Sprint Hillclimb 197

[av4625]

I have a Megane 275 as a daily and I got a Clio 197 as a hillclimb/sprint car.

I got early 200 cup shocks for the car. When changing the rear some clown had a sport spring in one side and what I guess is a standard Clio spring in the other. The car did sit very high at the back when I got it. Got that sorted with the new shocks. Also changed the rear pads to PBS pads.

Currently have the front brembos off, one caliper looks newer than the other. The older one had a seized piston that was badly corroded and the other piston on the same side wasn't great either. That caliper was only using one pad. The pins were an absolute nightmare to get out had to cut them and heat them alot. The people before seemed to force the old pins in and out instead of replacing. I got mr pinks pins to replace them. I have PBS pads to go in and getting goodridge braided lines as well.

Cup shocks to go in the front also, not sure I have the right tools for this at home though :/ seems awkward enough.

The front calipers where painted when on the car so, dad has cleaned these up a lot and got them back to silver and we will paint them properly. I'll get pictures of them.

Got some Nankang NS-2R to start as they are a good price, and a set of black Clio 200 cup wheels for them, they seem lighter than the 197 wheels and were a decent price.

 

[av4625]

Calipers mid way cleaning up, they are definitely a bit beat up, but going to replace all pistons and seals

 

[lewishunter98]

Looks good mate! From what I've heard about the braided lines though, you might be better off with HEL ones? I'm sure I read somewhere people have had more fitting issues with the Goodridge ones

What's the meg like also? Really fancy one to be honest haha

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

 

[av4625]

Looks good mate! From what I've heard about the braided lines though, you might be better off with HEL ones? I'm sure I read somewhere people have had more fitting issues with the Goodridge ones

What's the meg like also? Really fancy one to be honest haha

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

Thanks for letting me know that! I will get the HEL ones. They are pretty much the same price.

The meg is awesome. I absolutely love it and will never sell it haha. It has the cup pack (it has most options but the akra, i put a scorpion on and im happy with that)
I’ve never felt a car to grip like it. It is obvs a better track weapon than the clio but costs too much and i polish it too much to throw it round a track haha.

I don’t expect to win much with the Clio as I’m in the road going class that is 2 litre and under and turbo’d !? Lol, there is a stage 2 meg 250 in the same class. But I’ve always loved the Mk3 Clio pre-facelift (197). The only thing that is a little annoying is the massive flat spot at 2.5k revs. If you rev it when out of gear and it drops to 2.5k revs and blip it again it splutters and then pops and bangs lol. I havent got it on the road since I bought it, just drove it home. There is a non res scorpion pipe on the clio too and ramair foam filter induction kit. But naturally asspirated is awesome again after being in the meg for 2 years.

 

[petercronin]

Thanks for letting me know that! I will get the HEL ones. They are pretty much the same price.

The meg is awesome. I absolutely love it and will never sell it haha. It has the cup pack (it has most options but the akra, i put a scorpion on and im happy with that)
I’ve never felt a car to grip like it. It is obvs a better track weapon than the clio but costs too much and i polish it too much to throw it round a track haha.

I don’t expect to win much with the Clio as I’m in the road going class that is 2 litre and under and turbo’d !? Lol, there is a stage 2 meg 250 in the same class. But I’ve always loved the Mk3 Clio pre-facelift (197). The only thing that is a little annoying is the massive flat spot at 2.5k revs. If you rev it when out of gear and it drops to 2.5k revs and blip it again it splutters and then pops and bangs lol. I havent got it on the road since I bought it, just drove it home. There is a non res scorpion pipe on the clio too and ramair foam filter induction kit. But naturally asspirated is awesome again after being in the meg for 2 years.

A remap should help with that flat spot. Also the braided lines I’d suggest going to pure mortorsport, they do a 6 line kit where I believe all other manufacturers only do 4 lines.

