The Dark Knight.

Well hello, old and new.

Now building my thread is going to take ages, Bits will be copy and paste work but regardless I hope it gives a decent read to some. I'm going to start from the beginning and it will take time but its something i'm proud off and regardless of ups and downs she's still here and will pretty much be on the road this week.

So bear with me... This be good.

Leave this here...


IMG_6118 by NaithanAriane, on Flickr


My next post will takin it back to 2007. OldSkool.

 

Thanks Paul. I'll get the stuff up over the next 24 hours with some new stuff to come. The olde girl has some life in her yet.

 

Here goes, I'm missing alot out but its the best i can do, feels weird starting a progress thread again! OK...

30.06.2008


After seeing a good few progress threads on here i thought i'd throw one out for anyone thats interested. i know she's not radically different but she has a style, components and look very individual that i aint just thrown together so thought i'd share I picked up a phase 1 Black 225 in june 2007



I was bored of my beetle, yes a beetle, i'd fitted 18 black deep dishes some bodywork touchs and lowered it and was bored basically so set of on my merry way and bought a meganesport.



At the time i didnt know it used to belong to the founder of meganesport. So iIjoined up the website and found this out, i'd gone to bristol to pick up the car from a guy who had bought it from the original owner. when i got there i just fell in love with it. it wasn't in the condition i'd of expected but was cheaper than expected and the allure of a turbo charged car just caught my eye. the spec on arrival was a RStuning remap, powerflow exhaust, FMIC and lowered on eibach springs... most of which at the time just made me smile and nod my head as i knew little of what these did or offered. the few weeks that followed proved and showed that the guy had no idea of how to maintain a car, she had no oil, was creaking and cracking and scratched/swirled to buggery. it also showed i was stupid in going down with the money and just buying it. anyway sh1t happens so i set to cleaning her up and making her how she is today.

first to go was rear window stickers, engine cover, bonnet heat sheild and turbo heat shield, changed the aerial and sorted interior which looked like iraq on a sat nite.. then got shinyautos lighting kit and andy b fitted me some 6k HIDS



The brakes were cooked so i set about replacing them, only to find that all the caliper pins had been scratched and bent, in -2 we cracked on and eventually got there.... wasnt happy mind




January this year i got the wheels gloss black powder coated @ the wheel specialist in Manchester, also decided to get side badges done, one or two had them done at this point but not in the same colour as the car with the writing different



As some of you know the exhaust on the car is loud when i gun it, kinda different, just jet like loud. Decided in February that the pipes were a mess so under warrenty she went off to powerflow in Bolton, long story short... the car was absolutely wrecked there, it came back with damaged alloys and an exhaust that was frankly embaressing. it stook right out, was blowing out of one pipe (due to the system being made with a straight through pipe and the right exit pipe being basically stuck onto the exhaust) as any enthusiast would be I was gutted. I wanted to sell the car n get rid I was so angry and let down, got a recommendation to go to DANMAR in wigan, a guy there called kenny used to work for british aerospace, he cut, rejigged and tampered with the system...

Well its perfect now, sits really deep, lot more OEM but still aftermarket (if thats possible) flows been corrected so both pipes blow now, its running a powerflow backbox with no centre box, is louder and more growl like too, turbo sounds louder too. In the last few weeks especially since the pounding at RWS and FCS its developed a really deep growl now, so its bedding in nicely.

Would defo recommend DANMAR in Wigan. Had two Yoko parada2's fitted too on the front at the same time, champion in the dry, 'fun' in the wet. the track session at rockingham showed when warm they do stick too. but doubt i'll go for them again..



