r&skxa
Gold Member
It's just been finished so this is just documenting what I've had done and a reference point.
Some of this is guess work on the dates, it's been a while so bear with it. It was supposed to take 3 weeks. It didn't. I don't want to name the 1st garage/mechanic although I'm sure most of you will know anyway.
The build started on March 12th 2016. The car was delivered to the 1st garage before that, but that's when the MOT was re-done so we will start it from there.
The MOT was about to expire so it was easier to get it done with the original engine as I then didn't have to worry about emissions for a year.
I managed to get a 1 owner from new, 100k mile Megane. My Clio only had 48k on it so it was always the intention that the engine was going to be rebuilt. 100k into less than 50k was never going to cut it for me.
Megane went up to the 1st garage ahead of the Clio, so the engine could get pulled out and sent off.
Couple days later the Clio then joined it and that was the last time it was driven in 15 months.
31st March and the Clio was stripped
It stayed like for quite a while. By this time the Megane engine has been machined and it was back with the garage. It was totally stripped so it was decided to upgrade the internals slightly as it wasn't really going to cost much more. Megane 250 pistons and rods were ordered from SC Autos. As we were using 250 pistons and rods, we decided to upgrade the associated parts. 630CC injectors and a new Megane 250 Turbo was ordered from RPD.
4th April vents and side skirts fitted (well holes made in the bonnet)
Between 31st March and 3rd May, all parts from Renault got delivered so we had the gaskets and pumps etc but still no rods and pistons from SC Autos.
I asked for an update on the 11th May, no reply.
19th May, no reply.
2nd August.....got a reply! The garage has been given 2 weeks to leave the premises. A heads up prior to that would've been nice but I guess he had his own problems to deal with. He still wanted to complete the build just somewhere else. Fair enough, he had a good reputation so though I'd give him the benefit of the doubt.
I ended up doing the chasing to SC Autos to get the rods and pistons. I arranged the courier as he just couldn't be bothered.
This is what I got. 3 pistons and no rods. What good is that! I called him and he was shocked that I wanted rods too! I'm glad he shut down, the guy was a nightmare to deal with.
Enough was enough, I got the hump. I spoke to Andy at Engine Dynamics and got some new PEC and Wossner parts delivered. It was never the plan to go even that way as far as the build was concerned, it was not a big budget project. I also still had faith in the Mechanic, although it was dwindling rapidly.
These were delivered to me on the 11th August
Sent them to the mechanic and they were delivered to him on the 12th August. See how quickly things can be sent when you put your mind to it.
I thought it was finally getting done, so I ordered some other bits and pieces.
New style steering wheel from Tim Finch
Boss, Sparco Revs seats, runners and bases from Demon Tweeks
I went up to see the car 20th August. On the way I picked up a new gearbox from Josh Cooks R26 race car. Rebuilt complete with Gripper diff
I didn't get to see my car when I was delivering the other parts, but I did meet the mechanic and handed over the seats, runners and 'box.
Waited until 14th September for updates, messaged him and no reply.
3rd October, messaged for update and no reply.
5th October he messaged me saying he was going to start the engine build as soon as he was settled into his new job. By this time, I had actually found out the car had been sent to SJM. It took for them to contact me, I didn't know it had been sent there. It was in my interest to get the car recovered. My contract for work wasn't with SJM so whilst it was in their possession, it was't insured for damage or theft.
I told the 1st Mechanic that I was knocking it on the head. I'd had enough of him and had enough of nothing getting done.
10th October I had the car collected. I had already paid the mechanic to do the work, now I had to pay for a company to go and get the car to deliver it somewhere else. I also had to hire a car to get from Dover to Bournemouth so I could pick all the other stuff up from him. My other half had our daily so had no choice.
I called around asking for companies to take on the build. There was a lot of dead ends but came across Beaniesport in Milton Keynes. On the credit of Stubonez build in the PFC mag I called him and he agreed to take it on. Happy days. Car was delivered to him and I drove to him from Bournemouth with an Astra full to the brim of car parts.