 

[av4625]

A remap should help with that flat spot. Also the braided lines I’d suggest going to pure mortorsport, they do a 6 line kit where I believe all other manufacturers only do 4 lines.

I have seen a lot of people saying remaps are awesome for these cars. The only problem is im in Northern Ireland. I heard one guy went to a mapper over here and he said to him you’d be better going to RStunning :/. Would love to get the megane and clio done there!

 

[rSilva]

You can have a remote session with RS Tuning, if you have a dyno that also logs the AFR/lambda while using the RsTuner

 

[petercronin]

I have seen a lot of people saying remaps are awesome for these cars. The only problem is im in Northern Ireland. I heard one guy went to a mapper over here and he said to him you’d be better going to RStunning :/. Would love to get the megane and clio done there!

I know it’ll be a pain and obviously add to the cost but the ferry from Dublin to Liverpool and you’re not too far from EFI. Or as mentioned RS Tuning can do remote maps.

 

[av4625]

I think the ferry is the best option, i looked at the remote maps but they are dearer as you need to buy the box thing and i dont know anyone with a dyno so would have to pay to use someones and they probs wouldnt really be happy. Would probably end up cheaper driving over! Haha

What are the best priced motorsport rated half cages with harness bars? (Not a show cage) ktec’s looks pricey for a half cage

 

[av4625]

Painted my calipers the other day. Was awkward enough, dad spent a lot of time cleaning them and on the first coat they all bubbled and the paint moved away from parts as if there was something still on the surface. Didn't happen on the back or under neath were it may not have been perfectly clean. It had to happen on the front where it would be seen. So we took the paint off with break cleaner and used a wire wheel on the drill heavily on the surface of the caliper and cleaned with break cleaner and went again. Worked pretty well the second time, there is the odd dot where it didn't take but was running out of paint and didn't want to start again.
Used halfords spray caliper paint, dunno if that is part of the problem. The first time we heated them before painting slightly with a heat gun and then used the heat gun to dry the paint. This didn't seem to work well as it went rubbery instead of drying and didn't stick at all. Second time we used no heat and seemed to work better. Dunno if that is because the paint should be heat resistant.

I ordered new pistons all round and transparent blue HEL braided lines

 

[trackspec197]

Painted my calipers the other day. Was awkward enough, dad spent a lot of time cleaning them and on the first coat they all bubbled and the paint moved away from parts as if there was something still on the surface. Didn't happen on the back or under neath were it may not have been perfectly clean. It had to happen on the front where it would be seen. So we took the paint off with break cleaner and used a wire wheel on the drill heavily on the surface of the caliper and cleaned with break cleaner and went again. Worked pretty well the second time, there is the odd dot where it didn't take but was running out of paint and didn't want to start again.
Used halfords spray caliper paint, dunno if that is part of the problem. The first time we heated them before painting slightly with a heat gun and then used the heat gun to dry the paint. This didn't seem to work well as it went rubbery instead of drying and didn't stick at all. Second time we used no heat and seemed to work better. Dunno if that is because the paint should be heat resistant.

I ordered new pistons all round and transparent blue HEL braided lines

View attachment 130828

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Look good mate. If you can try and get different paint. That Halfords calipers paint is useless and won’t last 5minutes from the brake dust. It also comes off with brake cleaner! I know this because I used the same then ended up having to repaint them.

Are they genuine nipples? The HEL nipples I had wouldn’t seal because the taper is wrong so had to source genuine ones to solve the problem.

 

[av4625]

Look good mate. If you can try and get different paint. That Halfords calipers paint is useless and won’t last 5minutes from the brake dust. It also comes off with brake cleaner! I know this because I used the same then ended up having to repaint them.

Are they genuine nipples? The HEL nipples I had wouldn’t seal because the taper is wrong so had to source genuine ones to solve the problem.

Ahh darn. I did notice it wasnt hard to get the first coat off with brake cleaner.