In april i changed oil and sparks on the car, stuff in it was pap, dont even know what he'd used but anyway of i went to oulton park where a mate did my service, changing oil filter and filling her up with MOTUL 300V and changing the sparks over to DENSO IRIDIUM (not sure if this has done anything but she's still running) also decided to take out the head unit in the car, the guy who id bought it off said he was an electrician..... yeh right... the system was a mess, wires cut and live connections just sitting there. ripped it all out and fitted a sony CDX-30, very OEM but capable at the same time, im not one to blare my tunes out so something thats good but not crazy suits me fine. during this also found loads of spare wires and connections so the car must of had a sub and amp in it at some point

As of May the Rear of the cars electronics are essentially phase 2 with phase 2 lighting now as 'chrisNnic' donated me some actual phase 2 rear connections and they along with 'bigbob' who spend stupid hours on the car solved everything. basically i was sent the wrong stuff up and for a month the car wouldnt work and was blowing fuses left right and centre, blew headlights and LEDS which ive now taken out. also cleaned/tightened the FMIC up whilst everything was off.



hardest thing ever to sort when in reality it should be the easiest, but at the end of it all the cars got a tidier and stronger rear lighting setup than what renault offer... not that it helps.. engine has been polished up to a stupid level and rainbow front indicators fitted on the front, silvertecs in the rear, i also decided to strike up a deal with viper performance around this time to develop some silcone parts for the engine, the result after the first one was quite impressive.



the next pipes on my window sill trying to bleach a little colour outta it winston styley as its a darker one than the one in the engine at the moment, due to a different manufactuering process even now after having a tickle in alot of megs out there i havent been in one that pulls through third like this, it was pulling in R26s at rockingham in third (even though i'd lost a little time due to traction/ASR outta the chicane, more about that below). the car runs an 'old' remap, not as refined as the newer ones but holds silly torque levels. this the reason for the pull in third. considering its a 54 plate car it looks as fresh and is as well maintained as some new ones (i try my best, not sparkly but me n riad always pull our sleves up for the shows) she was Pc'ed before WSR and will be done again at the end of july

WSR

Due to working solid for three weeks before i didnt get time to clean, prep or touch the meg before RWS. i painted the badges the night before, and riad asked if he could remove the rear seats and carpets... Anyway paintbrush strokes ftw, they were that bad i had to fit a disclaimer.





the car IMO looked well its just close up you could see the badges crapness, certainly got alot of attention though so i was happy, until the gypo tramps put ash from their cigarettes and coke cans on the car... the seats being out definately lightened the car and rear end, not massively but enough for me too notice and react differently (especially on track at Rockingham, more details on FCS paragraph), it also showed the ineffectivness of the FullFat rear damper and spring setup on renaultsports, if you value performance then cup, trophy, R26 based chassis and suspensions are on another level, although due to having the car lowered the dampers werent that bad. we went out on the parade lap, which in reality turned into a mini free track day, the car once warm was amazing, pulled like a b**ch and stuck too, which i didnt think she would, due to being a full fat fat cow.......

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bbYyHNZDQc8&feature=related

this vid shows the car and sounds the best...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAqy5pf5p1c

i'd got the track bug...



to celebrate i let riad sleep in the car that night



anyway FCS....

I sent the badges off the week before but the workshop wouldnt of had them ready for the show they said as they were soooo busy, so I got the train to whitby stayed over, crack of dawn got the train to middlesbrough, helped to paint the badges myself and got home at 3pm fitted badges, with black/gold handles, a little touch that totally changes look of car, but which meant the car had no handles for a week and the solinoids hanging out of the socket taped up with yellow tape... rat look indeed myself and big bob in his 172 then braved the M6 to kettering, i fitted smoked indicators and the new inferno badges at the hotel, only got round to cleaning her at the show too, to the digust of a few peeeps, oppps.

Cont..

 

On track











I was really proud of her on track for a slack old girl she didnt half shift. think i was second to last out, with denty (white decaled R26) behind me, was unfortunately stuck behind a few cars for a while but passed eventually and got on with it. by this time the front end had caught up (well jamiemac silver R26 and basset LY R26) i let jamie through on the straight whilst we gave eachother a two finger salute, i caught a better line down the straight than jamie and was thinking about repassing/barging through. i braked into the first tight corner and we both overcooked it, jamie gravelling it, i pulled next and thought reete i'll let him sod off now..


