Clio 172 Project

As part of my massive monthly spending spree, more on that later, I got hold of an RS Tuner unit second hand, a licence and a new Eee PC 1000H netbook to use with it.

I’d read all of the rave reviews about how this little box of tricks changes the whole feel of the car, I was still sceptical though.  But I thought fuck it, I can always try it and sell it on if it was shit.  I’m glad to say though everything I read was true.

The car now idles a lot smoother, the rev limit has increased to 7,800 RPM and the shift light has moved up the range with it too.  But most importantly is the effect it has had on driving the car, it’s always pulled well but now WOW.  It will pull strongly all the way through the revs to redline and doesn’t feel like it’s running out of steam at any point, although a side effect of that is that the 5k “kick” has now lessened…but I can live with that for the better acceleration.

Most people that post their performance Analyzer graphs show substantial differences in the before and after…mine don’t lol.  Dunno if I did something wrong or what but quite frankly they are bullshit.  But thankfully I don’t need a graph to tell me that the car has much got more torque (no it’s not a plural Mr Clarkson you annoying cunt) and accelerates better through the range.  But just for those that want to see what they look like…

So all in all I’d highly recommend people give it a whirl, if you’re around the East Midlands way and just want to change the map on your car instead of buying your own unit drop me a comment with your email address and I’ll sort something out with you.

Anyway other things since my last update, as I’ve been really fucking lazy in keeping this upto date recently.

Brakes

The car is now running new discs and pads all round, along with braided lines and ATE Super Blue Racing brake fluid. I opted for the highly recommended Brembo High Carbon (HC) discs on the front from GSF (part number R60139), cheapest I could find them and the Super Blue, and Ferodo DS2500 racing brake pads from Fred at BTM Performance.  At the back I’m running OEM Renault discs, including bearings and ABS rings pressed, and pads from the local stealers, that did me a blinding deal on them TBH.  Lastly I got a full set of Exact braided lines from Kam Racing, not the best of fits TBH as I had to file out all the holes that the lines feed through.

Towing eye

As the OEM towing eye for my car was bent, bad tow in the past I’d assume, I decided to go down the Clio Cup Racer style and grabbed one of these from a lad on ClioSport.  The quality of it is mint and the fit perfect, just had to tap out the towing hole as it was full of nearly nine years worth of shit.  Saves me having to fuck about when I finally get back out on the track.

Carbon splitter

Spotted this K-tec carbon splitter going for cheap on ClioSport, brand new and never fitted.  So snapped it up and then quickly got it fitted.  As it’s for a Ph2 the fits not perfect and I had to fuck about with it a bit, but now it’s on it looks mint and finishes off the front end…although I now live in fear of kerbs/speedbumps/rabbits/large pebbles lol.

PTFE Gaskets

In a bid to cool down the inlet temperature I grabbed a set of PTFE gaskets from, once again, a lad on ClioSport.  The OEM gaskets, at least under the plenum, needed replacing anyway.  Until I get the inlets matched I’ve just fitted the gasket under the plenum for now, but will get the other one on when I need to swap the inlets out.

Other bits

As I’ve got an annoy knocking noise I’ve got a Powerflex polyurethane Dog Bone mount bushes kit to go on along with a set of  Compbrake Solid Top Mounts.  I’ve also just ordered a set of Eibach Sportlines which I’m waiting to take delivery of, but unfortunately Eibach are having problems manufacturing the rear springs at the minute so I’m having to wait.   Hopefully be here soon and then this little lot will go on.

So another post and the same list, just updated.

DONE – Silvervision bulbs
Pioneer DEH-P6/7000UB
Pioneer TS-SW1241D Sub, Pioneer UD-SW125S box & amp
DONE – ITG Panel Filter
DONE – Xenons
ORDERED Eibach Sportline lowering springs (-30mm)
DONE – KTR Stealth Exhaust System
DONE – Brakes
DONE RS Tuner
DONE (partially) PTFE gasket kit
Matched Inlets
Pioneer TS-Q131C uprated front speakers

Maybes
DONE KTR carbon front splitter
Oil cooler
182 Manifold & sports cat
Toad Ai606 alarm/immobiliser
172 Ph2 bump strips & bullets
172 Ph2 rear bumper
Silicone Hose kit
Recaro “Trendline” reclining bucket seats
Cat Cams 428s

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The nice people at K-Tec turned my order around really quickly and so I nipped down to a garage on Saturday morning to get my Stealth exhaust system fitted.  An hour later and my god what a difference!

No more does my car sound like Concorde on take-off whilst idling, no more does it sounds like I’m trying to race everything else when just pulling off the lights and no more does it have so big fucking chav pipe sticking out the back.  Happy days.

It’s not 100% stealth, but it can’t be seen by a car following and sounds perfect.  I’ll let it settle in and then see if I can adjust it a little bit more to get it slightly higher and because the centre section has sagged already and needs raising.

Before and after fitting. The Stealth isn’t coked up or even run in, in this video so the sound has since changed a lot (I’ll update the video again when I can be arsed). The white smoke you see on kick up in the Stealth video is from the plastic bags which hold the sound deadening, it burns off and the sound deadening expands, and the oil used during manufacture of the exhaust…so nowt to worry about.

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So after discovering that the SHIT tyres fitted by one of the pikies before me were bald on the inner edge I went back off to Blackcircles and ordered another two Toyo Proxes T1-Rs and this time chose a different tyre fitter, after the last fucking joke of a company.  I called down there nice and early and after just 30 minutes the tyres were fitted and balanced and I was on my way.

Still need to get the car tracked up properly, but that can now wait till next month because this month I’ve spunked  my hard earned, finally, on a new exhaust!  WOOHOO CHAV WANKFLOW BE GONE!  lol

Gone for the K-tec Racing Stealth cat back system and thanks to the people at K-tec it should be here by Friday.  So I’m booked in to a garage on Saturday morning to get it and new centre and rear exhaust hangers fitted and I can’t fucking wait!  Obviously it will take a 1000 miles or so to coke up properly but I’m off to the slums of the North on Saturday afternoon, so that will help it along the way.  Plus I’ve got the replacement bumper to fit once it’s fitted. 

Updates to come at the weekend.

XOXO

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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.

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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.

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