Twingo Twingo GT

[Aldo]

On the cars last MOT, it had an advisory for surface rust on the subframe and to be fair it's pretty bad. So my plan is to find a spare subframe, tidy it up and swap it over. Placed an order for new wishbones, ball joints, drop links, tie rods and track rod ends today. Hopefully have it all freshened up for the summer.

Shopping for new tyres too, very tempted to try the Nankang NS2R. AD08R is a contender too. Any opinions?

 

[andybond]

I run the AD08R on a light car like yours. They are great apart from in the cold where they are like mcDonalds trays underneath you .

 

[la21t]

I run the NS2R, I find them marvellous but its horses for courses and very car dependent.

I'm fond of them because they don't try to kill me when wet like the Federal 595s did.

 

[Brigsy]

NS2R are gash in my experience, had more hairy moments in them than any other tyre ive used. The old AD08R used to be spot on, however they have changed the compound now on the AD08RS, not used them yet.

 

[Aldo]

I had a set of the federals on a 182 a few years back, I wasn't overly impressed either.
Waiting on a mate coming back with some prices.

Always been a fan of the Corbeau Clubsports and fancied a set at some point. Had a look the other night and found they have been discontinued! Checked about and found areamotorsport still had some in stock. So I've got a pair coming on friday. Unfortunately, it's the later style with the larger strap holes, I'd have much preferred the original style (similar to the Recaro PP) but couldn't find any for sale.

 

[Aldo]

Scrap that.... company got back to me. Turns out they dont have the seats in stock anymore.

 

[Aldo]

Ended up with a bit of spare time this week. Having to stay off work to look after the little one.

Autodoc delivery came earlier than expected which is ideal and getting 2 AD08RS fitted tomorrow.

Gave inside the arches and the bilsteins a clean up, which then led me to ordering new discs and pads, camber bolts. Then I ended up with the front end off to tidy a couple of bits up. The intercooler chinese paint job was flaking, so it got a freshen up and going to weld in a strengthening bar to where the cooler mounts.




Currently fighting the urge to go down the clio200 with a megane engine road. Been doing a lot of reading the last week...

 

[DaveL485]

Been doing a lot of reading the last week...

Well, I write the how-to thread for a reason.

 

[Aldo]

Got a few hours at the Twingo tonight. When I trimmed the crash bar to fit the intercooler, it left the lower section really flimsy, which is where the intercooler mounts to. So I welded on a bit of angle iron to strengthen it up.

Took the flap disc to the rest of the rusty bits and gave it a coat of hammerite.

Picked up the wheels with the new tyres fitted. Also hopefully got some Mintex 1144 pads and some ATE superblue on route.

 

[Aldo]

Ended up with DS2500 pads as they were a similar price to the mintex. Giving things a clean up and a paint as I go. Dropping the subframe tonight to clean it up for painting. Then build everything back up with the new parts.

Had to chop the ball joint pinch bolts out as they were rotten. They were an odd size, looked like a fine M10 with a 12mm shank. So RPD are sending two new ones out...

Only getting the odd few hours at a time just now so it's slow progress.

 

[Aldo]

Rusty little pig.

Subframe came off without too many dramas but it's in a state. Got a wild wire brush attachment for the grinder that's making light work of the rust though.

Needing two arb bushes and new fasteners since they snapped.

Ideally I'd like another subframe but covid has put a stop to that.

 

[Adey]

nows the time to fit the clio 172 front wishbones and arb

 

[Aldo]

nows the time to fit the clio 172 front wishbones and arb

Does the twingo ball joint fit to the 172 wishbone?

 

[Adey]

Does the twingo ball joint fit to the 172 wishbone?

You know what I cant remember how I did it. I'm pretty sure they do and that's how I did it but I'll look at my old pics when I get to the laptop later on

 

[DaveL485]

Wow thats pretty corroded considering the age of the car!

 

[Aldo]

I was thinking the same. Only thing I can put it down to is that it lived by the sea its whole life until I bought it. AFAIK anyway.

Underside of the shell is okay.

 

[Brigsy]

Crazy rust for a modern Ren. I guess they must have skimped a bit when coating it in the factory, same as the clio mk3 front part of the subframe as they rot for fun.

 

[Aldo]

So I found a pretty bad hole on the subframe, which grew arms and legs...



Made a start on a repair tonight. Hopefully get another few hours at it tomorrow.




I've messaged someone breaking a twingo to see what sort of condition the subframe is in. Keen to replace it now.

 

[Aldo]

Got the repair patch sorted out today. Not the prettiest but seems solid. Itll tide me over until I find a replacement.

 

[Aldo]

This is coming from the Netherlands. Since I'm likely to have the car at least till next year, I might as well sort it properly. Little bit more than I wanted to pay but coming with the body to subframe plates, the wishbone fasteners and ARB is ideal.

Powerflex inner ARB bushes arrived today too.