Next lap Andy bassett was a abit behind so i thought i'd see how once behind how i could keep up and eased off to let the LYR26 through. i followed andy for 3 laps i think, on the straight we'd both agree there was nothing at all, its the LSD/damper setting that makes those r26s so track potent as through the mid section and especially the last 'chicane' they were murdering me. the car has issues at the rear and due to this its corner exit, coupled with the banking of the circuit was killing the power onto the main straight, the car totally killed power on some laps whilst i was sat there screaming 'cummmonnnn' i changed lines and it helped a little but the full fat was not match in the twisties that i totally concede. after talking with a few guys i now know its the rear damper settings and spring rate... which trust me, will be getting sorted asap! i managed to put a good few moves in on people and pulled in cars through 3rd gear on the straights, as i went past the white Seat his back end twitched big time, i had to tuck my arse in then, also when Dave richmond nearly slid one up the inside on rich/gem... that was a shrieker im defo going to be doing some more track and almost have a green light to start a major overhaul at the rear coupled with a few minor front tweeks so when they are on i'll be happier. i couldnt give 100% either as i had riad in and im not into risking his life, mine im not arsed about but not my little brothers... (even so we were still sh1t hot lol) apparently the bumblebeast and TDK when going past together was like a thunder storm, so i'd take that alone





i let markcup through on the 3rd lap as he closed up in traffic, knew that he was setup for the twisties and militant in them, followed down the straight the meg pulled him in again but the sheer ability of the clios through the corners was unbelievable.







At this moment in time i need an original 'Renaultsport' for the rear as i'm going to spray it up with the rest of the bits n bobs. i can fit it now as someone kicked the car in the boot before i had it, dinting where the renaultsport badge goes... nice of them yeh I'm also considering changing the whole inferno style details to either yellow or kawasaki green but we'll see when im back from my holidays.


The future is pretty much as follows. my little brother 'riad' will be driving soon so we've agreed to share a little funbus like a 1.2 clio or small diesel and only use the meg for meets, spirited drives, events and track. to help with this i'm bringing in some of the guys at 'BPM racing' who run the clio cup racer endurance spec and are masters in my eyes at setting up and running a nuts machine.


the next level


visual interior/exterior upgrades:

• front bumper vents and different air intake enterance, braking ducts, front splitter off a phase 2 megane (b**ch to fit), front bumper respray, phase 2 front wipers
• carbon bonnet
• slightly lower stance due to suspension changes
• rear bumper modification, mimicking the look of a rear venturi, cant work this out though at the mo so its a major work in progress
• Gauges to go under the radio reading volts and water temp (arrives next week im away ffs)
• Gauge in the A pillar showing boost (in plaster at the moment)
• sport rear spoilers have grown on me recently so i'll be gettin one of them with my next bank job
• As she's staying two seater i am after some track/fast road front seats, ive been offered the wide RS seats off a clio cup racer, not sure at the moment if these are a little to hardcore, i'll decide on that one on holiday

Engine/technical:

• being a chav i've asked an exhaust friend to look at the fuel mapping to see if she could spit flames when VERY hot and @ full boost, so thats gettin sorted along with the suspension
• I'm having another engine pipe made @ viper at the mo, its one to go with the current ones but running from manifold to intercooler
• got Ferodo DS2500's sat in the boot waiting to go on and going to put some dot 5.1 fluid in too

Suspension

• Not wanting to give to much away but the cars staying two seater (hint) and will be getting adjustable setup curtosey of a certain race series that this websites closely linked too, so watch this space on that one

Thanks for looking anyway, unlucky if u dont like it n think nowts done to it etc, those that know me, know i've sorted alot of wrongs on it and put alot of time and effort into her, and for an out of work actor i spend what i got on her so happy days and thanks to people that have sent little bits n bobs, offered advice and shown interest

 