Some of this is guess work on the dates, it's been a while so bear with it. It was supposed to take 3 weeks. It didn't. I don't want to name the 1st garage/mechanic although I'm sure most of you will know anyway.
The build started on March 12th 2016. The car was delivered to the 1st garage before that, but that's when the MOT was re-done so we will start it from there.
The MOT was about to expire so it was easier to get it done with the original engine as I then didn't have to worry about emissions for a year.
I managed to get a 1 owner from new, 100k mile Megane. My Clio only had 48k on it so it was always the intention that the engine was going to be rebuilt. 100k into less than 50k was never going to cut it for me.
Megane went up to the 1st garage ahead of the Clio, so the engine could get pulled out and sent off.
Couple days later the Clio then joined it and that was the last time it was driven in 15 months.
31st March and the Clio was stripped
It stayed like for quite a while. By this time the Megane engine has been machined and it was back with the garage. It was totally stripped so it was decided to upgrade the internals slightly as it wasn't really going to cost much more. Megane 250 pistons and rods were ordered from SC Autos. As we were using 250 pistons and rods, we decided to upgrade the associated parts. 630CC injectors and a new Megane 250 Turbo was ordered from RPD.
4th April vents and side skirts fitted (well holes made in the bonnet)
Between 31st March and 3rd May, all parts from Renault got delivered so we had the gaskets and pumps etc but still no rods and pistons from SC Autos.
I asked for an update on the 11th May, no reply.
19th May, no reply.
2nd August.....got a reply! The garage has been given 2 weeks to leave the premises. A heads up prior to that would've been nice but I guess he had his own problems to deal with. He still wanted to complete the build just somewhere else. Fair enough, he had a good reputation so though I'd give him the benefit of the doubt.
I ended up doing the chasing to SC Autos to get the rods and pistons. I arranged the courier as he just couldn't be bothered.
This is what I got. 3 pistons and no rods. What good is that! I called him and he was shocked that I wanted rods too! I'm glad he shut down, the guy was a nightmare to deal with.
Enough was enough, I got the hump. I spoke to Andy at Engine Dynamics and got some new PEC and Wossner parts delivered. It was never the plan to go even that way as far as the build was concerned, it was not a big budget project. I also still had faith in the Mechanic, although it was dwindling rapidly.
These were delivered to me on the 11th August
Sent them to the mechanic and they were delivered to him on the 12th August. See how quickly things can be sent when you put your mind to it.
I thought it was finally getting done, so I ordered some other bits and pieces.
New style steering wheel from Tim Finch
Boss, Sparco Revs seats, runners and bases from Demon Tweeks
I went up to see the car 20th August. On the way I picked up a new gearbox from Josh Cooks R26 race car. Rebuilt complete with Gripper diff
I didn't get to see my car when I was delivering the other parts, but I did meet the mechanic and handed over the seats, runners and 'box.
Waited until 14th September for updates, messaged him and no reply.
3rd October, messaged for update and no reply.
5th October he messaged me saying he was going to start the engine build as soon as he was settled into his new job. By this time, I had actually found out the car had been sent to SJM. It took for them to contact me, I didn't know it had been sent there. It was in my interest to get the car recovered. My contract for work wasn't with SJM so whilst it was in their possession, it was't insured for damage or theft.
I told the 1st Mechanic that I was knocking it on the head. I'd had enough of him and had enough of nothing getting done.
10th October I had the car collected. I had already paid the mechanic to do the work, now I had to pay for a company to go and get the car to deliver it somewhere else. I also had to hire a car to get from Dover to Bournemouth so I could pick all the other stuff up from him. My other half had our daily so had no choice.
I called around asking for companies to take on the build. There was a lot of dead ends but came across Beaniesport in Milton Keynes. On the credit of Stubonez build in the PFC mag I called him and he agreed to take it on. Happy days. Car was delivered to him and I drove to him from Bournemouth with an Astra full to the brim of car parts.
I used normal Albi Blue paint on it though and it's fine so I don't think it gets that hot.
