Sam888’s RB Clio 197 Track/Race/Hillclimb/Sprint

[Sam888]

So I gave myself a £2k budget to get a car to convert to a track and in time a race car.

I looked at track cars around £2k but they are pretty rough at that price point so decided to buy a road car and build my own, plus I love a good project!

Found a cheap one listed on eBay with a couple of faults so fell in my budget, drove across the country to near Liverpool, car was well serviced but the guy that owned it had tried to prep it for sale and failed miserably.
It was often dropping into limp mode and anything above 55mph and the car would unpredictable steer itself - I’ve drove some dodgy cars in my time but it was quite unnerving!
Wheels/brakes and even tyres were all hand painted - shocking!
Front grills and door handles clearly painted by Stevie Wonder.

So I bought it but haggled down there price accordingly and had a long 50mph drive home.

Pics from when I bought it.




Then finally home next to the other toys

 

[Sam888]

So 2 major issues with the car.
1 - Going into limp mode.
2 - It likes to steer itself

Codes read and turned out to be failed throttle body, got a second hand one for £30 and problem solved which was a relief as it was a bit of a gamble on my part.



The throttle body spring return had failed, I’ll upload a video later to show how it failed - it may help someone out in the future.

 

[Sam888]

The second issue was the steering, above 55mph the car would literally move that much it would jump a lane on the motorway!

Videos below showing the very obvious completely failed top hub ball joint.

videos here

So ordered the upgraded top and bottom hub joints from Rene Dizdar as per the photo below




Removing the hub wasn’t too bad, but getting the joints out is a horrible job!
I did the first one using garage tools, hammers, heat and force, really wish I didn’t it wasn’t an easy or nice job!
The other side I removed the hub and dropped it off at a local garage and paid them the press out the old joints and press in the new joints.
If you ever do this job and don’t have a hydraulic press do this!

I also cleaned up the hubs and hub carriers whilst at it.

 

[Sam888]

Whilst doing the work above I cleaned all the arches to get them back looking how they should.

I also fitted front and rear godspeed J hook discs I got thrown in with some other parts I bought, they’ll do for now.

Some before and after pics below.

 

[Sam888]

The previous owner supplied me with some awful colour changing led fog lights because one of the original units was broken.

So they obviously went straight in the bin and I ordered some fog light delete kits off the forum which allow ducts to be mounted to feed cool air to brakes or airbox - I’ll be feeding the ducts to the brakes but not done this yet.

Removed plates whilst I was at it.

 

[Sam888]

As I said about the savage that owned the car before me hand painted wheels, tyres, btrskes etc.

The wheels had nearly new TR-1’s on them so sold them on.


Tyres
I bought two sets of DMACK tarmac rally tyres, these are used on clio track cars, race teams and very well regarded, they are also FIA compliant for racing.

Wheels
Bought a set of Team Dynamic 1.2’s, always wanted these on my track carstandard 17” diameter but with more aggressive offsets so they fill the arches - I can’t remember offsets but I’ll update this post next time I check.

Fitted with no spacers they are perfect.

I waxed the wheels with poorboys wheel sealant before fitting, did 2-3 layers. It’s a crap product to be honest but it’s all I had to hand.

Some before and after pics.





New wheels with tyres mounted.

 

[Sam888]

The interior is pretty immaculate so it did seem a real shame to strip it but it’s a track car so no point getting precious about the original interior.

I’ve never stripped an interior fully so was quite rewarding, I enjoyed it.

I’ve left the front standard for now, I’ll do this when I’ve got the parts.

 

[Sam888]

Started on the poly bushes, I’ve done;

Rear lower engine mount (no 20 on diagram)
Upper engine mount (no 21 on diagram)
Gearbox Mount (no 22 on diagram)
Upper engine torque arm (no 23 on diagram)

I will do all the suspension ones next but had a bit of play in the top engine torque arm so did all the engine and gearbox ones first.

 

[Sam888]

The car had some cheap universal cone filter on it so thought I would sell it on and get the KTec kit, I’ll route cold air in later to try and reduce heat soak.

Before and after photos below.

They sound brilliant on open throttle for anyone who interested!

 

[Sam888]

Got a bit excited and bought a bucket seat, it’s a new Sabelt GT300 hybrid Carbon shell seat, quite frankly it’s a work of art!

Pictures from when I bought it - trying to say it’s not my kitchen

 

[Sam888]

Bought a used KTec bolt in half cage with harness bar.

Didn’t like the white and the finish wasn’t great so took it in to be stripped and powder coated red, I also bought new stainless nuts/bolts.

Also bought the ultra rear brace but it uses the same mounting points as the cage so I couldn’t fit it, just rested it in for the photos.

First fit.

 

[Sam888]

Decided to add some serious bhp..................so fitted the obligatory toe strap

Had to buy the MS motorsport extension bolt to fit it which works a treat.

 

[Sam888]

With all the bushes and hub work I thought I best get alignment before hitting the track, so 4 wheel laser alignment done.

 

[Sam888]

So booked an open pit lane track day at Cadwell, weather was great, fantastic day!

Car was faultless, handled really well, tyres were fantastic, could only get them to let go on lower speed corners were I had a bit of understeer, car performed well with no flat spots, really happy!

 

[Sam888]

Its not a track/race car without a sunstrip!

So far I’ve been quite happy with quality of KTec gear so ordered the sun strip, really nice to work with and apply.

 

[Sam888]

Ordered the SW direct to floor seat mounts for the Sabelt seat, they are lovely machined bits and nice finish.

Also ordered eye bolts and brackets ready to weld in for the harnesses.

 

[Sam888]

Now seat brackets have arrived it’s time to strip the front so I can weld in the harness supports, fit the harnesses and mount the seat.

Amazing how much weight has come out of the front, the seats alone are about 28kg each! Just the insulation from under the front floor filled two bin bags!
It all adds up.

So seats out, carpet out, insulation lifted/removed right up behind bulk head, bottom half of dash removed (glove box etc), multi changer removed, heater venting removed and wiring all tidied up.

Also couldn’t resist sitting the seat in to see how it looks

 

[Sam888]

All posts now updated with photos

 

[RSRowe]

You’ve not hung around at all!

 

[Sam888]

You’ve not hung around at all!

Yeah I’ve cracked on, be nice when the dash trim is all finished, doors cards off and seat and harness in.
Still plenty to do but at least at that point it’s drivable again.