28.07.2008

just a little update, did oulton yesterday and made sure the car looked pristine, was so hot tho the detailer was evaporating off the car upon contact. we parked in front of the 'official' VXR forum and they were NOT happy but good times... anyhoo this little thing arrived yesterday from renault.





its the same rear spoiler that the new R26R has, i ordered it before the R26R was showing what kit it had so i dont want people thinking im trying to imitate one of them, but sod it those in the kno will know that its a phase one 'one off' lol. hopefully at speed it will plant the rear a little more and get rid of the need for a diffuser that i was toying with the idea of... just needs a 2 stage bake as its primed and a nice coat of blackgold on it

 

28.08.2008

A few weeks ago i picked up a nasty scratch on the side of the meg, did it with a pressure washer, totally my fault but i decided to get it sorted. At a wales meet a few weeks ago i met scott who mentioned that he worked for chipsaway, it also helps that he drives a LY R26.

i asked him there n then if i could book in to get a few marks machine polished out. got there today and things didnt go to plan.....

i wasnt aware (god knows why) that Scott was able to paint and mess about with cars, well we had a coffee and decided to spray all my badges Liquid Yellow. i was perfectly happy with the old one just the track at bruntingthorpe had destroyed two of my badges.

so Scott set to work







results







Anyone that says liq yellow is near impossible to redo is having a laugh, the pics speak for themselves whilst riad and myself were there Scott had to go and pick up his supplies.

we tagged along to another outlet where all the sprayers and valeter from around NW/preston get their stock and advice. long story short the stuff we saw and demo'd was amazing, proper professional gear. i bought some 'Malco' polishing creme and spray wax. i know a few guys of other forums detail with it.

A few have the spray wax on here to as Scott has started to stock it. best quick detailer i've used... no im not on comission!



the stuff comes from america and is trade based, so not available in halfords. the size of the products shows this, most the stuff comes in massive vats or containers, perfect to split between mates tho....

all the people there were raving about it and i have seen it on 'Detailers world' a few times. i learnt some interesting and totally unbiased things about what people say and how alot of cleaning products are made, uses of silicons, cutting agents, abilities of mass sold products which would change alot of peoples opinions, but hey each to their own.
Scott is also looking into selling the products via meganesport/cliosport, details of which im sure he will be putting up soon. used the polishing creme on the car after the machine polish and the results are brilliant, im picking up some more stuff next week and have caught the cleaning bug... when we got back to the marque Scott set to work on the machine and a nasty scratch got cut away and polished up, there was swirling and holograms all down the left off the car too which were cut down and treated accordingly.

Results below



After 2nd pass



And after polish



Note my new volt and water temp gauges in left of pic under headunit





Cars goin back to him next week when i have some pennies so i can pick up some show spec aqua mist and im getting the rear lights polished clean and pick up my side badges which i decided to leave there as i had made him do so much work today.



I will also be getting front fog replaced and front bumper respray as mine is farked! proper pics up in next few days when shes looking abit better, with side badges on and rear spoiler fitted, oh and yes they will change colour again no doubt

 

05.09.2008

Gauges are working fully now thanks to bigbob off CS, top guy, sorted most of my electrics on the car.





R26R spoilers on, got it sprayed up and fixed on by zedilly of MS.

Had to drill some holes in the boot as it doesnt fit properly standard from renault but was easy tbh... excuse crap pics, raining and cant find camera

 

07.12.2008

Picked up and fitted Renault OEM CF bonnet other day, totally wrong time of year as i got no money for Xmas... but sod it.


not available to buy yet but this was one sent to Aston Marin by Renault, as Aston are starting to use CF on am mass scale in the new cars, esp on their bonnets/wings. Aston then threw it in a skip, its a long story but worth a listen if you ever see me about..

 

24.01.2009

Running the RSTuning stage 2 map now. although we've had some issues as icarus and paul @ RST think the cat is decaying, i had it RR @ 260BHP and 313 ft lb torque, pulls to 6.5k on boost.

at a NW last week it apparently had bits coming out of the exhaust onto another meg so that will be the CAT breaking up, a free decat if you will.

its having some more testing done in feb but is pretty near the stock turbos limit now.



