Clio 172 Project

So the car went into the garage to have the cam and aux belts changed along with all the tentioners/idlers.  Done in a day and for a bargain price too.  Picked the car and up and straight away I’ve noticed that the idle is better.  Drove it home but it was rush hour so no chance to really test the car out.  On the way I got stuck for a minute or so and noticed a slight wisp of smoke/steam rise up from the end of the bonnet, checked the temp gauge and it was reading fine and as I was close to home I carried on.  Got home and disaster, the header tank is empty .  Stuck my head under the front bumper and the n/s of the subframe is piss wet through but it was getting dark so I left it alone.

Next morning I removed the front bumper, with the “help” of my Dad, and tried to see where the leak was coming from…but I couldn’t see fuck all yet water started slowly dripping from the bottom of the rad once up to temp.  So I gave up, rang the garage and they managed to squeeze the car in “this week”.  So I quickly rebuilt the front end, topped up the header tank and slowly drove it back down to his garage and there it will stay until fixed.  Turning out to be a really cheap month.

In better news though the nice people at Opie Oils, especially Guy, kindly arranged a group buy on ClioSport for 5l of Silkolene PRO S 5w-40 Ester Oil for a bargain price.  I ordered 6l so I could add it to my pile of service bits and still have some to top up with once done.  Just two days later and it’s here already!  Amazing service.

So just the air filter…actually no just the air filter and air box to go as I discovered some chav cunt has kindly drilled the fuck out the bottom of mine and then I can do most of the service.  Then as long as I get a problem free month in April I can order my exhaust (WOOHOO) and then brake discs and pads.  But April is already looking expensive as I need two new tyres for the back, it’s MOT time on the 14th and it’s ISTS show as well which I need to buy a helmet for too.

Spend, spend, spend!

Sent the car into the garage for the replacement of it’s o/s CV following it deciding that it no longer wanted to stay in place or keep the grease where it should be.

An hour and £50 later the jobs a goodun. I could of done the job myself, but for £50 why would I? I fucking HATE doing CV boots and hate even more the horrible grease.

Unfortunately though the aux belt has started making a shit load of noise and has moved over on the alternator pulley or was never fitted correctly in the first place plus it’s due to be replaced anyway. So it’s booked in on the 16th for new cam and aux belts along with all the tensioners, cam isn’t due till next year but the aux belt has to come off to do it anyway so might as well get both done at the same time. £520…but it’s better to pay that than buy/repair the whole engine.

In other news I’ve had a load of deliveries recently, nothing all that exciting. Engine cover bolts and washers, silver bulbs, engine cover replacement sticker and most of my service kit (genuine Renault pollen, oil and fuel filter).

I still need to get an ITG Profilter air errm filter, NGK PFR6E-10 spark plugs and make a decision on what 5W-40 oil I’m going to go for, currently thinking it will be Silkoline PRO S though.  Think I’ll be leaving the service until after Internatioal Styling and Tuning Show (ISTS) in April though as I’m doing a track session there so it will no doubt need it after that anyway.

However next month is MOT time.  So I’ll be getting two new Toyo T1-Rs fitted to the rears just in case the scuffing causes me any problems there and unfortunately I’ll have to put up with another month with the chav Powerflow exhaust as thanks to two companies screwing me over this month with hidden charges or fucking up my direct debit payment I’ve had to pay out a lot for stuff I wasn’t expecting.    Wank.  Just have to hope that I pass the dB tests at Donnington, it’s a loud day though so fingers cross it will be fine.

Once everything has calmed down and the exhaust has FINALLY been sorted then I’m going to uprate the brakes.  They don’t really need it as it stops on a 5p as it is, but as I’ll be doing a few track sessions this year I’d rather know they were up to the job.  Not going for anything rediculous just some Brembo High Carbon (HC) discs and Ferodo DS-2500 brake pads at the front, then standard 172 jobbies at the rear, braided hoses all round and some Castrol Responce Dot 4 brake fluid.

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 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.