Yeah, iirc there actually espace balljoints as the ones listed for the Meg might not be correct. I got the part number after some searching and confirming with Kieran Gray or "Gray" as he's known in here. He put all the work in on the OEM suspension and steering thread pretty much
I have xl buckets and i had to re drill two extra holes as the seats are wider, but there is enough room on the frames to do it
Looking good Dan. Bet you can't wait to get them seats in the seats should make a nice difference, the harness alone is a nice change. It wouldn't surprise me if these are comfiest than the standard recaro a on a long distance run getting mine in friday, pushing it a bit fine since I'm on track Saturday haha.
So a lot has happened since the last instalment! I'm Me and the missus both did a single seater experience as now she's decided not only does she want to passenger on Trackdays but she wants in on the action and have ago at driving! She was certain she didn't want to start out in the Megane and that she wanted something a little less powerful. So we decided it was going to have to be a Renault sport as what I don't know doesn't seem worth knowing after 7 years of ownership so we started with this! A nice little 172 cup, was only 5 minutes from ours and is a nice low mileage, full specialist history car. This is also going to act as my daily run around for work so the Megane can live a pampered life now! Plans for it are to remain fairly close to factory spec. It's already got ds2500's and brembo HC's so apart from a set of springs and maybe a rear arb and some sticky rubber that'll be it and maybe a cheap stealth exhaust just for a nicer note out back and the rest will be put into tuition for the missus. Now for the Megane So then cracked on today despite the lack of sleep after last nights night shift. Tidied up on the first frame I drilled with a little bit of round file action. This has since had a dusting of paint to make it look more presentable and is now drying. So I removed the drivers Recaro and plonked the new subframe in and loosely bolted it into position Excuse the mess, it will be getting a tidy out tomorrow once the rear interior is removed and before the seats are finally installed. So test fitted the seat I'm not running adjusters as I want to get the seats as low as I can tbh, the side mounts will be dropped another hole or too before fitting too. I then measure the passenger frame for drilling. As it doesn't require any form of adjustment I only drilled 4 holes that allow it to be mounted in the same position as the drivers seat. Again it's had a dusting of black paint to get rid of the bare metal. The joys of running a daily are paying off already!
I still don't get it, I had the ktec seat subframe before too.. its almost a pointless item as you have to modify it to fit any seat haha
I've learnt that the term "universal" means it fits fuck all haha Tbh I thing the Megane would be rather easy to knock up your own frames if I'm honest, I can mig weld so I'm half tempted to have a go at some point just need to buy a welder
yea now on the car I've got weld in seat rails when I did the cage, but my seat base mounted perfect when i had the subframe in there.. just couldnt see over the dash well haha
So a few more updates! Finished putting the seats in the other day! Wow what an improvement especially the seating position as its so much lower which was one of my biggest gripes with the Megane. Must say how comfy the Bimarco seats are especially considering the cost and there FIA approved too which is a winner I guess. After adjusting the harnesses up I checked the angles and the shoulder straps fall in the "acceptable" range according to the MSA blue book regs. Eventually there will be a full cage at some point this year including a harness bar! So yesterday I decided to swap the lower arms out with a spare set of R26 arms that I have. This plan was to rebuild the spare lower arms and fit them but due to powerflex fucking my order up last week and Snetterton looming and the Geo needing doing I thought it made more sense to fit these for now and rebuilt the knackered ones! The whole reason for the replacement was the passenger side balljoint being fucked! Anyway all is now back together and ready for Geo this morning, going to up the camber to 2 degrees negative on front and see how we go on. Must say haven't really been able to "drive" the car since upping the rear suspension rates but if a quick blast to the petrol station yesterday is anything to go by all I'm going to say is WOW!