(note turbo at 800+degree's)

we could get another 10/15 bhp but that will tell in and whether the cat has gone or if i need to actually decat the system when i get some more custom mapping in leeds

 

03.02.2009

I was aiming for this too be a moving forward thread, but then i remembered i have a renault.

Anyhoooo at the NW meet on Sunday the window regulator fully failed both sides

passanger down - drivers up... detailed here http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=392935

lots of help was shown by members as always and i drove to sy's (sy16v) on sunday night to get the doorcard off..... in the snow, with a blanket round me...

anyhoo, it just wasn't happening, his dad quickly fabricated me a polycarb window, that was infact a perfect fit!, we tapped it up and i went home to cry. all sunday night with the snow i was worried but nothing seemed to get into the car.

today I drove all of 5 miutes to winstons as he said he was free and i needed my window jamming up... who else to call but the 'king of the rig'.

i pull up and he's tinkering with the 5 on a main road, as you do.



instantly taking a like to my polycarb window, we set about pulling the most awkward doorcard off in the world. i had started on sunday night but gave up... talk about a ballache. I imagine to a renault tech it would be easy but it was stuck fast...!

Winst was looking for more leverage as we had removed pretty much everything we could...



i got annoyed and ripped it off (which in hindsight was all we needed to do)



we wondered whether the car had a new door as there was a ghetto style sticker on the interior. you would never see writing in the UK like below (unless its my dad writing) and obviously the GB gives it away too... so yes we realised it was original and cracked on.



winston disconnected the motor, I dealt with the plug and plays and the whole doorcard eventually came off from the wires and connectors. As the motor in effect turns a wheel i turned the wheel manually whilst winston pulled the window up, it stayed up.

the car door basically looks like this now (minus the white box and thick wiring loom which is hidden)



The problem being now, I actually like it, carbon door skins with some of the parts put back in, maybe with manual winders? keep it stripped and use manual winders? put it back to OEM or electronics all in but with no doorcard.

all depends on what money I can muster and if I do any of the above (bar OEM) it will mean pulling the driverside out too. but this will need to be done as the regulator on the drivers has gone too... god bless renault!




the car has stripped rear interior now, like last summer, and will be in the garage within the next 14 days to have a new boot floor, rear bumper and the exhaust remounted after a Ring&ride hit me whilst stationary. the yellow decals will also be changing.

thanks for reading & cheers to all who offered advice on sorting it.

 

18.02.2009

lil update, been working last week or so, which is poo but had a day with her today.

purchased some more oil from opie today, checked engine mounts (i'm going to replace them as she's getting pounded this season) and continued with the weight strip.

the car is awaiting a new rear bumper and zorst reallignment, when thats done the cage will be going in, but until then im stuck about doing anything major (unless warren gives me his CR splitter or some K&Ws just happen to show up.

managed to get about 2KG of weight out just with all the sound deadening, not much but all adds up. ive made alot of inroads in other areas and still 50/50 on whether to remove a/c pump... ive used it twice i think tops!

so today was just about getting the rear ready for a spray, mostly consisted of removing side rear carpet and blooming tar. a few foam coverings with hole in too (just into the chassis)
















below shows the main points of removal today (purple dots), surprising how much tar was there in hidden areas, cars not exactly quiet anyway so its all out now




took her out tonight and the sound was bordering on rediculous, me n riad just looked at eachother and grinned like kids, anyone who has a ride soon will do the same i hope


i know the seats need to go asap, they are a pain and doing my nut... but things take time.

these also arrived today, nothing special i know but getting some sparco bits in soon so thought i'd spruce the pedals up as they look... 'used'

 

17.03.2009

Was in wales yesterday so thought it would be rude not to pop into Demon Tweeks. they usually are really miserable and not bothered but the service i got off one of the lads yesterday changed all my opinions and views on the place. sorted me a nice deal out too.

was after some Motul oil but they had none in my spec, no-one has at the mo, its all getting sent to rally/race teams in Japan and the far east apparently...! n0rm has some though from the TT so will be getting it on thursday, yayy!!

seen a direct air feed intake system in there on display and wanted the same for ages, well as you do i bought it and i'll fit it on thursday.






should hopefully replace the meganes rubbish OEM feed and look quite tasty recessed into the lower grill next to the intercooler.




