# 1988 Red R21 Turbo **URL:** \ **Category:** Classic project threads\ **Tags:** turbo, 1988\ **Created:** [May 16, 2022, 11:57am UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687 "2022-05-16T11:57:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Duncan\_Grier](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/duncan_grier/32/195_2.png) [@Duncan\_Grier](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/Duncan_Grier)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 7:28pm UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/61 "2024-04-22T19:28:55Z")
Nice work @DaveL485 was looking a bit grimโ€ฆmuch much better ๐Ÿ‘Œ ---
**Author:** ![MartijnTrophy](https://turborenault.co.uk/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@MartijnTrophy](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/MartijnTrophy)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 8:09am UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/62 "2024-04-23T08:09:30Z")
Great work! What a beautiful car. ---
**Author:** ![clarky\_gtt](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/clarky_gtt/32/380_2.png) [@clarky\_gtt](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/clarky_gtt)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 9:40am UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/63 "2024-04-23T09:40:05Z")
Love this. In the best colour too. iโ€™ll never forget going in a friends when i was 17, felt lightening quick and had a bleed valveโ€ฆso we all know how that ended. probably, still to this day, the most comfortable โ€œsportsโ€ seat Iโ€™ve ever sat in. whats the plan with it once itโ€™s finished Dave? ---
**Author:** ![DaveL485](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/davel485/32/12_2.png) [@DaveL485](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/DaveL485)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 12:33pm UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/64 "2024-04-24T12:33:41Z")
> [@clarky\_gtt](#): > > whats the plan with it once itโ€™s finished Dave? Drive it a little bit, a month or two to ensure reliability, then its going back to the guy I bought it off so he can have a drive in it because I promised I would when I bought it as a jigsaw puzzle, then probably for sale. Theres 2 or 3 people already after it! If I keep it something else would have to go, so, the 220 (no), the V6 (no) or the 9 (also no). ---
**Author:** ![Turbell](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/turbell/32/543_2.png) [@Turbell](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/Turbell)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 4:47pm UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/65 "2024-04-24T16:47:50Z")
Thatโ€™s a lot of work, but a lot of proper sorting. 21T is a car a nearly did buy, never right car at the right time, some salvage ones, some straight ones. Mate was service manager at a Renault dealer bought one off a customer for 500 quid because she had a quote for a new rack when it was only about five years old, I hated him with a passion โ€ฆ Red phase one, just like yours, had a Ti later one which loved motorways, but by then it was getting long in the tooth and steering had a tight spot for some reason so missus wanted shut, nicknamed it The Good Ship 21, 115k on it when it went, jet washed it with some dodgy truck wash and turned it entirely pink onceโ€ฆ ---
**Author:** ![DaveL485](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/davel485/32/12_2.png) [@DaveL485](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/DaveL485)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 6:44pm UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/66 "2024-08-21T18:44:38Z")
Right, now where were we. Throttle linkage fell off (and on investigation fell apart) ![x20240504_185118_RS.webp](https://turborenault.co.uk/uploads/default/original/3X/1/f/1ff95a5e207509d070b09717272a3b379476c905.webp) So had to make a new one ![x20240511_182910_RS.webp](https://turborenault.co.uk/uploads/default/original/3X/0/8/086aa9435b6d29bca6957fe30a1b31dad2bb9a3a.webp) ![x20240511_182914_RS.webp](https://turborenault.co.uk/uploads/default/original/3X/b/e/be072b21eeb0fa49abd105e0a4aed22d1e774a19.webp) Then after that I got the horn sorted, the wash/wipe and washer jets working properly (after driving to frigging Manchester to get a spare washer jet!) and then I did a short test drive up the street. Seemed OK but boost was very slow to come in and also found a water leak from the bottom hose. SO Fixed the water leak and tightened the actuator up, went for a slightly longer test drive. Engine is really nice and picking up boost as it should now. BUT Iโ€™m not very happy with the gearbox, it crunches into third and theres a funny whine on decel in 2nd. So now thats going to have to come out for a rebuild! Fucks sake. ---
**Author:** ![andybond](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/andybond/32/13_2.png) [@andybond](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/andybond)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2024, 10:00pm UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/67 "2024-08-21T22:00:53Z")
> [@DaveL485](#): > > third and theres a funny whine on decel in 2nd. So now thats going to have to come out for a rebuild! Worth throwing in a bit of molyslip to get you going? ---
**Author:** ![Brigsy](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/brigsy/32/43_2.png) [@Brigsy](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/Brigsy)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 8:13am UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/68 "2024-08-22T08:13:21Z")
> [@andybond](#): > > Worth throwing in a bit of molyslip to get you going? Snake oil. The syncro is done if its crunching going into 3rd. ---
**Author:** ![DaveL485](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/davel485/32/12_2.png) [@DaveL485](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/DaveL485)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 9:36am UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/69 "2024-08-22T09:36:28Z")
> [@andybond](#): > > Worth throwing in a bit of molyslip to get you going? Nah especially given the extent of the work done on the car it doesnt feel right shoving shite in there. Besides the 3rd gear synchro is so bad theres no hiding it sadly. ---
**Author:** ![andybond](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/andybond/32/13_2.png) [@andybond](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/andybond)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 2:34pm UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/70 "2024-08-22T14:34:37Z")
> [@Brigsy](#): > > Snake oil. The syncro is done if its crunching going into 3rd. Bailed me out on a VW box before and shut it up. Take your point on the syncro though ---
