Clio The last thing I needed was another project car...

[DaveL485]

Nice bit of kit , looks well in your garage, but may be better on track , good work

I have other stuff for beasting around the track, this thing is for cruising and posing. Part of the reason I justified buying it to myself was the residual value/investment so it will be taken care of and not rallied around like the 21 or 197.

 

[Larsson7]

Donuts Dave!

 

[Andyquadra]

Donuts Dave!

yes he is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DaveL485]

We only got time to do a cursory geo because i had chance to send it off for a full underbody prep and underseal including having all the sills checked and fixed for historic badly jacked damage - one of those "i can do it today for cash if you OK it now" things...I guess he had a cancelled spot as usually I have to book months in advance. I picked it up after work on Thursday and took it home and then redid the front grille and put the new naughty number plates on Friday morning while I was working from home (tsk!)

 

[DaveL485]

I taxed it at 3pm Friday afternoon and made the call on whether it was going to Blyton for the ClioSport festival.

So.... what do ya think?

 

[Larsson7]

Good work sir she looks great.

 

[Duncan Grier]

Looks epic Dave well done getting back together in time

Afraid not a fan on number plate style mind but I’m getting old and grumpy lol. Don’t get me started on people tinting front windows and my view of it lol

 

[Duncan Grier]

Needs that rear spoiler as std IMO wheels are very nice

 

[Brigsy]

Looks awesome with fresh paint and the wheels are bang on. The black and silver plates look turd though, totally wrong style for the era of the car. Get them off for a fresh set of plates before you get stiffed with a £100 fine. A nice fitted plate to the front recess will look miles better

 

[DaveL485]

I think the plates look great so you can all sod off LOL

 

[Ricardo]

Totally illegal plates fit for pre 1972 only. A nice set of period dealer plates would set it off a treat, you've spent all that money on it to fit those on.

 

[DaveL485]

Totally illegal plates fit for pre 1972 only. A nice set of period dealer plates would set it off a treat, you've spent all that money on it to fit those on.

I have a set of normal ones in the car, theyre mounted with super strong velcro so I can change any time.

 

[DaveL485]

Cleaned it.

 

[DaveL485]

The Clifford on the car loves to scoff the battery. At best I get 2 weeks before it drains it flat, common trait for em it seems as my 172 was the same. I have a trickle charger but the battery sits under the front luggage liner and removing that every time I wanna hook it up is a pain. The charger came with crocodile clips and ring terminals though so I fished the ring terminals out, chopped it up and extended the cables so I could route it all and fitted it to the car so I can plug the charger in easily. I need to mount the plug properly somewhere but at least connecting it is considerably easier now.

 

[DaveL485]

I also fitted my brand new Sabelt wheel, which is very nice indeed.

 

[DaveL485]

Service time, oil, filter, air filter, plugs, fuel filter. Normally an hours work but with a massive scrap with the oil filter that some bonehead fitted WAY too tight and having to remove the inlet manifold top section to access the rear bank this was more 4-5 hours.
Also chucked two sets of camber bolts on it and my rough wheels so I can go get it properly geo'd - we were struggling to get the alignment rig on the wheels without damage last time and the cambers need a tweak due to the play in the upright/ stub axle joints at all four corners. Only a degree or so but these are really sensitive to it. Even with the bolts in set to a 'finger in the air' bit of negative its already improved the feel loads.







I didn't take many pics as I was busy fighting with the shit access lol

 

[Duncan Grier]

Oooh the satisfying feeling of dirty old service parts changed

Welcome to the working blind pita limited access of mid engineed cars and associated pains leaning in lol

 

[DaveL485]

Refitted the badges



Took it out Sunday to Silverstone, in the colder weather its running far too cold on engine temp so I ordered a new thermostat. I drove Cov>Redditch>Silverstone>Cov, and though spirited, it did over forty quid in fuel probably as it wasnt getting off the cold map of the ECU a lot of the time. No doubt it'll be a complete ass-hat to fit in the deep dark depths of that engine bay!

 

[DaveL485]

New thermostat Saturday morning. Fiddly bugger, not helped by me not taking the engine covers off save the bits that come out with the dzus clips.

Future warning for other owners, the back seal on the stat is integral to the setup and as the stat opens and shuts it slides in and out of that seal. You could not replace it with tiger seal or goop, and the stat needs to slide its body within that seal to work properly. It does not come with the stat itself and it's NLA at Renault (9616838180), grab yourself a spare now from Citroen (p/n 1340 42 available from Citroen dealers for £1 as it WILL need replacing at some point. I've ordered myself another one now I know it fits, to keep in my cubby hole of obsolete parts



Here is a video of how the stat opens and closes so you see what I mean - the shiny metal body slides in the seal.

 

[DaveL485]

A friend offered to detail it for me, cost half what I would consider a fair rate so rude not to.