Just wanted to start a build thread for my Mk3 Clio, its got the 1.2 TCE 100 engine (same as in the Twingo GT), will be looking to initially sort some handling mods and a few subtle tweaks but will be looking to get the engine remapped after doing a few bolt on mods and upgraded the fuel system.
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do it well worth it, they seem to respond quite well. Get some pics up too
Will get some photos up soon, its a 57 plate Dynamique SX in black so has the stock front splitter, side skirts and spoiler running on 16s, I have just dropped it off to a garage for a timing belt, water pump, tensioner and aux belt change, the car is on 89k miles and I can't find any history of it being changed so scared its going to snap any second!
First things first is to get everything up to spec, already started a few simply mods such as LED interior lights, new tailored floor mats etc just to make it slightly nicer to be in.
I will also be looking to swap out the airbox (I am declared on insurance to run non standard filters) - will initially take off the restrictive airbox snorkel first though, even if its slightly warmer air going into the turbo, its still being cooled with the intercooler. I am also going to run the recirc valve as vent to atmosphere - been a while since I had a petrol car with a turbo!
New tyres are going on tomorrow, they take 195/50/16s so don't have the best tyre options, plan will be to run these tyres until they need changing and then probably swap to some different alloys - will check to see what common sizes are equivalent.
Future plans will be a few suspension mods, springs and maybe upgraded dampers depending on the condition of the current ones, will then look at upgraded brakes and pads, I am trying to find a short shifter but can't seem to see any options for a non sport mk3.
Will get some photos up soon, the car needs a clean, lots of nice swirl marks from previous owners/garages so will go through and decontaminate the paint, clay then look to paint correct before sealing, might even look at some ceramic coatings as I know black is a faff to keep in top shape - will check to see how many mm of paint/clear I have to play with soon.
Here is my project 'as delivered' its on 90k miles at the moment, have just given it a quick wash, have also clayed and initially hand compounded the bonnet due to the amount of swirls in the paint already (not by me!).
Plan is to go through everything, few initial subtle mods, will look to paint correct then seal the paint at some point, just getting some wax to protect the swirl at the moment until I am ready to look to paint correct.
Plan is to go through everything, few initial subtle mods, will look to paint correct then seal the paint at some point, just getting some wax to protect the swirl at the moment until I am ready to look to paint correct.
looking shiny clean
Its in pretty good nick, although I can see various swirl marks from the previous owners/garage valets/car washes but its a start - I have also blacked out the Renault wheel centre badges and just quickly covered the front badge in black (going to get some vinyl wrap for that I think.
Have just ordered a catch can for the engine bay and remove the restrictive intake snokel from the airbox - will be looking at filter setups soon.
Quick update on the car, not a huge amount has changed, I have swapped out the 'upgraded' Cabasse' system and fitted a Pioneer unit, there are hidden ISO connectors behind the radio, the Cabasse system is slightly odd as the CD changer is in the dash and the head unit is actually under the drivers seat. Just need to run a extended aerial from the stock location to the dash to get radio, but the new unit has USB and AUX etc so I am happy at the moment.
Stock speakers have also been upgraded to coaxial, OEM stock are actually pretty good as the rear is a coax speaker, fronts are components with the cones in the doors and the tweeters on the dash, will be also looking to run a small sub either under the seats or something small in the boot, will also look at adding a few bits of sound deadening in the doors - there are already some from factory.
Another thing I am working on is the intake system, its quite restrictive back there but I have an enclosed carbon canister filter to fit - issue with the Clio is that the stock airbox is behind the battery and the battery has to come out to be able to take the stock airbox out. I have taken it out and have opened up the front face of the stock box (facing the battery) for additional air to the filter which has helped. I will be taking it out again to remove part of the side of the stock airbox away from the engine, its tucked up against the battery so the passenger side of the bay is being shielded from the engine heat.
Running a stock filter the minor mod to the airbox has certainly helped, sounds much better and response has picked up, I have also dropped in a Pipercross panel filter as a comparison, this has improved pickup a bit, sound is fairly similar - worth noting that the same sized filter is used on the RS model so it should have sufficient flow. I don't really like drive by wire engines as I have never found them to be as responsive as cable ones, however the throttle response is now pretty good, even with a turbo in the way!
I also have a Baileys DV26 fitted which I had spare on the shelf from a previous car, sounds great and is starting to clean up the engine bay, stock intake pipe is still there but blanked, I have a catch can to fit at some point when I find a good location and might look at the evap routing, although plan at the moment is to keep the stock airbox setup but mod it slightly - as mentioned the air filter is the same as on the RS so shouldn't cause a flow issue and the turbo inlet is tiny.
I am now looking at exhaust options, think I might go with a cat back system, looking at a single box with a twin tip slightly cut into the rear bumper, should help the turbo breathe a bit better, especially when it gets remapped.
I am also looking at suspension options, think I might go with the -45mm H&R springs although still tempted by the Eibach pro setup as this is my daily - will look to combine this with an upgraded rear ARB which should make quite a difference in handling, also looking at some spacers as it seems the usual thing to do to run some 25mm spacers all round to sort out how 'inboard' the alloys are as stock.
Stock speakers have also been upgraded to coaxial, OEM stock are actually pretty good as the rear is a coax speaker, fronts are components with the cones in the doors and the tweeters on the dash, will be also looking to run a small sub either under the seats or something small in the boot, will also look at adding a few bits of sound deadening in the doors - there are already some from factory.
Another thing I am working on is the intake system, its quite restrictive back there but I have an enclosed carbon canister filter to fit - issue with the Clio is that the stock airbox is behind the battery and the battery has to come out to be able to take the stock airbox out. I have taken it out and have opened up the front face of the stock box (facing the battery) for additional air to the filter which has helped. I will be taking it out again to remove part of the side of the stock airbox away from the engine, its tucked up against the battery so the passenger side of the bay is being shielded from the engine heat.
Running a stock filter the minor mod to the airbox has certainly helped, sounds much better and response has picked up, I have also dropped in a Pipercross panel filter as a comparison, this has improved pickup a bit, sound is fairly similar - worth noting that the same sized filter is used on the RS model so it should have sufficient flow. I don't really like drive by wire engines as I have never found them to be as responsive as cable ones, however the throttle response is now pretty good, even with a turbo in the way!
I also have a Baileys DV26 fitted which I had spare on the shelf from a previous car, sounds great and is starting to clean up the engine bay, stock intake pipe is still there but blanked, I have a catch can to fit at some point when I find a good location and might look at the evap routing, although plan at the moment is to keep the stock airbox setup but mod it slightly - as mentioned the air filter is the same as on the RS so shouldn't cause a flow issue and the turbo inlet is tiny.
I am now looking at exhaust options, think I might go with a cat back system, looking at a single box with a twin tip slightly cut into the rear bumper, should help the turbo breathe a bit better, especially when it gets remapped.
I am also looking at suspension options, think I might go with the -45mm H&R springs although still tempted by the Eibach pro setup as this is my daily - will look to combine this with an upgraded rear ARB which should make quite a difference in handling, also looking at some spacers as it seems the usual thing to do to run some 25mm spacers all round to sort out how 'inboard' the alloys are as stock.
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