My RB 197

[massivewangers]

Not sure how much of a project this is, but thought I would put something on here. Bought it last August as I needed a new daily. I wasn't particularly in need of another hot hatch, but I was bored of the dreary Vectra estate that had been performing tow car duties for a while, and it what it's gearbox, so I sold it.

The Clio came up locally and had 11 months MOT, so it was purchased after a quick test drive. It wasn't perfect, but the body was pretty tidy, and I liked the colour. It's standard other than an unknown make of stainless steel exhaust and the rear windows are tinted.

Here's some pictures from the original as:



It's pretty basic spec, don't think it has any options. Someone has painted the wheels black (badly), and the interior isn't brilliant, but it'll do.

I don't really have plans as such. I might modify a bit, but it depends on what happens with my work situation, as I am thinking of going overseas for a couple of years.

Will continue with some bits shortly...

 

[massivewangers]

The first few months were just spent driving it. It did act as a van, shifting a load of stuff when I sold my Escort rally car:




A picture of the Escort in case anyone is interested...



The brakes were rather rusty and grim, so I gave them a clean up and paint. Going to redo the fronts though, as they didn't come up very well. Need to get some new stickers for the front too:




Removed the 'Clio' lettering from the rear:



Did a 12-Car rally in October...




...which made the car rather dirty:



To be continued some more...

 

[massivewangers]

I don't have any pictures, but I had new track rods and ends fitted late last year, then replaced the drop and anti rotation links.

I bought an R3 Maxi air box a while ago. Not fitted it. Debating having a mould taken off it in case anyone else wanted one...



In March, I finally had it cleaned for the first time



A friend of mine also has a 197 as a cheap track car. He's part of the reason I bought mine actually. We've both had 172s in the past. He bought this about three years ago and, having driven it quite a few times, I became quite taken with them. Here I swapped a faulty indicator stalk for him, as he isn't really mechanically inclined:



Another purchase; six Speedline R3 wheels with AD08R tyres:



Bit more to come....

 

[massivewangers]

That brings us up to the lovely lockdown!

Decided to test fit the R3 wheels. The guy I bought them from supplied some wheel nuts with them, but I don't have studs, and the standard wheel bolts seem to fit fine. They're 17x7J, ET41. They sit well in the arches I think...



It definitely needs lowering. Not sure if I am going to keep them yet, as the covid nonsense isn't helping my job situation much. If they go on permanently, I'll sell the AD08Rs and put on something a bit more all-weather.

 

[massivewangers]

Since I've owned the car, the lock buttons on the door handles haven't worked. I bought some new micro switches from @Ianboom ages ago, along with some spare door handles as mine were a bit scratched/worn.

Rather than doing them in silver or black, I decided to colour-code them to the car:



Finally fitted them this week:

 

[massivewangers]

And that brings us up to date and today, where I decided to tackle the rusty radiator support, which I removed this afternoon:



It was definitely rusty






I decided that, rather than repairing it(!), I would go Cup racer style and just cut it down and clean up what's left:



Will paint it and refit it tomorrow. Still need to remove the brackets from inside the wheel arches, and will find an alternative way of securing the undertray.

And that's it for now!

 

[RSRowe]

The rad support is pretty much exactly how mine went.
I’ve been meaning to get into club/road rallying myself. Just need to find a car

 

[RSRowe]

Also. Where are you finding all these used parts!?
I’ve been looking for an air box for agessss

 

[massivewangers]

The rad support is pretty much exactly how mine went.
I’ve been meaning to get into club/road rallying myself. Just need to find a car

It's an awful design. The lower flange means that moisture and crap just sits behind the arch liner, so it's no wonder it rots. I painted it tonight anyway, so will put it back on tomorrow.

I only did the one 12-car. It was ok, but I wouldn't hurry to do another. Targa rallies look more fun. They're not on the road, so you can go a bit harder. Obviously more stage rallies is where I'd like to be at, but the costs are ridiculous. Could you use your Clio?

