5 GT Turbo Alpine Turbo Project

[Gary]

This is the Alpine that I recently bought from France, not quite what I had expected when I turned up, but having travelled that distance I wasnt going to not bring her home.


When i saw the arches on the car I felt it forced my hand into doing something with it, either convert to rear wheel drive and Turbo 2 replica it, but I not convinced. It has had a body kit fitted which somewhat resembles a Group 2 Thiebes, but again wasn't sure, but further discussion with the previous owner have now revealed that they are actually Simca 1000 rallye arches modified to fit.

I have just completed the Engine re-build, Forged pistons, steel rods, steel end bolts, Sphéroidal cast iron Liners etc, etc. I wanted to bring to a standard that should I convert to rear wheel drive then the engine would fit the bill, but I am not convinced.
Thanks to Adey he has sorted me with a set of Group 2 long wheel arches, but I have also aquired along the way many original Turbo 2 parts Gearbox,Front Wheel Arches Spoiler. and I have also prepared engineering drawings of the rear Chassis Rails, Turrets etc all ready to be plasma cut.
But it is a big undertaking to get it right, wheel hubs etc

I have one original Turbo 1 ex racing car within 6 miles of where I live and an original Turbo 2 standard car within 200m, but have never seen a group 2 renault 5 which is why I'm tempted. If I do go down the group 2 the intention is to blend the arches split the front arch on the spoiler line, paint the whole car in a nice black, place original alpine stickers back on and a set of 7" gott rims?

What is your opinion,

1 Leave along just paint it
2 Put New Group 2 Arches on it with Gotti Rims
3 Convert to Turbo 2 rear wheel drive replica

 

[DaveL485]

1 or 2 would be my options. As nice as it'll be as a T2 replica, you will get SICK of people asking "Is it a real one?" lol

Tough call though. It's got to be whatever your personal preference is, given what your budget allows to be completed to a high standard. Won't do much good sat in the garage in bits for the next five years!

 

[Adey]

groupe 2 arches and gotti rims would be bad ass, get nothing like that over here in the uk

 

[Brigsy]

I would go for the grp 2 arches and gotti rims too. Miles better than a turbo 2 replica

 

[Gary]

I intend to convert the car to a blown turbo, using the gt turbo set up.

Has anyone else here done this coversion , any pointers gladly accepted in particular what turbo to use

Cheers

 

[Gary]

This is a similar conversion

 

[Adey]

I did it about 9 years ago, fuel system is the biggest headache as the return isn't big enough and you need an electric pump, I ran with 2 pumps one as a lift to a swirl pot the a gtt turbo pump from that to the engine. You also need the fuel pressure regulator and an adapter to fit the gtt carb on the manifold. To fit the intercooler you need to run a smaller rad, off a 1.2 I think but check that. I ran with the stock turbo on there, think it was around 160bhp at a bar of boost, plenty quick

 

[Sam Fish]

Group 2 arches and Gotti rims.

I'd always like to go wild on a Mk1 R5: Do something interesting with the suspension so it can handle like a proper race car - coilover conversion with bespoke rear arms... that kind of thing, not limited by regulations.... maybe keep rubber bushings so it is semi-usable on the road.

 

[Adey]

would be awesome, gaz and ast are both capable/willing to make up some custom coilovers

 

[Gary]

would be awesome, gaz and ast are both capable/willing to make up some custom coilovers

My old road rally renault 5, 2.1laguna engine, healthy spec, lightened balanced cam head worked etc , running on a pair of 48 mm bike carbs.
Can't rotate the picture sorry

 

[jimmyturbo]

I love the Alpines,would agree with Gotti rims.

 

[Gary]

Had a good weekend on the alpine , removed the old simca arches and molded bumpers

 

[Gary]

Same with the front, seemed a shame to remove all the good fiberglass and filler work undertaken in France, but it a means to an end, the original wheels finally look as if they fill the arches again!

 

[Gary]

Made a rollover Spit and mounted the car, was pleased with the shell no welding what so ever to do structurally, only to tidy the arches up prior to fitting the groupe 2 arches.
Was going to srengthen the shell but as it is in such good condition, I may only do the seems under the bonnet

 

[Adey]

Nice work

 

[DaveL485]

I need one of those rollover things...

 

[Gary]

http://www.renault-5.net/usa_nuancier.htm


Good link for paint codes

 

[Gary]

began to seam weld the shell

 

[Gary]

Seam welding continues

 

[Gary]

Seam welding alomst complete. Only gussets to the rear inner wheel arches left to do.