My 197 for those that dont know.....

Right, some of you may know my car, some may not! Some have asked for a progress thread and some have not, so for those of you that have....



Purchased my Gacier White 197 Cup from Lookers Chester in September 2008. Car was the parts managers ex demo. STD cup spec but also came with aircon, cup spoiler and a Parrot hands free.





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Had the car all of a week and thought, hmm... I fancy an exhaust. So a Miltek full stainless system and de-cat was bought and fitted



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The exhaust sounded amazing and I noticed a good deal more urgency about the car. Whether this was just the placebo effect of it being louder I couldnt say! Next up was the horrible orange zits inside the head/tail lights. A set of Osram Diadems were purchased.



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Attended my 1st ever meet with Renultsport. Took the car round the EVo Triangle with a few like minded petrol heads, 1st time I had really pushed the car and I totally loved it, handling was out of this world, acceleration was great!! What a top car!



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Got back from the meet and though, hmm. I really love the car, if only I had a bit more grunt.



I looked into what was available for the car and descovered that engine wise, there was not a massive ammount. My next port of call was the induction set up. I had heard that the ITG "kit" offered for the 197 was not the best and actualy lost power for those that tried.



I then got talking to Matt (aka Icarus) about this, I have to say that this fella knows his apples, he gave me many ideas on how to re-locate the filter to aid the airflow and keep the temperature of the airbox down. This involved either re locating the battery to the boot or trying to lay the airbox over it in some way!



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Out came some of this.....



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Leaving this....





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And in went a nice small Varley Redtop 15.



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More powerful than STD and 10kg lighter, bonus!!
 
I then started talking to ITG about the new filter box and set up! At the same time I had aquired some nice little other Engine bits. In the form of a set of Catcam402's



and a matched inlet manifold from a fellow forum memeber.



Took the car upto Leeds to see Paul at RS Tuning. His father has his own garage specialising in Renautls. So the car was left with RS Murray and sons to have the cams and the inlets fitted.

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Results were impressive
 
After this the car was totally transformed. It really did fly!!



Airbox (LRAB65) was ordered from ITG and fitted over the top of the redtop.



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With the feed coming through the arch



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The cup was a little upset by all this extra air and started running quite badly as was discovered at the RR day at TDI North with the club, where it made only 3BHP more than Jons STD cup!



Off she went back to RS Tuning to have a health check. It seems that the air fuel ratio was way out and the car was running that lean it was in danger of going bang. As to how lean...... it was 16BHP down on power!! Paul had a look at the ECU and after some magic it was back onform and up nearly 3BHP to just under 203.
 
AFter a conversation with a mate of mine Naith we decided that we would try and take a little weight out of the car. 1st was the rear seats and anything else that was easilty unbolted...



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Next up was the rear wiper, I liked the look of the wiperless one I had seen on the net so off it came!!



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I also picked up a set off rare black LED tail lights from Germany



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Next up was all the crappy tar from around the car!!



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Out came the hair dryer(obviously not mine lol) and the wall paper scraper.....



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I also dicovered that my car was lined with Cardboard [LOL][:blush:]



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The car was looking very untidy inside with the bare panels so off to see the carbon experts Bic and Merv at Streamline Carbon for some rear quarters, front cars and a boot panel cover



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STD seats just didnt look right with the look I was wanting to achieve and are soo heavy!! Streamline do some amazing carbon seats which I had set my heart on but alas the mrs and the budget said no, so a set of Sparcos were ordered



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and a set of 4point OMP harnesses..



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And that is where we are at just over 6months down the line. Seats are due next week and hopefully fitted asap! A couple of mods planned for the near future including my ex clio cup racer cage which I am adapting to make a half cage and the rest.... you will have to check back for!!
 
Great thread Kev, sorry about my impatience earlier in the thread.. lol! Get it deleted by a mod if thats cool?

Did you post a similar thread up on Renaultsport.co.uk?
 
Fitted the R sport splitter !! Looks well! Also had a bit of an incident with a plate of pizza which we thought would be a good idea to kep the plate warm on my inlet manifold [:s] I was going to leave it there in case I ever broke down and needed food but it smelt too much of chicken and we were still hungry [:$]



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Rescued in the end and splitter on!! [:wink:]



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Tanks to Naith Rob and Riad [:^:]