Also. Where are you finding all these used parts!?
I’ve been looking for an air box for agessss

I've been pretty lucky I must say. A guy posted the wheels for sale on CS.net, but he wasn't a member, so it was deleted within a few minutes. Luckily I saw it and had sent him a message before it was deleted! Not sure if I will keep them yet, but they are really nice wheels. Will definitely sell the tyres either way.

The air box came from Spain. I found it on eBay. It's fibreglass so not a genuine one, but it was only about £200. I know someone who works with GRP, so I could have moulds taken from it. Would need a few people who wanted one to cover the cost though I think, as it's not the simplest part to mould. I've been looking at doing a few other GRP/carbon parts actually, but I'm not sure if there's the same demand as for 172/182 bits.

 

[wootwoot]

That brings us up to the lovely lockdown!

Decided to test fit the R3 wheels. The guy I bought them from supplied some wheel nuts with them, but I don't have studs, and the standard wheel bolts seem to fit fine. They're 17x7J, ET41. They sit well in the arches I think...

View attachment 139721View attachment 139719View attachment 139718View attachment 139725View attachment 139720View attachment 139717

It definitely needs lowering. Not sure if I am going to keep them yet, as the covid nonsense isn't helping my job situation much. If they go on permanently, I'll sell the AD08Rs and put on something a bit more all-weather.

I have the same wheels and love how the sit and look on the car.
I feel they slightly take away from the response and turn in for the steering though.
But they look sooo good haha

Sent from my Nokia 5.1 Plus using Tapatalk

 

[RSRowe]

I’ve marshalled at a couple of Targas and they do seem like a right good day out....Especially given how cheap they are!

The clios got no interior, which is a pain
Definitely regret ripping that out now.

 

[massivewangers]

I’ve marshalled at a couple of Targas and they do seem like a right good day out....Especially given how cheap they are!

The clios got no interior, which is a pain
Definitely regret ripping that out now.

Yeah they are silly cheap for what they are. Ah yes, my mate was exactly the same. Bought a Puma as a cheap track day car, threw all the interior in a skip, then decided he wanted to try a targa, so had to buy it all again it's a shame they are so strict on that. Relaxing the rules a touch might help to entice people to have a go. I think club motorsport could do with tapping into the track day crowd a bit.

 

[Beany]

Do love the speedline Turini it’s such a shame they only run them as a 7j.

 

[massivewangers]

Do love the speedline Turini it’s such a shame they only run them as a 7j.

I'm not really worried about that personally. They'll still take a 215 tyre, so are fine for factory profile tyres. You might squeeze a 225 on if you particularly wanted one I guess.

A 7J rim is lighter too

 

[massivewangers]

Finished up the radiator support earlier. Painted it black:



Forgot to take any pictures before I put the bumper back on, but it's there:



And back on the ground:



The only pain was that the rear bolts for the under tray go into the rad support. I've held it in place with cable ties for now, but will try and find a better solution at some point. The rear brackets are held on by the same bolts as the front of the sub frame, which is a bit annoying. I guess the Cup racer must have had a spacer in there.

Lower arms are next on the list, as well as some paint correction, as it's a bit swirly.

 

[massivewangers]

Had a delivery this morning, new set of Asymmetric 5s to go on the R3 wheels:



They had basically new AD08Rs on them, but I didn't really want to run those as a road tyres, so will sell them on.

Need to fit the Speedlines onto the car, but debating new wheel bolts. Should probably buy something to seal them with too, as the white will soon start to look grubby no doubt.

 

[ttrw2]

Great car and great thread

 

[massivewangers]

Thanks!

Hopefully a bit more to come soon, as would like to start freshening up the suspension a bit.

 

[RSRowe]

TRS Wheel Solutions

TRS are a specialist supplier of a wide range of wheel fixings and accessories. We stock nuts, bolts, studs, spacers, spigot rings and much more for just about every vehicle on the road.

www.trsuk.co.uk

 

[massivewangers]

The Speedlines now have new Asymmetric 5s on them. I put some wheel sealer on them this afternoon, so they're ready to go:



Ordered new front dampers, top mounts and lower arms from RPD too, as they all look a bit rough.

I think the battery is beginning to suffer from lockdown now, as had to jump it earlier. Hopefully it just needs a charge, as I don't really fancy buying a new one at the moment!