The nipples came with a seal/rebuild kit

 

[trackspec197]

Ahh darn. I did notice it wasnt hard to get the first coat off with brake cleaner.

The nipples came with a seal/rebuild kit

Definitely give them another coat of proper paint mate before you fit or before you do something with it as they’ll look like they’re well used after a few hours like you’ve never refurbed them.

Check the taper on the bleed nipples compared to the old ones mate. If they are the same you’ll be fine if they’re different they won’t seal and will always weep.

 

[lewishunter98]

Check the taper on the bleed nipples compared to the old ones mate. If they are the same you’ll be fine if they’re different they won’t seal and will always weep.

I'm going to need to check mine now you've said that as i have HEL ones, my old ones were ruined.

 

[av4625]

My bleed nipples looked the same as the ones that came out.

Pistons came and calipers are built back up again, just need to put the front PBS pads in. HEL lines also came, hoping to put everything back together at the weekend.
Just need to get some decent brake fluid.

Also is the oil filter awkward to get at on these cars? Going to do an oil and filter change as the guy I bought it off said he would and that he would fill in the book but he didn't fill in the book so I dunno when it was done last.

 

[av4625]

It doesn't rain but it pours lol. Went to put the calipers back on with the braided lines and the fitting between the rubber flexi brake line and the copper one was seized to the copper pipe. Had to cut them off . Didn't really get anything done. The front shocks seem like they are welded in too, god damn. Everything at the back was easy!
Dad went and made me new copper lines.



I was at my local dealer to get oil and filter for the clio and they had one F1 polo shirt left and it was in my size! The dude did it for £20 as it was the last one! What a bargin, they are usually so expensive.



Meg also got a new heater/blower fan under warranty, was nervous about that as the whole dash came out. But the guys did a good job, not a scratch anywhere! You can see my white plastic volvo (my friend works in volvo) seat covers over the recaros because I am so picky haha

 

[av4625]

Finally! Things went well today! Got the copper brake lines and braided ones fitted with the calipers. Everyone said in a thread somewhere that you need 1.5 litres of brake fluid to bleed the brakes, we managed with about 750ml or maybe a bit more but less than a litre haha.

I didn't have a square tool to take the sump drain plug out, and the one I ordered didn't arrive. So oil and filter will be changed another weekend.

 

[av4625]

Drove the car round the park yesterday to test the brakes and see if I could clean the disks up a bit. I had read people said these cars kangaroo when cold, I hadn't noticed it to much when I test drove it, (the guy I bought it off warmed it up, I wonder why lol), when test driving I did notice the massive flat spot, it does have a non res scorpion pipe which I have read makes it worse. But when I took the car round the park when cold, I felt like I couldn't drive lol. Was jumping everywhere. Mum took it round a bit too and she asked "Why does it look like I can't drive this car" haha. I have the sensor cable tied down already, only fix is a map?

 

[trackspec197]

Drove the car round the park yesterday to test the brakes and see if I could clean the disks up a bit. I had read people said these cars kangaroo when cold, I hadn't noticed it to much when I test drove it, (the guy I bought it off warmed it up, I wonder why lol), when test driving I did notice the massive flat spot, it does have a non res scorpion pipe which I have read makes it worse. But when I took the car round the park when cold, I felt like I couldn't drive lol. Was jumping everywhere. Mum took it round a bit too and she asked "Why does it look like I can't drive this car" haha. I have the sensor cable tied down already, only fix is a map?

Yes remap it and it will go

 

[Doogle]

Welcome, its a good looking example! Whats the plan for modding it? For hill climbing I'd suggest weight loss but maintenance and upgrades is definitely needed. The Trophy is gorgeaus!

One massive thing for the stuttering and 'kangarooing' is turn on ignition before turning the car on, much like turning the key several clicks before starting the engine. Leave the ignition on 20-30 seconds and then start it. It cures it 80-90% so it can be driven normally.