Also getting a carbon fibre cupraR splitter on thursday, been after one for ages so hoping it will bring the front down nicely, match the bonnet and anchor the front end(minimally granted). will post pics when its on.

The badges are goin Electric Orange too (focus ST colour) as im done with the yellow, good pal at chipsaway will be sorting that within next 10 days. got new design of logo and in a colour match too.





so all in all its a waiting game at the mo, just thought id update for anyone interested

final(ish) pic of the car as it is for now

 

19.03.2009

got round to fitting my front splitter today with warren4.


on his way up from birmingsham he was kind enough to pick up my oil for me off norm, motul goodness. the meg drinks it. gone for 10w 40 instead of 5w, but its no different according to fred/icarus so good times tbh.

bunged that in and decided to give warrens bonnet a quick seeing too


The Slagathor


(note SuperIgnis patrolling in the background)

we were meant to fit the CAF and feed but it was sunny and we went racing round trafford park and had ice cream instead.

anyway fitted the cupraR carbon fibre front splitter after lunch and GT5. pretty much a straight fit although we had to shave down a little recess that sits under the bumper and tinker to drill the base and match it etc.

the splitter looks brilliant IMO, so happy with it, needs some final twitching with and a few more layers of malco, but it'll be reete. fitted quite far under so not sticking out and looking all "y0!"... hopefully will give a slight better flow and if no it looks decent, simple things... n all that. not the same quality as the bonnet, but the bonnets worth stupid money and its still decent enough and carbonnnn








cars not 100% clean excuse that fact

 

28.04.2009

Few weeks ago I spent the day fitting a caf from tweeks.












its not for show so got it in black and fitted it behind the bumper, since the pics it has moved ever so slightly but i'll sort that when the front bumpers off, ended up cutting .5kg of plastic out of the bumper, no need for it there, well if there was then tough,



its bought temps down but as you can see i need a race battery to get the full effect as it now sits under the battery and doesnt flow at 100%











regardless it will do for now and replaces the shocking cold air pick up the megane has as standard.












the day proper shredded my hands, im talking like i'd been using a razor blade as a stress ball, all part of the fun mind.

 

28.04.2009

Saturday 11th April, we went off to ISTS for the weekend to promote FCS2009, I had no intention of running the car on track as the front wheel bearings arent 100% and the front discs are on their way out and I put 235 Mich pilots on the back that are totally different to what im used too.

quick call to icarus and fred

fred: i wouldnt go out no, but i know your not even gonna listen to me anyway

Icarus: errrr should hold up, if your wheel comes off just really yank at the steering wheel as you'll still have one wheel steer remember...






but alas, my silly side got the better of me and I decide to go on track against some serious metal, so tape the front up, up the pressures and out i go, worried the car will fall to pieces or get shown up.....

well, during the first session I passed 6 evos, 2 skylines, an M3, S4 (running 500bhp apparently), typre R, DC5 and numerous track slags.

this isnt me being the big I am, I was just as shocked as the car seemed to fly past everything in sight. the only thing to pass me was a race prepped ferrari, how i grinned as he made me look like i was standing still.

the car defo turned some heads that day, i came in shaking from what just happened, and didnt stop smiling for a good few hours.







later on in the day i stood on the wall talking to some marshalls, they asked what I was in and one said 'oh that bloody loud one'... long story short they said I could go out on track and basically threw me a helmet...!

out in the session the tyres werent as happy as first but I passed another M3 and two old boys in full race garb in a Fiesta ST, they wouldnt let me past and if im honest were driving dangerously.

