Clio Conundrum _ sell or make like new

[Michaeld]

Since last post have had a few other things done on the cosmetic side.

The bumper had been scratched and the headlights were all a bit yellow/faded.






So have replaced both lights and bumper at Renault West under Andy’s stewardship . Then trip to the body shop to get painted and it now looks like new.

And getting a tad carried away also got it detailed after.










Much gleamingness and so much better.

I also thought about putting one of those brake duct pipes in place but seeing as I would have to cut stuff decided against it.

So have a spare one of those kits now if anyone fancies buying one and a spare Ktec Exhaust and decat as well .
Exhaust also quite shiny!






Finally the front number plate holder was a bit cracked and faded so that has also been replaced now.
I believe the expression is “the jobs a root based vegetable.”

So effectively a new engine and gearbox, all the paintwork and panels in top nick ( a couple of chips on front of the bonnet only) - means it must be one of the better Trophy’s out there now !

Only problem is as an inveterate tinkerer running out of things to do now!

Ah well the Mini Cooper Innocenti restore is beckoning.

 

[Titan]

That looks like it turned out great,I'm sure your delighted with the work and the results

 

[Michaeld]

That looks like it turned out great,I'm sure your delighted with the work and the results

Yes I am and was great driving it at the weekend - very frisky

 

[Michaeld]

That looks like it turned out great,I'm sure your delighted with the work and the results

Thanks yes very happy.

 

[Michaeld]

So a bit of an update on recent fixes in the quest and pre Covid was looking for the last things to fix on the car.
These were a new number plate backing (and kept the Renault Sport marking).
One day I got some heavy condensation - checked there was a small rainwater leak into the cabin as one of the drains had blocked up (middle one under the wiper motor) and cat dropped off at Renault West the next day to get that fixed by Andy with the new plate surround
Also on the interior got Andy to fit a new heater facia panel
The old one here had some of the backing peeled off,



New panel (if a little dusty for the moment) clears that up nicely



With a wonky dash and interior light being replaced the bit left is to clean up the seat belts. That will need to be a post Covid task. I think the best way to clean it is as a big bucket with some sort of detergent (any recommendations here) to let it soak in for day.

So interior exterior dealt with , engine gearbox fully rebuilt left only the optimisation as whilst strong at the bottom end it didn’t always feel good once the second cam kicked in... tbc and the last task completed before covid.

 

[hoolio]

By coincidence I did my front seatbelt today. I just undid the bottom bracket pulled it out as far as I could, clamped the belt at the top and coiled it into a bucket with a full measure of Vanish Oxy action crystal white and covered with boiling water. I left for an hour and then went at it with a small scrubbing brush and then rinsed. Pretty much as good as new.

 

[Michaeld]

By coincidence I did my front seatbelt today. I just undid the bottom bracket pulled it out as far as I could, clamped the belt at the top and coiled it into a bucket with a full measure of Vanish Oxy action crystal white and covered with boiling water. I left for an hour and then went at it with a small scrubbing brush and then rinsed. Pretty much as good as new.

Cool Thanks for that I was wondering what to use as the detergent will give that a go.

 

[Michaeld]

Whilst I have been playing with getting the car looking good and original following the engine and box update there was something else needing some attention
The ClioSport Dyno run showed the car whilst good low down was lacking power at the top end especially around the cam switch over point. Something I had felt was the case but this confirmed it.




Power curve all over the shop at the top end



A big disappointment so took the car to see Andy at Renault West. He plugged in the diagnostic tool , changed the cam switch but couldn’t find anything and it still had that top end tightness in my view.

So thought about fitting an updated chip to deal with fueling etc. but then someone suggested Engine Dynamics in Colchester to get it fully mapped. (I have one of those unused if anyone after one)

So spoke to Andy there and got it booked in during the middle of March to have a look at it.

 

[frayz]

So how did it go?

 

[Michaeld]

Will get the graphs and post up details shortly

 

[where.is.lee]

Great work, lots of effort into this little gem. What mileage does it have now?

 

[Michaeld]

So how did it go?

So last few days before lockdown and booked into Engine Dynamics as he was still working and I was one of the last still in my office (which is closer to ED ).
Got up early to drop off the car there and then train back to Liverpool Street, leaving the car there.
Andy at ED stuck it on the dyno and straight away said its running too rich at the top end.


So in his words

“After a few runs alongside Live ECU data logging it came to light that the factory knock sensor was giving out some funny readings and causing corrections inside the ECU (Adding fuel and removing ignition timing) “



I know Andy Cochrane had looked at this with his diagnostic tool previously as a potential cause and we had also put a new sensor on after the rebuild Unfortunately it had not been showing up as a fault when he checked that recently (he left me the print out to show me - see below ).
However the beauty of a rolling road and having load to work with rather than taking data from static environment is you can highlight a broader operating environment and find the problem easier.

Static data apparently shows things fine (below)






Anyway Andy at ED replaced the knock sensor and stuck it back on the dyno.

Immediate massive improvement particularly around cam switch over point!



You can see faintly the line of previous torque and power below.


Anyway we had another chat with the other Andy from Engine Dynamics who said two choices
1. Let him have a good dig around as he thought there were a few other little things to fiddle with and optimise (fuel regulator, injectors etc. ) which would all find a few bhp he thought.
2. Optimise ignition mapping

I went for both and off he went to start with the ignition custom map.

Again a big difference now - nearly 30 bhp after cam switch at 6,200 rpm and a much, much smoother torque curve at the top end and throughout.




Unfortunately Covid stopped fun there as that was the Friday and had to leg it to pick the car up before confinement. So no time to dig into the last little bits and bobs to find perfection.

However from the Clio Sport dyno day 177 bhp is already a decent number for a standard engine and airbox so pretty chuffed with the result. Also low speed running, cold start also improved greatly.

So custom Map very strongly recommended !

Final chart showing before after the switch change and after the engine mapping. Once I have the chance will probably look at going back for the last few tiny changes to optimise.

 

[Michaeld]

Great work, lots of effort into this little gem. What mileage does it have now?

It has 89k now but almost new mechanically given all the work !

 

[frayz]

That’s a great result mate. I really want to get mine to Andy for some timing and maybe have Alex set the timing to group N spec beforehand. Even if just for the added drivability it’s got to be worth it.

 

[Michaeld]

Absolutely agree and in the GreAfter scheme of things not that much money - if done earlier would have saved me a few blind alleyways, other bills

 

[where.is.lee]

those dyno sheets are a vast improvement! Doing the maths if you factor in 15% drivetrain loss (average) your car is now making 208bhp at the crank, not bad for a 15 year old car with a fresh motor.

 

[frayz]

those dyno sheets are a vast improvement! Doing the maths if you factor in 15% drivetrain loss (average) your car is now making 208bhp at the crank, not bad for a 15 year old car with a fresh motor.

Those are calculated bhp figures (Crank), not wheel figures.

 

[where.is.lee]

ahh makes sense! thanks for the clarification.

 

[Michaeld]

Did the seatbelts at last and after years of grubby hands grabbing the belts were a bit yuck





A quick soak for an hour in boiling water and a scrub with nail brush




What a difference




Took a few hours but looks great now.
Running out of things to do now. but Mini Innocenti restore coming up

 

[Cue]

They're like the Forth Bridge, the list never ends...