131 goes to Mark Fish tomorrow!!!!!

[Marl]

Just thought I would do an update from a myself, a new owner member of a trophy re 131. Picked T up from Wales last Wednesday , first to see did buy! Great price but as always there is a snag, not deliberate by the seller more like the things to do when you get a second hand performance car! On the way home to bucks car was making a bad noise from the back, really bad so speed was kept to 60 max.
Straight to a friends in reading were diagnosed collapsed wheel brg, replaced both sides just in case and a flattened in several places almost brand new rear Goodyear F1?? Anyone had that before?so replaced both rears with pirelli p zeros, nice.
Now the only other thing was the fact that when we tried to drive the car out the garage the battery had given up, the original we think, so a new quality one was fitted and away we go.

Drive from reading to gx was awesome, power and handling in a Hard little package, just what I wanted.
Handl. Grip and noise in large amounts, reminded me of a EVO8MR I had with track day tyres, it really focused the mind when you pressed on just like the trophy.
Tomorrow 131 goes to MarkFish for a professional service and going over by the specialist, can't wait.
Anything that needs doing will be and maybe some extras if the bank allows!!
Keep you posted
Marl

 

[Johnny E]

Ive just fitted Mark Fish springs on mind.... very nice

 

[leeroy]

Do you find them mega firm then the standard ones.

 

[Johnny E]

To be fair they do feel a lot firmer but i havent really had a play in the car yet but im at Angelsey in a couple of weeks

 

[shiftspark]

Mark is a great guy and will sort out anything you need. he has done work on my previous Trophy and my current ph1 sprint car which has his Koni revalved rear shocks on which are worthwhile on either car if you use it on the track.

 

[Marl]

Just an update as 131 returns to it's dry garage.
On getting to Mark fish's both recaro seats decided to play up., recline mechanism and rail front to back stopped working and after taking them out diagnosed broken snagged cables and a broken pawl in the drivers seat base!!!!! bugger!
Replacement parts and fix with many hours labour and now back to new!
Full inspection and service later , oils, brake fluid and various specialist tinkerings and I now have the trophy driving fantastic.

These renaults are truly a work in progress as I am finding out, the inspection uncovered a nr side weeping front Sachsen damper.
I have now booked both in for a refurb at BG's together with new adjusters to match.
So with new shocks I thought I would take mark's advice and am going for the standard konis and Mark fish springs all round!
I just have to remove the fronts and send them off this weekend.
Then mr F will fit all his kit and do a full go set up, can't wait.
I will keep you all informed. Marl

 

[leeroy]

Sounds a plan

Mark advised me yesterday to set the front shocks on 15 clicks and the rear to half a turn and Christ its made me love the car even more.

Gone has the mega stiffness, its a lush car to drive again!

 

[MarcB]

I have Mark Fish springs but i never went for the rear konis.

Is there a huge difference between the rear sachs and rear konis ?

I feel that i wnat to keep all mine the same so heance why i aint changed them but its not to say i wont in the future

 

[shiftspark]

To be fair they do feel a lot firmer but i havent really had a play in the car yet but im at Angelsey in a couple of weeks

Did you get yours set up at demon tweeks Johnny ?

 

[Johnny E]

Yes it's the only place I know who does it in the NW

 

[stormduck]

The rear Koni's make a really nice difference. On the softest setting they're just a bit firmer than the sachs, but turn them up a bit and they go firm, the car feeling the bumps much more. But under heavy braking the rear doesn't rise up like with the sachs, and doesn't push the front around at all. When i carry passengers i turn them to soft, and leave them there, but if i'm out for a spirited drive i turn them one full turn. I like them.

 

[Marl]

Just a question to the knowledgeable ,
1. When people have had their Sachs returned have you also replaced and bushes at the same time????
2. I am also looking at replacing the worn steering wheel with a suede OMP one with boss and horn. The WRC version on varios sites with horn button.
Anyone else got one and any pictures, I know they feel great and look fab any recommendations ?
Marl

 

[stormduck]

It was my outlook that if the dampers had covered enough mileage to be worn, then the bushes have probably seen better days. However, looking at them they didn't seem to be too bad, but i'd decided to try poly bushes. After running poly wishbone and arb bushes for 9months, i find the knocking noises i get from bumps to be a nuisance, and i'll put standard bushes back on in the future. Also, if they need changing in future, you won't need to touch the damper assembly so you won't be wasting any labour money by not changing them now if you see what i mean. The one part to commonly require replacement are the lower ball joints. It's an easy change, and relatively inexpensive.

 

[stormduck]

oh and by the way, you can get the original steering wheel re-trimmed with better quality leather and stitching if you wish to keep the standard feel. Cost approx £170.

 

[Marl]

Cheers storm duck
Where can you get the wheel refurbished?.
Marl

 

[Carbon Chaos]

Hi Marl, Try here for the steering wheel around £125 all in

http://royalsteeringwheels.com/

i have one there at the mo.

 

[Marl]

Help need, just jacking up car to remove Sachs and need to know where apart from the jack rail I can support the car on stands with?
The rail seems quite frail! But I didn't realise the whole side of the bloody car lifts when you jack it?
I just need to know where is safe and will take the weight while the dampers are refurbed.
All the best
Marl

 

[Carbon Chaos]

You can put an axle stand under the front subframe or on the chassis rail,you will need to jack it quite high depending on your stands.

I always use a trolley jack and would never trust the car jack

 

[stormduck]

what i do is to put the jack on the subframe, where a horizontal piece of metal crosses a vertical piece...the vertical piece is where the strength will be in lifting, so there's no chance of bending any horizontal metal...if that makes sense. I use a spot which behind the front wheel, and to gain access i have to be laying on the floor, and push the jack under the car from beneath the door, again difficult to explain in text lol! I jack up one side, put an axle stand in from the front bumper area, lower the car onto the stand, then go to the other side, jack that side up, and put the other axle stand in. The subframe has quite large flat areas of metal which are ideal for jacking/using stands.

oh yes, trolley jack is a must!

 

[Marl]

Cheers guys, good advice dampers both off, cleanup then take springs off and send to b.gs
Question, to anyone who has refurbed, do you get new bolts and nuts for the bottom mount and is it best to get a new top mount, I am keeping to original rubber for now.
Cheers
Marl