourcing the following at present;


- Carbon lorraine pads
- Cup spoiler
- Remap - including pop and bang map (I am a child!)


Rob

 

This is looking great! It looks mint on the Turini!

 

Looks really good mate, i do like the clio colour.

 

Think you might regret the pops and bangs - after 5 minutes of driving lol

 

Sits great after being lowered! What drop is on the H&R's you're getting?

The Turini's are a must, fill the arch so much better than the 172s.

Very nice car pal!

 

H&R's are coilovers as well so will be same height all being well

Turinis will be the road wheels providing I find a full set

Also just secured a set of 15" Pro Race 2 alloys with R888 tyres for dry trackdays and need to source some more 15" alloys and rainsports for wet trackdays

Rob

 

Next update;


Following parts are sitting here waiting for me to have time off work to start work;


- Pure Motorsport Top mounts with matched strut brace
- Rear strut brace
- H&R coilovers
- Bosch Aerotwin wipers
- Battery to boot cables
- Induction kit to be moved


Also got the following tiny bits sorted...


Carbon bullets on the side;





Pro Race 2 alloys with R888 tyres;








Rob

 

yours ids fast becoming not a cheap track car ,really enjoyable to drive i've a 182 cup in racing blue

 

Trying to do a few bits on the car - struggling with time as lost a family member and have another very poorly at present so just trying to keep busy when I can.

Fitted the Pro Race 2 wheels and R888 tyres then took the traditional N111JST reg off and fitted my private plate;




Started adding additional vents for cooling;




Also got a cup spoiler and now have a full set of Cup Turini's including a spare - these are going for refurb in a light anthracite



Rob

 

Todays job list;



- Move battery to boot
- Install BMW remote positive terminal in engine bay
- Make up 5m positive cable
- Make up 1m neutral cable
- Mount ECU horizontally
- Mount V6 airbox straight onto throttle body










Still need to fit the battery securing bar but not using Clio so all is well



Also got some wet Michelin track tyres;








Also sourced a Pro Alloy radiator which is meant to do away with the header tank as well



Rob

 

So I dropped a full set of Turini wheels off at SEM in Sunderland for a full refurb and painted in a custom grey mix;







I also got the Ktec coilovers off along with the Renault top mounts.


In their place was H&R coilovers with Pure Motorsport top mounts and matches strut brace;







I didnt like the closeness of the airbox to the coolant return pipe so moved the airbox again;






Now on sorting the Pro Alloy radiator and need an oil catch can


Rob

 

Clio looks nice and mean on the black wheels and front plate off. Are you gonna run a cold air feed to the air box? Don't know if these suffer like my 206 gti 180 did with heat soak. What is the advantage of running a v6 air box over a Bmc cda air box?