**Author:** ![Renaldo](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/renaldo/32/1712_2.png) [@Renaldo](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/Renaldo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2024, 6:24am UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/71 "2024-08-23T06:24:14Z")
Fantastic amount of great work completed on this car now ๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿ‘ The gearbox concern is a shame, but rebuilding the box is going to make this car 100% ๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿปโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐Ÿ‘Œ I have heard driving these cars hard shifting up from 2nd into 3rd and back down again for the next roundabout can be quite addictive-maybe this is the cause?๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚ Look forward to further updates ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ™Œ ---
**Author:** ![DaveL485](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/davel485/32/12_2.png) [@DaveL485](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/DaveL485)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2024, 11:44am UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/72 "2024-09-02T11:44:55Z")
> [@Renaldo](#): > > Fantastic amount of great work completed on this car now ๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿ‘ > The gearbox concern is a shame, but rebuilding the box is going to make this car 100% ๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿปโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐Ÿ‘Œ > I have heard driving these cars hard shifting up from 2nd into 3rd and back down again for the next roundabout can be quite addictive-maybe this is the cause?๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚ > Look forward to further updates ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ™Œ Synchro death is just people being assholes with the shifting - flat shift or beating the synchro. Treat the box with a bit of respect and itโ€™ll last an age. Gearbox is out and away for rebuild already, went for the full treatment including blasted casings. ![Messenger_creation_2E737612-8E6C-44AF-9F05-C8154D80A80D.webp](https://turborenault.co.uk/uploads/default/original/3X/5/c/5c0c7462fb4aef3a653ab2ec2c0c30686ff4b2ca.webp) ---
**Author:** ![Renaldo](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/renaldo/32/1712_2.png) [@Renaldo](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/Renaldo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2024, 1:01pm UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/73 "2024-09-02T13:01:03Z")
I think these gearboxes are generally a strong box. Glad the box is out and away for a rebuild, didnโ€™t expect anything less than a full treatment! ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿ‘ Will this include all the synchros being changed? Should compliment the car nicely with the casing blasting ๐Ÿ‘€๐Ÿ˜€ ---
**Author:** ![DaveL485](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/davel485/32/12_2.png) [@DaveL485](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/DaveL485)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2024, 2:26pm UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/74 "2024-09-02T14:26:10Z")
> [@Renaldo](#): > > Will this include all the synchros being changed? Only what it needs. Likely itll be a used good 3rd gear one, I can get new but iโ€™d have to buy the 3rd, 4th and 5th gear rings as a set. The guy doing it is a retired UN1 specialist, he made a living off these things for many years mainly on the GT40 & kitcar scene and still does the odd one for old contacts out of his home garage now. He has quite a reserve of parts so I think itโ€™ll be OK. I told him to rebuild it and replace anything out of tolerance or worn. ---
**Author:** ![Renaldo](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/renaldo/32/1712_2.png) [@Renaldo](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/Renaldo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2024, 3:52pm UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/75 "2024-09-02T15:52:16Z")
Sounds good, hopefully with his level of experience he will identify what the whine on decel might be? Look forward to some pics of a shiny gearbox and an update when back in car and tested ๐Ÿ‘ ---
**Author:** ![DaveL485](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/davel485/32/12_2.png) [@DaveL485](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/DaveL485)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 2:30pm UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/76 "2024-11-01T14:30:08Z")
Box is back, turns out there was a whole load of issues inside with mismatched gearsets - whoever rebuilt it didnt really do it very well! Now reassembled with a lower final drive and a longer 5th gear from a R25V6 Turbo ๐Ÿ™‚ Managed to get it in place and bolted in on the engine and box mounts, hoping to have it all reassembled this weekend. ![x20241027_150727_RS.webp](https://turborenault.co.uk/uploads/default/original/3X/2/b/2b56cc5b969e258cd4b77be0923c13a453d8afd2.webp) ![x20241027_150744_RS.webp](https://turborenault.co.uk/uploads/default/original/3X/1/e/1edd594a728a39137a58abde79f41c323d055328.webp) ![x20241027_150735_RS.webp](https://turborenault.co.uk/uploads/default/original/3X/1/d/1d39cf9dd2898b26ba424d9dc4f78e386dfc967c.webp) ![x20241027_161304_RS.webp](https://turborenault.co.uk/uploads/default/original/3X/a/1/a12dac145e203403cc122121f109b3519ac59be7.webp) ![x20241027_161313_RS.webp](https://turborenault.co.uk/uploads/default/original/3X/f/e/fe057258ad992c4bdeaab9aeefde97863d194e70.webp) ---
**Author:** ![Renaldo](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/renaldo/32/1712_2.png) [@Renaldo](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/Renaldo)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 6:35pm UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/77 "2024-11-01T18:35:52Z")
Gearbox looks great and compliments the rest of the car ๐Ÿ‘ ---
**Author:** ![clarky\_gtt](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/clarky_gtt/32/380_2.png) [@clarky\_gtt](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/clarky_gtt)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2024, 8:48am UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/78 "2024-11-02T08:48:38Z")
I really Really want this car. But I donโ€™t know enough about them to look after it. ---
**Author:** ![DaveL485](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/davel485/32/12_2.png) [@DaveL485](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/DaveL485)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 12:09pm UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/79 "2024-11-04T12:09:15Z")
Got it all bolted back together at the weekend, filled with oil, fired it up while on ramps to check it was OK. No second gear. Absolutely fuming. ---
**Author:** ![DaveL485](https://turborenault.co.uk/user_avatar/turborenault.co.uk/davel485/32/12_2.png) [@DaveL485](https://turborenault.co.uk/u/DaveL485)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2024, 12:09pm UTC](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687/80 "2024-11-04T12:09:29Z")
> [@clarky\_gtt](#): > > I really Really want this car. But I donโ€™t know enough about them to look after it. If you can run a 5 you can run a 21. [Previous page](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687.md?page=3) [Next page](https://turborenault.co.uk/t/1988-red-r21-turbo/59687.md?page=5)