Mark's Nimbus 197 T Cup

[trackspec197]

So the engine is all together and timed up.
I did forget to order a core plug which I don't remember removing?
The breather and thermostat housing have been fitted but I forgot to take a pic. View attachment 134595 View attachment 134596

Looks good @Mark_L will do mine shortly

 

[Mark_L]

So it's been quite a while since I updated this.
I decided to get it all done for csf2019! Was a tall order as I bought my tickets the day before I fitted the engine.

I worked on it late on the Friday before, got the engine out, flywheel and clutch swapped over and the rebuilt R26 box refitted into the car it was about 2.30am by now, I had modified the shifter too. And managed to get it back on it's wheels.

The Hardest part was converting to the Meg Alloy Rad.

Then I had to make the intercooler.



Piped it all up and refitted the front bumper and liner's etc. Got it all done and first Road test on the Thursday before Csf. Ran it on a 15/40 mineral oil for 500 miles to bed the rings in, contrary to what some people think driving with caution can actually be harmful to a fresh engine. The reason is the rings don't bed in properly, all the race engines we build are run in on the Rollers. So it was driven as it should be. Must admit it put a massive smile on my face driving it again.

Cleaned it on the Friday night ready for an early start Saturday morning.
Arrived at Csf with no issue's apart from a tight gear change. Which turned out to be the selector pin on the top of the gearbox common apparently.


Bought some Ao32's from @Big Ben and found a tidy set of silverstone's local to me.

Done 3.5k miles in it now, replaced the mineral oil with Elf fully synthetic after 500 miles. I have a small oil leak, cam cover I believe as I used wellseal sparingly because of what happened to the last engine. Bought some loctite sealant to sort this and a new oil and filter too.


I also finally fitted my sprint spoiler in satin black,

I have an R27 satin black roof decal to fit and this Arrived in the post today.


Still not sure what colour to do the wheels.

Sorry for such a heavy update but it had to be done.

 

[Jesse James]

Mate this is a very happy day and the update I have waited to see. Congrats on the build. When I sold her to you I was very excited to see the day.

Amazing work.

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[Mark_L]

Mate this is a very happy day and the update I have waited to see. Congrats on the build. When I sold her to you I was very excited to see the day.

Amazing work.

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Thanks Jesse, still have plenty to do.

It's an awesome car though.

 

[Mossy]

Awesome update mate - glad it’s all sorted now

 

[youngarthur]

Very pleased for you, now that its all running.Think what Renault could have done with these if they really tried.

 

[Beany]

Nice to see a lengthy and progressive update..

Any more track time planned in the future

 

[Mark_L]

Nice to see a lengthy and progressive update..

Any more track time planned in the future

Thanks it would be nice to do a track day this year. Fingers crossed..

Very pleased for you, now that its all running.Think what Renault could have done with these if they really tried.

Thanks, it Would've been a great car if Renault produced them, very capable.

 

[Big Ben]

Great update Mark. Kudos for doing it all yourself.

Hopefully we can get a meglio trackday sorted this year

Is that a Renault 19 vent?

 

[Mark_L]

Great update Mark. Kudos for doing it all yourself.

Hopefully we can get a meglio trackday sorted this year

Is that a Renault 19 vent?

Thanks Ben, would be good to get them out together.

No mate it's an evo type was £14, I think on ebay.

 

[Mark_L]

Been a while since I updated this. In short had a core plug pop out on it not long after the build but didn't realise at the time.‍

Got it back up and running but it seemed to get a slight misfire when warm so checked it out and the Head gasket had gone!

So replaced the gasket, had the Head skimmed and new valve guides all for it to last a week.

Went to leave from work to have a horrible rattle???
Stripped it down to find the cams had picked up mainly on the cam cover filling the Hydraulic tappets with Aluminium swarf .

Anyway the car has now been sat since may. Not touched it! Didn't help that I had to put a recon engine in my T5.

But I have been collecting parts.

Carbon Cup spoiler
New Renaultsport front splitter
Pair of the Carbon covers that go on the back of the sills
Cup No. Plate
197 Head and inlets
Engine dynamics T20 turbo
172 cams
Oil cooler kit
R27 roof decal kit
Kw v1 coilovers with adjustable top mounts.

Hopefully over the next couple of months I'll get it stripped and back together.

Then get it up to Chris at Efi to sort out the Map and hopefully actually get to use it....

 

[Jesse James]

Great to see an update mate really can't wait to see this when all is well with the world

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[Mark_L]

So for now, as i wanted to use the car this year, I've bought another engine to drop in whilst I take my time to build the engine.

Got lots of bits to get fitted,
Coilovers,
New front splitter,
Also Got an R26 bulkhead heatshield.
I have it booked on a stand at the Donington Historic, so be good to get it out.

Have trial fitted the Cup spoiler though.


Need to get moved from the bottom of the yard, makes it hard to do anything.

Also the exhaust is annoying me as it doesn't sit right, may even make it slash cut.

 

[Mark_L]

A little update.

Set of kw coilovers fitted with Compbrake top mounts.

New splitter fitted too.



Fitted another engine as a temporary measure.

It did fight me all the way..


But it's all in.

Unfortunately no compression on no.1



Supplier has agreed to sort it for me.

 

[Big Ben]

Testing times on the engine front Mark!
Car looks great now mate. Sitting pretty on them coilies

 

[Mark_L]

Testing times on the engine front Mark!
Car looks great now mate. Sitting pretty on them coilies

Just don't seem to have any luck with it!

Kind if getting used to it now..

It is finally starting to look how I want it to!

 

[suj]

Looks great Mark, glad you kept the 197 front, especially with the splitter!

 

[Jesse James]

It'd looking so good mate, where I woukd hsve wanted it to be.

It I'd a real shame with the engines mate but I am sure you will persevere

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[Mark_L]

Looks great Mark, glad you kept the 197 front, especially with the splitter!

I really do prefer it now, especially with the splitter, makes a massive difference.
The 8x17's sit nicely under the arches now with the camber.
Just need some on the rear now.

 

[Mark_L]

It'd looking so good mate, where I woukd hsve wanted it to be.

It I'd a real shame with the engines mate but I am sure you will persevere

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Must admit I've almost thrown in the Towel a few times.

Getting it together this time has been real hard work but the way it looks now is making me just want to drive it!

Got a black sunstrip with silver Renaultsport for it and possibly an R27 roof decal which I have?