So... a little update.
I've had the car back for almost a week now, in what I thought was its final form at least.
Unfortunately, I've been hit with another slight setback as I've been hit by a common problem with the single mass flywheel throwing up an error on the ecu so I've got the eml light on at the moment. This means I'm going to have to get it mapped again to map out the issue
Fitting went well, we had some setbacks waiting for parts from Airtec which took ages and if I'm honest I'm not totally happy with them.
The intercooler fit nice, but the charge piping would not work with the megane radiator and so I had to go with a custom alloy rad. Then there was a little wait from forge on a full coolant pipe kit.
After it was first fitted we found that the megane the lump came out of had been mapped and they locked the ecu. I was happy with the map though as after a rolling road session it was making 267 HP and 275 ft/lbs of torque.
But, there was a slight problem. The ecu would not read the lambda sensors.
So, we changed the ecu. Another session to sort the immobiliser, new ecu fitted and... still no lambda readings.
A new loom was made out and the builder had found that it was an earth problem on the lambda circuit.
All fixed and sent for mapping. 266 HP and 335ft/lbs.
After driving it for a week.... not a single regret.
Its quiet, super quiet. I'm running the same exhaust I had when I was running the NA lump which was one of the first designs of the Pure Motorsport 197 system with single rear box. This is fed by a 3 inch down pipe with integrated 200 cell sports cat, vband connected to the straight though centre section.
I have the Airtec induction kit (which needed chopping on a lhd car as the master cylinder fouled the heat shield) this is where most of the sound comes from. It hisses on boost then chatters off throttle as the forge recirc valve throws boost at the impeller.
The gears are long and with the lack of dramatic sound it's a very deceptive setup. Speed comes quickly without warning.
I've heard mixed messages about the r26 lsd. But in my personal opinion it transforms the car. Its point and go, in slow hairpin or junction turns it pulls in like maniac as the boost comes in.
I had a zero point one shifter fitted at the same time and so it just feels like a little rally car to me now. On B roads it's a weapon. Curious to get it on track.
It feels very lazy, but as said, this is deceptive. Its non dramatic but then a glance at the speedo puts you back in your place.
I don't think the conversion is for everyone. Its lost a lot of what makes the Clio RS what it is. The character has gone. But there's no question it's now a very capable car in terms of both handling and speed.
I love it. It's everything I imagined and more. Although I'm a massive paranoid wreck driving it at the moment because of the torque figures and the horror stories of them throwing rods. On the plus side my throttle control is now on point.
This takes me to my next problem with the car. I'm already working the man maths for forging, injectors and a 250 turbo. :/
I'll get a video up at some point. Preferably on track.