Winter re-spec

[taipan]

Brilliant little mod - but more weight. lol

Ultimately heading towards lexan side windows I think (maybe with a scoop depending on where we decide to route the ITB air from) so was gonna hold off. Fingers crossed heat won't be an issue anyhow.

 

[rapide]

- The PH2 box feels nice to use. The short throw is a big improvement over the ph1!

Really enjoying following this thread, an impressive creation, nicely in line with what I imagine some of the original Renault engineers would have liked to have done.

Quick question... Is a Ph2 box simply a direct replacement in a Ph1 Vee?

I've noticed that the gear boxes themselves aren't actually all that expensive, so it's the kind of upgrade I may consider when I have my cambelt done in a couple of years time. Sorry if the info is contained somewhere in the thread - it's quite long so I could well have missed it

 

[taipan]

Car dropped back to Scott on Saturday for a full brake overhaul: discs, pads, fluids, braided lines etc etc.

The only issue is a sticking rear caliper, but in for a penny in for a pound I say. Brakes are fairly important and these puppies have been on for 13 years now!

Still considering what caliper finish to go for. Apparently the OEM ph1 brakes calipers were black - happy with that - but need to consider what colour the AP Racing etching will be - not a fan of yellow, red, blue or other "loud" colours (irony here! ). Toss up between black, grey and white at mo. Hmmm.

Rear wheel bearings will also be looked at as well as an aircon regas.

Then it's over to RPD with a really rather large shopping list...

 

[taipan]

Quick question... Is a Ph2 box simply a direct replacement in a Ph1 Vee?

Yup, just a straight swap. Certainly worth doing if the engine is out for the cambelt (as is the clutch and flywheel by the way - ph1 clutch is stronger, so I'd opt for that)

Worth keeping hold of your ph1 box and get it stripped, inspected and rebuilt. Will give you an option should the ph2 box ever go pop. :approve:

 

[Ollie1]

I think white etching would go well with the black calipers

 

[rapide]

Quick question... Is a Ph2 box simply a direct replacement in a Ph1 Vee?

Yup, just a straight swap. Certainly worth doing if the engine is out for the cambelt (as is the clutch and flywheel by the way - ph1 clutch is stronger, so I'd opt for that)

Worth keeping hold of your ph1 box and get it stripped, inspected and rebuilt. Will give you an option should the ph2 box ever go pop. :approve:

Just what I wanted to hear [smilie=thanks.gif] This is how collecting car parts starts!

Re calipers, I read on here that Ph1 OEM colour was dark grey / off black (with no logo). I'd stick a white AP one on though personally

 

[taipan]

Having had a look round a ton of ph1s on Saturday the OEM colour was definintely black, though a lighter shade of crackle black. You're right about the logo. Surprising the amount of corrosion and general road crap on each of the ph1 calipers I looked at. Even on some of the garage queens down there, the calipers (like mine!) all looked terrible.

I'm leaning towards grey for the etching. Anything white is too much of a faff to clean I think. lol

 

[matt.v10]

I thought the phase 1 boxes were ok value but the 2's cost more and were difficult to find... anyone know the costs and if renault still sell them?

Car sounds amazing by the way, incredible upgrades, I will re-read the thread through from the beginning when I get a gap. Your descriptions of the car sounds awesome, must be such a great drive. Well done for having the patience to get to this point... :approve:

 

[taipan]

I thought the phase 1 boxes were ok value but the 2's cost more and were difficult to find... anyone know the costs and if renault still sell them?

I was quoted in the region of £2.7k for a Ph2 box. Though that would include Renault warranty (1 year I think) so a year of ragging it and then (hopefully) be able to claim a new one lol

Well done for having the patience to get to this point... :approve:

Cheers Matt. The last month has more than made up for the periods of hassle of the preceding 2 years. Just goes to show that sticking with things no matter how bleak/expensive the outlook is always comes good in the end. :approve:

It's such a great little car to drive now, which I think is mostly down to the weight reduction. It just feels lighter and more agile. Really interested to see what it weighs now.

