L33 KUP
Platinum Member
Hi, apologies in advance as I’ve never written a build thread before so this may be a long introduction and may be rubbish. So I've been on the forum for a while, albeit under a different user name, but I have never really posted too much and being as my membership was up for renewal seemed like the right time for me to carry out a name swap and finally start a build thread which I have been meaning to do for some time.
My car is a 2008 197 CUP in white which to be honest I didn't really want to buy, in-fact I still haven't even driven it with the standard engine, possibly something which I may come to regret!! So my friend owned this before me and I owned, currently still do, a 172 CUP which just felt so much more involving/raw. To summarise the 172 was faster on the straights and more interesting in the corners. The 197 was marginally faster in the corners had far superior control but felt unchallenged, well from the passenger seat anyway, the chassis just felt too comfortable like everything was well within its limits. Basically I was put off by the 197 feeling too competent for its power.
I’d been looking into the F4RT swap for a little while and thought it sounded like a good idea as at the time most of my mates doing track days had Megane’s both mk2 and 3 RS. So the swap seemed like a nice little curve ball, I was offered a 70k Megane 225 for a very low price, the car had issues but I only needed the engine and drivetrain. The only issue with this was a slipping clutch but it came with a brand new clutch and flywheel set up. I took the plunge and bought this and then bought my mates 197 to convert.
Originally the 197 had Recaros but I wanted to stick with more track focused bucket seats and they sold for good money very quickly.
The engine’s were both removed easily enough and was surprised how easy the front of these cars come apart to allow the engine to be removed. The worst bit was the suspension to allow the driveshafts to come out. All was going very well and I felt like progress was being made at a very satisfying pace. But, theres always a but, I was coming to April and track days were calling and there was no way this would be finished in time so I spent well needed megane swap time on the 172 and enjoyed a few track days in my car and a friend who was kind enough to let me have a go in his megane 250 Cup and a ‘Ring’ trip. Which to be honest was worth it!!
So this winter I have been getting back on course with the 197 so heres my update. Engine is finally in, the vacuum pipes all routed and fitted bar the brake servo pipe which I need to extend.
I’ve also fitted
hybrid turbo
630cc injectors
new cambelt and water pump
new clutch and flywheel, for now stock clutch flywheel as it came with the car.
3” downpipe
R26 gearbox with LSD
AST 5100 coilovers
SC auto front mount intercooler
Recaro drivers seat on madeno racing base
Renault sparco wheel
Larger front brake disc set up from my friends megane track car
PMS spacers
New rear discs and calipers
I have left on my to do list:
Intercooler fitting
Rad fitting
Oil cooler fitting
Big job then, wiring which I know is the hardest part, worsened by the fact I have a PH1 Euro 3 loom and not the R26/230 loom. I have an R26 engine ECU and lock set ready to change over though. So may need help here, I’m sure it can be wired still just need to find the correct Renault wiring diagrams for a R26 and a ph1 and work out the differences.
I’ll try my best to keep updating bits and bobs aiming to get the car to R.S tuning for mapping and ecu immobiliser transponder swap then as many track days as I can afford from there on.
My car is a 2008 197 CUP in white which to be honest I didn't really want to buy, in-fact I still haven't even driven it with the standard engine, possibly something which I may come to regret!! So my friend owned this before me and I owned, currently still do, a 172 CUP which just felt so much more involving/raw. To summarise the 172 was faster on the straights and more interesting in the corners. The 197 was marginally faster in the corners had far superior control but felt unchallenged, well from the passenger seat anyway, the chassis just felt too comfortable like everything was well within its limits. Basically I was put off by the 197 feeling too competent for its power.
I’d been looking into the F4RT swap for a little while and thought it sounded like a good idea as at the time most of my mates doing track days had Megane’s both mk2 and 3 RS. So the swap seemed like a nice little curve ball, I was offered a 70k Megane 225 for a very low price, the car had issues but I only needed the engine and drivetrain. The only issue with this was a slipping clutch but it came with a brand new clutch and flywheel set up. I took the plunge and bought this and then bought my mates 197 to convert.
Originally the 197 had Recaros but I wanted to stick with more track focused bucket seats and they sold for good money very quickly.
The engine’s were both removed easily enough and was surprised how easy the front of these cars come apart to allow the engine to be removed. The worst bit was the suspension to allow the driveshafts to come out. All was going very well and I felt like progress was being made at a very satisfying pace. But, theres always a but, I was coming to April and track days were calling and there was no way this would be finished in time so I spent well needed megane swap time on the 172 and enjoyed a few track days in my car and a friend who was kind enough to let me have a go in his megane 250 Cup and a ‘Ring’ trip. Which to be honest was worth it!!
So this winter I have been getting back on course with the 197 so heres my update. Engine is finally in, the vacuum pipes all routed and fitted bar the brake servo pipe which I need to extend.
I’ve also fitted
hybrid turbo
630cc injectors
new cambelt and water pump
new clutch and flywheel, for now stock clutch flywheel as it came with the car.
3” downpipe
R26 gearbox with LSD
AST 5100 coilovers
SC auto front mount intercooler
Recaro drivers seat on madeno racing base
Renault sparco wheel
Larger front brake disc set up from my friends megane track car
PMS spacers
New rear discs and calipers
I have left on my to do list:
Intercooler fitting
Rad fitting
Oil cooler fitting
Big job then, wiring which I know is the hardest part, worsened by the fact I have a PH1 Euro 3 loom and not the R26/230 loom. I have an R26 engine ECU and lock set ready to change over though. So may need help here, I’m sure it can be wired still just need to find the correct Renault wiring diagrams for a R26 and a ph1 and work out the differences.
I’ll try my best to keep updating bits and bobs aiming to get the car to R.S tuning for mapping and ecu immobiliser transponder swap then as many track days as I can afford from there on.
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