So then Geometry is done! Added some more camber to the front from around a degree and a half up to 2 degrees after the passenger side outer edge took a beating at Mallory and Oulton. Other then that not much to report, rear beam still in spec which is nice as you can't adjust or shim them like the clios. Only issue we came across is that the tie rods have near enough bottom out off adjustment after we added extra camber, if I want any more I think I'm going to have to chop 2 or 3 threads off them but all good for now!
So yesterday I did Snetterton 300 in the Megane, open pit lane with MSV. I travelled down the day before with the missus and stopped in a travel lodge about 10 minutes down the road to save the 2 and a half hour trip in the morning. Got to the circuit about half 7, welcomed by a lot of race teams but I guess they see them as cheap test/shakedown days although MSV really enforced the "NO TIMING" rule! So headed out did a few decent laps and came in and adjusted tyre pressures to my usual hot settings. It's a very fast track, every straight section you easily see 100 plus no problem so the brakes can take a hammering but it did make for an exciting day. Missus snapped a few shots from the pit wall, she sat out the session before dinner as she reckoned the weight of the helmet gave her a little neck ache. Sack the photographer All in all cracking day, clocked near 200 mile on track again and really can't fault the Megane yet again! Videos to come soon!
So a few little updates of late, been a little slow as had a lot on with new job on the horizon and interviews and assessments etc. So finally got hold of me powerflex lower arm bushes, non adjustable after the horror stories of the castor bushes etc. Got them through a mate who's a powerflex dealer so now I can go about rebuilding my spare arms Also Red5Automotive had a massive offer on TD 1.2's after celebrating the BTCC as there the control wheel for the series! Gone for them in black! Exact same fitment as Steve Kemp, a lad I've been chatting to recently regarding fitment Will increase track slightly with the alter of the offset and will make it a little more darty after speaking to a friend who sets up race and drift cars but nothing that'll be overly noticeable. Also bought a set of R888's to put on them! Demon tweeks were the cheapest for 4 with free delivery and awesome service as always Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Cheers mate Red5 Automotive have them on offer 499 delivered, in black only Yeah, Steven Kemp owns the car, nice lad gave me a little advice on wheels. I believe GFD steel works did the cage
What size was yours Steve1? You got a link so I can just click and buy lol Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Paid £400 for my TD 1.2 Gunmetal .Guy on ebay bought them for his Volvo then changed his mind .Still boxed up when I got them .I had to buy spigot rings as the Volvo ones didn't fit .
So then been a little quiet of late, got myself a new job and the process has took up a lot of time also bought a dog and putting finishing touches on me wedding! So the Meganes been sitting idle apart from a weekly drive out just to make sure nothing seizes up etc So on Saturday I thought I'd better get a few bits checked and a few job carried out pre Trackday etc. So I these jobs included: Oil and filter change (Fuchs Titan) Strip and clean and re bleed brakes Nut and bolt check Service Recirc valve Adjust bucket seat position. Luckily got it all done before the heavens open and then it was time to chill and pack the car for Cadwell. So Sunday morning met up with Steve1 at his and headed off to Cadwell park. Weather had given iffy reports but it turned out to be a bloody cracker! So we got there met Lee and Nick and Chris who had came to spectate. The day couldn't of gone better, the R26 felt on form and felt like I'd turned another corner in terms of my track driving although I considered myself half quick lol Top day and the Meganes certainly earn't there keep and just goes to show how capable they are weather a few other drivers coming over showing interest and giving compliments Think we rid Lincolnshire of half the fly population Videos to come, my R26 is now down a local bodyshop for its R spoiler and a little few bits tidied up! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
was nice meeting you all, was a perfect day the r26 performed very well on the track and it was good overtaking more than getting passed. Could do with some better tyres next time but love cadwell will do it again this summer, do you have any other dates planned
Yeah likewise mate, was good to meet you! You were going well mate, watching me videos my best time seems around 1.46-1.47 which I was extremely happy with. Me and Steve are going to book Donington evening with Javelin for end of June (purely down to work commitments for me over the next 6 weeks) and then I'm toying with maybe Snett or Cadwell in July Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
