Clio 172 Project

Well ok it’s not drastic.  The CV boot as I thought has gone, don’t think it’s split though just the circlip has come off, the boots slid back and then grease and spunked everywhere.  So it’s going in next Saturday, I’m too lazy to do it myself and it’s a fucking annoying job lol, to the garage in Ilkeston  to get it sorted.  Once it’s done I’ll grab some AutoGlym Engine and Machine Cleaner and get to work on the arches, might as well do them all, to clean them up and remove the CV grease from the o/s/f.

Also got a bargain on a replacement rear bumper from Daniel on ClioSport so once the new exhaust has arrived and been fitted, won’t be this month now due to an unexpected bill, I’ll get that fitted too.  It’s got a few small imperfections such as light scratches in the laquer and a few tiny bits down to the plastic.  So I’ll see how it comes up after a good wash and polish today and if it needs a spray I’ll take it somewhere local to get done, probably end up doing the prep myself though depending on the quotes they give.

Some pictures of the replacement rear bumper before, during and after a good wash and polish.  Took most of the light scratches out TBH, but I’ll still probably get it resprayed at some point along with the front for that minty fresh look.

O HAI Mr Bee!

Also got some replacement engine cover bolts and washers coming from davo172 on ClioSport which I’ll use with my other engine cover when I get around to spraying it, probably this month depending on my cash.  Hmmm just thought I need a replacement 2.0 16v sticker for the engine cover too…

This month though it’s Cam and Aux belt replacement.  Big expense, but it will give me peace of mind and it’s cheaper than replacing 16 bent valves!

Well after yesterdays disaster with my camera I spent about an hour sorting it out and thankfully it’s now working again how it should.

Decided to go out this morning and get a load of new cleaning products, all autoglym stuff for now, and give the 172 it’s first bath – seeing as I got it muddy yesterday.  Nowt exciting, rinsed it down first, soaped it down with AG Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner, dried it off loosely with a microfibre cloth, cheated and used AG Aquawax, dressed the tyres and cleaned the glass in and out.  Thrilling huh?

Anyway here are the results:

All in all I’m still pleased with it, but did notice some grease on the o/s/f wheel so I’m going to get it jacked up and checked out next week in case a CV boot has split, but it maybe old grease left behind from a split boot of old.

Ok so it’s probably not the best comparison in the world as for a start this is from a Mk2 Ph2 172 Cup and secondly as it’s stripped out and also sounds like the window is down…but still it sounds a shit load better IMHO.

And then a drive by, being ragged.

Grabbed a couple of (shit) pictures this morning seeing as the sun was out.

So there you go lol.

Not the best but I was having issues with my camera.

Anyway I went down to Dyno Tech and ran the 172 on their rolling road.  Had no expectations for the power except that it would be less than the 168bhp (172hp/ps) claimed at standard.

Would of taken pictures of it on the rollers but as my camera didn’t want to play nicely I couldn’t be bothered.  So yeah it’s got some bhp and torque lol.

Finally I made a quick video on my Crackberry to show the gashness of the exhaust currently fitted, well ok it’s not that bad but it’s not for me.

Well ok it’s actually been here since 17 February 2009, but I was far too knackered when I got back to do anything and far too lazy yesterday to do anything. And well I’ve only just thought now so this will be quick.

Headed up with my Mum on the 12:45 train from Nottingham to Manchester Oxford Road on Tuesday. Made a connection at Oxford Rd for Leeds and then finally a fucking jam packed rush hour commuter filled last train from Leeds to Skipton, which had the world most fucking ANNOY woman on it. Pissed up and telling the train about how her and her mate had been made redundant and how she was bring her mate how for her brother to fuck. Her mate looked like she wanted to smash the window to escape the stupid bitch lol. Anyway got to Skipton at 18:01, so more than five hours of fucking traveling.

The sellers Dad had kindly offered to pick us up from the station and of we went to complete the sale. Handed over the cash and scribbled on a few bits of paper. Then we set off. This is when I discovered that my sat nav fucking sucks ass. The “fastest” route turned out to take us right up into the fucking dales and along single car country roads IN FUCKING THICK FOG. Then we dropped down through Huddersfield, into Brighouse and finally after about an hour and a fucking half hit the motorway. So that heap of shit is getting thrown in the bin.

All in all though the car performed brilliantly, didn’t miss a beat and got us home with no problems at 21:30. Well except fucking headaches from the wank, chav and stupidly loud Powerflow exhaust currently fitted.

So it’s going into a local specialist that works on my families cars to have the cam belt, aux belt and tensioners replaced and to just check the water pump over in case that needs replaced (doubt it will though). Neither of the belts currently need replacing, originally thought the aux belt was overdue, but for peace of mind I’m going to get them done now anyway. And as I’ve sold my van, in 29 minutes of advertising it lol, I’m also going to order a K-Tec Stealth mk2 exhaust and get it fitted. Although I am waiting for one of the K-Tec bods to post a video of their new mild steel “quiet” version including a comparison with the original stainless mk2 so I can decide on noise levels…but I think stainless will win in the end.

Also I’m off to get the car rolling roaded at Dyno Tech in Ripley so I can see what sort of figures I’ve got to play with, they have also been good enough as to allow me to tack on to the end of the ST Drivers rolling road day as I missed the ClioSport one last weekend, as I didn’t own the car lol, for the same price I would of paid.  So I’m well impressed with that.  I’m not expecting anything near the 172 hp (168bhp) claims but we shall see what happens.

Took it out for a proper spin tonight and it’s awesome.  The torque is immense and the kick at 5k when the VVT comes in is addictive.  Did scare myself a little when I went to go past some prick in a hackney cab doing 30 in a 60, floored it in third and turned the wheel slighty…revs shot up and the car twitched and the fucked off.  Just need to get used to having a car which handles like a go kart.  Fun, fun, fun!

Still no pictures yet, but I’ll get some at the weekend probably whilst I’m waiting for the Ford boys to do their thing.  Meant to be a Mustang rolling after me too

Anyway I’m fucked and I’ve got to be up at 05:30, so that’s me done.