I knew a lad in a meg F1 was out as i'd been telling him about the track before hand and after a quick pull into the pits for riad to check on the hosing i went straight back out behind an evo 8 chasing down my pal in the F1.... into the K.curves the evo was really hassling the meg (boot full of ice), the meg pulled over to let the evo past and as the evo past I went past the evo.

andy in the meg said he nearly crashed laughing so much, I gotta admit the feeling was like nothing else, i took an S3 and an AC 3 series and a brilliant little AX before I had next to no fuel left and came in. job done

how we laughed on the way home as all the show cars bombed past us on CC at 58mph





next up coilovers, new parada2's all round and new rear rebuild of boot floor, exhaust and new rear bumper (thank you ring and ride for hitting me)

 

22.05.2009

busy next few weeks.... ordered new window regulators, new boot floor, new rear bumper, braided hoses, brake oil, new disks and having it all on and tinkered with too.


badges go back to lambo orange next wednesday, twas the colour the car was always meant to have. the LY has grown and grown on me but its time to change.


whilst i was up in preston at chips-away picking colours and having the stone chips looked at i decided to have to the car valeted, by a detailing unit next door, really happy with what they did, more so i can actually see the brake calipers now!


asw pic before shes all change.. and the unusual rain in manchester





the car will be going to JD's next saturday for a pre season PC/machine polish, his quality of work goes without saying, my only issue is whether i should get the front bumper re-sprayed before hand as its like a Dalmatian!


last week had the exhaust remounted and checked over up at DANMAR in wigan, was welded and cleaned up,


yay clean and straight zortzorz!!1!







this weekend bigbob will be over to help me fit a switch that allows manual killing of the cars ESP, on road i will rarely/never use it, just the car has a habit of killing power on the limit (Rockingham chicane/Oulton). so with the manual override and the cup dampers i will regain much more control. It will be dash mounted too.





so next week fred will be fitting dampers,i'll hopefully be getting some goodies of Icarus, its off chips-away and jamies and i should receive my new sexy braided hoses (next day deliver, 4 days ago)

 

26.05.2009

took more out of the car sunday, think it'll have no carpet or deadening come summer but oh well!







had rob over and we fitted the kill switch for the ASP/ESR










might put it a little lower as im getting a cheeky little metal (R26) plaque made up, but for now it's reete


yes i know i need seats in there...

 

16.06.2009

started a little bit of prep and overhaul ready for FCS and track season, etc.

first step was to get a PC done so off to JD's and took richngem along with me, whilst Jamie was doing a stage 1 clean on the car rich and myself fitted some cup dampers to the rear of the car. the car is a 225FF and technically the oldest and slowest of the megane range, no slouch but the damping on cup dampers is 80% stiffer.

coupled with cup eibach springs i hoped this would stop my nervous back end (lol). fitting all in took about 30 mins and upon dropping the car you could see the difference, ableit not feel it.

the damper and springs are a temporary measure until the coilovers go on, but for now they are a definate help (details to follow in FCS thread)

we also fitted some HEL braided lines to improve feel on braking, although there would be a two week wait to fit my disks and pads, hopefully around FCS time

we fitted the lines and DOT 5.1 brake fluid, dropped the car and disaster. air still in system....

a slow convoy home and to oulton park in the morning and we set about fixing it, using darrenS as our pumping b**ch we jacked the car up at cascades and rebled using millers race DOT 4 that was on sale at oulton. she was fixed.... phewww.

rich was so cut up about not doing it right, although it was probs my fault, cant thank him enough, ledge x


the following week i cleaned up my intercooler at an industrial unit and had my badges done again by scott at chipsaway in preston, i hated the colour though and instantly set about changing it for FCS and indeed the future.

more to follow...

 

16.06.2009

exhaust day...