The power delivery is the other noticeable thing. It just builds and builds and builds. If you catch it off guard - for instance by driving it like an FI car - it can sometimes feel quite flat. But if you stir the gears and keep it above 4.5k it absolutely flies and the sound [smilie=icon_eek.gif] [cmilie=iconcheers.gif]

Anyhow. Enough of my gushings. lol

 

[matt.v10]

Stop talking about it, it can't be that good..... :ihatpcs:

Would absolutly love a ride around the block in it, it could be the mini fire breather (literally and metaphorically) that some of us occasionaly wish the car had always been a bit more like.

Gush away, it sounds mega... [smilie=yay.gif]

 

[taipan]

Stop talking about it, it can't be that good..... :ihatpcs:

:rofl:

Would absolutly love a ride around the block in it, it could be the mini fire breather (literally and metaphorically) that some of us occasionaly wish the car had always been a bit more like.[smilie=yay.gif]

Well put it this way. It passed the me test. That was the simple one: do I like it? Bloody great big tick in that box. Then it passed the harder test: does the wife like it? Another (much harder to earn) tick.

Goes to show the double character the car has now. Normal vee for a pootle pose and a demi-road racer for Sunday mornings.

 

[Lankan]

Seems like you really have the Vee exactly where you want it now Jon. :approve:

Have you decided to leave it Iceberg when the wrap comes off?

Can't wait to see/hear it.............

 

[taipan]

Have you decided to leave it Iceberg when the wrap comes off?

Will definintely not be getting it repainted no. The project has taken on a "demure outside, banzai inside" direction, which I'm pretty happy with.

Am going to leave it wrapped this year I think and do a little winter project reverting back to Iceberg - not as simple as it sounds!

 

[hualpa_jo]

Anything white is too much of a faff to clean I think. lol

Clean the car for hours, take it for a drive and use the brakes one or two times, park it somewhere nice, get out of it and look at how dirty everything is again already :evil: I've done it so many times and I'm about to even regret my OEM coloured wheels. So I strongly recommend dark colours but of course it's all up to you.

 

[taipan]

Clean the car for hours, take it for a drive and use the brakes one or two times, park it somewhere nice, get out of it and look at how dirty everything is again already

When my wheels were black it was brilliant. Just got blacker the more you drove it! No cleaning required! lol Agree though, anything white on a car - espacially in the wheel/brake area - is asking for trouble!

So I strongly recommend dark colours but of course it's all up to you

I decided on matt grey etching in the end. Should all be done in the next couple of weeks. Grey should fit nicely with the Iceberg Silver, when it finally reappears!

 

[hualpa_jo]

I decided on matt grey etching in the end. Should all be done in the next couple of weeks. Grey should fit nicely with the Iceberg Silver, when it finally reappears!

A very good choice in my opinion as long as you are not trying to maintain OEM looks when possible, as I decided to do

 

[taipan]

Rear wheel bearings got a clean bill of health thankfully, but (as expected) rear passenger side caliper was pretty ropey with a failed seal and a very rusty and seized piston.

The overall condition of the calipers and components is pretty poor really with a lot of corrosion and seized parts, so glad I've taken the opportunity to get everything refreshed back to 'as new'. With the braided hoses, new fluid and redstuff pads I think braking performance is going to be hugely improved. [cmilie=iconcheers.gif]

 

[Lankan]

:approve:

Which braided hoses are you planning on using - Goodridge, HEL etc?

Is Scott doing the brake refresh?

 

[taipan]

I've gone for ones KTEC sell. Think they were developed by KTEC. Could be wrong. To be honest I didn't realise there were other options but they're the ones recommended by Scott so that's good enough for me!

And yes, went with Scott for the refresh. The company he subcontracts to worked out to be marginally more expensive than the other quote I got, but paid the extra as Scott has sent a few sets off now and, having seen the results, I was impressed with the finish.

As an aside, he commented on how different the car felt compared with pre-ECU.... lol

 

[Lankan]

Interesting, I did not know that K-TEC had their own braided lines. I think Goodridge are by far the most popular as far as braided (brake) lines are concerned. HEL are trying to catch up............

The brakes in mine may need to be refreshed along with the suspension/dampers, since they are the only things that haven't been refreshed on #002, as yet, so may be its time.

Indeed, I am sure it must feel very different. Look forward to seeing your Vee after all the work is complete :approve: