5 GT Turbo Big Steve's - Raider

[gordini stu]

What a cracking little car , and every now and then showing her off , keep up the good work . The 11 will get the same treatment I hope .

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Pulled my beloved Raider out of the garage today to give it a bit of loving, don't want her to think I'm just lavishing my time on the Clio and 11 of late. Had to clear all the CRAP off the car, before I could pull it out of the garage:

Thankfully, when it came out, she didn't look as though she's picked up any damage!

So I then gave her a clean, before removing all the Willy Wheels, changing the brake fluid, and then fitting the Raider wheels. Sorry that the final picture of the Raider wheels isn't there... the bloody camera battery died!! FFS!!


Next task it to drop the coolant, and change that, then whilst I'm at it, I'll change the oil also.

Thanks for reading

 

[GTTurbo]

Awesome Steve

 

[andybond]

We need somewhere for the BSF ( Big Steve Fleet ) to attend this year

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

We need somewhere for the BSF ( Big Steve Fleet ) to attend this year

Tell me about it!! To be honest @andybond I’ve warmed to the idea of just meeting up at a campsite somewhere together when this is all opened up a bit more.. the challenge will be to get 4* cars there...!?

*Can’t count the 11 yet...

 

[DaveL485]

So I then gave her a clean, before removing all the Willy Wheels

HOW VERY DARE YOU. Put them back on. Now. I demand it!

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Next task it to drop the coolant, and change that, then whilst I'm at it, I'll change the oil also.

I did just that last night, and then started it up afterwards. She purred like a little kitten , and rewarded me by magically turning the Alarm LED back on...? Think she was indeed feeling a little unloved and has a touch of the Christine about her..

Taking her out for a drive this bank holiday weekend with @Millie_Bee somewhere with a picnic and a full tank of fuel!! Lets see where we end up?!

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

1st August 1990, my Raider was first registered on the UK Roads by its dealer in Colchester, that was 30 years ago today...!!

So I pulled the old girl out, and gave her a 30th Birthday celebration today, and took some pictures of my Clio 182 that was first Taxed today under my ownership:



Today was a good day..

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Nipped out to a French car meet at Stoney Cove last night in the old Raider for something to do on a Warm-ish Wednesday evening..
Gave the car a quick wash

Then topped up with go-go-juice:

Before a rather fun drive across to Leicestershire, picking up dinner en-route.
Chippy Tea in the car-park

Then a chat with fellow like minded Renault Heads including fellow TR member @Mark in his Lovley Fuego Turbo:




Before another great drive home on deserted roads

I still love driving this little car, and re-affirm my trust in it every-time I do.

She’s certainly ready for Retro Rides Gathering 2021 in a few weeks!!

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Signed up to go to the Losange Passion International show near Paris on 1st October 2022, so today I started to get stuck into the prep to get the Raider all MOT’d and ready to take on a Euro Jolly!!

My MOT tester had told me that the rear brake load compensator had been leaking on the car, so I got the rear all jacked up ready for work to begin:

Sure enough it was leaking pretty badly:

so I pulled out my new one I’d bought:

The it was a case of fighting with the bloody thing to get it off!! (One of the fixing bolts wanted to round off, so the old Mole Grips came into action)
I also managed to round off one of the brake like fittings, so made up a new one, as I’ve got all the gear:

The new brake compensator was soon on:

I’ve now put the whole car on axle stands, so I can get to all the brake callipers and change the brake fluid.

Gave all the bleed nipples a little chat with my buzz gun, and they soon loosened off.. (gone are the days now of hanging off them with a spanner, I find I can get them out very easily With the impact gun on a low setting)

Now just ordered myself some:

• Stainless bleed nipples
• Brake Fluid
• New Front calliper hangers (one of them is a bit loose, and causes a “CLUNK”

Lots of stuff to do!!

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Whilst waiting for all the bits & pieces I need for the brakes, I was wondering what else I could do this evening…


Yep, I took the Shonky Apple CarPlay head unit out of the Clio 182, and tried it for size in the Raider.

VERY PLEASED with how it turned out!! Really nice & easy to see, and much better than in the Clio.

I know it’s not OEM or period correct… but it does everything I want of it, so it’s staying.

 

[andybond]

Love that. Looks like it fits well

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Love that. Looks like it fits well

Yeah it fits and looks loads better in the 5 than it does in the Clio. Got plans for a high powered upgrade to the Clio…

 

[Duncan Grier]

I do like that a lot @Big Steve - Raider, now get the background to have a picture of your car or renault, GT turbo etc etc

What is the different driver side electric window button(s) assume some one touch full open/close thing???

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

What is the different driver side electric window button(s) assume some one touch full open/close thing???

Yes sir! It’s a one touch button from the Renault 19 model. Works a treat, and would sit flush if I wanted to dremel out the aperture a little… but I don’t… so it’s going to sit proud.

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Another couple of hours squeezed in tonight.

Brake fluid flushed out and changed for a new batch of Motul RBF660 Dot 4 Racing brake fluid. Totally over the top stuff I know, but run it in both Clio’s, so figure I might as well just stick with it.

Also fitted a new UK Numberplate in the old font I picked up ready for the Euro Jolly:

These photos really show the MUCK all over the car…

Waiting for a few more bits & pieces before I take it off the jack stands.

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Replaced the front brake calliper carriers quickly tonight before I turned the car round in the garage ready for a couple of days of work this weekend:


My MOT tester had told me that they were worn and causing the CLUNK when I was pulling away… I had my doubts… but sure enough, it fixed the issue!!!

Delighted!!

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Turned the car round to take a good look at the engine bay this weekend:

Inter cooler, airbox and boost hoses removed:

Nothing found really…?

• Slight oil weep at Oil Cooler/Rad connection (nipped up)
• Gearbox oil dropped and replaced to ensure there’s enough in there (No doubt lost a load thanks to the old JB gearshift seal leak)
• Underneath of engine degreased and cleaned with a heavy dose of brake cleaner (see bullet point 2!)
• Engine bay given a wipe over & re-assembled:

The edges of a lot of points are starting to look a little crusty under there and not as minty fresh as she did some time ago…. Think I’ve just found my next rebuild project…. Again!!

Going to see about getting an MOT booked in this week.

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Gave the old Raider wheels a Pikey DIY polish up today whilst I had the car up on the jacks.

Was just a case of freeing up the front axle, then running the car in 4th gear whilst rubbing it over with my favourite 4inch grinder polishing pad.

Couple of minutes, and they soon came up!

Difficult to really see the difference in a photo, but it’ll look great when it’s all back together:

Thanks for having a look in!

 

[andybond]

Shouldn’t be too hard now you have done most of the legwork on the car to fring it back to out of the factory fresh, right?