A member of MS mentioned to me when we were in dieppe how he loved the shape of the exhaust, ive never been crazy and always wanted circular. we met up at DANMAR in wigan and kenny took my system off (from the backbox) and fitted it to Jono's car.

i was expecting the car to sound the same...... errr it didnt, straight away you could hear the sound of the turbo with the exhaust. i liked it, riad moaned it hurt his ears, job done! the ride home was shall we say fun.

i had the oval pipes fitted and a new rear section, anyone looking for exhaust work i can only recommend Kenny @ DANMAR, top guy and knows his onions (worked for Bae for 15 years lol).





a few of the megane boys have started to go there and a few CS lads are interested too

and for the record i do NOT run a screamer pipe/work for GDI/run a restrictor pipe as has been suggested by other forums

 

11th/12th june 2009

decided on my new colour scheme and stickers, got to preston and cracked on.



took ages but was well worth it for the banter and jokes


stripped some more stuff outta the car to lighten her for FCS. Also trotted upto Macclesfield to see EARs Motorsport and have them fit 2 new Parada2s to the front to give me some much needed grip!

all i needed was brakes fitting at kettering ready for fcs, which didnt go to plan...

 

17.06.2009

Day/night before FCS

Got the car stickered up and cleaned @ autopride up in preston on the friday, and worked on her till the evening all alone up the drive. sat morning met the NW lot at Lymm and set off down the M6 traffic jam. champion banter on the way down and I pwnt a carrera which is always nice.

At kettering Rich decided we should fit my disks and pads ready for track on sunday, an hour later and 6 pints we gave up. the caliper pin is seized/bent so it wont release. I would have to do track on fried brakes. to celebrate I got drunk and put stickers on everyones cars

 

17.06.2009

FCS 09

Morning, got hangover?!




got to circuit, late, murmered hello to a few and signed up for Iridiums Parade Lap.

then went straight to the garage to strip the car and sort tyres and pressures. fred came n nosy'd, kevo66 parked the catcam up next to me and I spent all of 5 mins putting the most bright wheels ever known onto his car (they looked epic btw kev)

first session I went out with kev to get a feel for the circuit, surviving a huge slide when a saxo dumped its guts at the hairpin and then went out behind him for TDKs first session. (after taking passenger seat out)



pic by rob(197.net)

Straight away the brakes werent as strong as I hoped, initial bite was good and grip too, the cup dampers keeping the car tighter than before too helped

http://www.vimeo.com/5204070

Played with a black saxo that was supercharged or on ITBS (which im not sure, although it was fast) and got a feel for the car.

Second session the car seemed its happiest, passing all and sundry it flew, was poised and with added gear braking I was living with the brakes issue, few spins in front of me but its to be expected.

[video=youtube;QZYyalc7eGo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZYyalc7eGo&feature=player_embedded[/video]

I noticed the dust from the rally stage was coming onto the track and found it a little bit of a distraction, although the sweat dripping into my eyes wasnt the best experience ever too! I dont have any footage of the second and third session unfortunately so take my word when I enjoyed them, the car ran well and brakes were fine

Fourth session was the Meganesport session...


pic by rob (197.net)

some terrible driving on this to be honest, as you will see in the video. the brakes were shot by now and I picked up some oil off a Pug205 which made the front twitchy for a lap or so.

not far into the session I let Denty past to see if i could do anything against a 26R. I had passed two earlier in the day but i think a culmination of me gunning it and them not helped. Straight away you could see how the car is so poised through cornering, the diff and suspension are 'scary'. I didnt have an answer and although slightly quicker and better under braking, the vastly improving Denty was pulling away form me. Due to trafic the best he pulled was half a straight so theres hope, but the R26R is an absolute animal focused on the sole aim of being quicker than other cars round a circuit.

I was proud though, that a 225FF could even run near the pace of the aforementioned car (the youtube video that someone quoted saying i was mullered or something... ermm yeh thanks haha, listen to the volume and me lifting for 4/5 seconds, bell)


so overall, for what she is, I couldnt be happier. I had no idea the exhaust was so loud and I live the 50/50 appeal it generates too. People talk but dont mention me driving my guts out, haha. its all good though.

Apoligies for not speaking or seeing anyone but my track bug kicked in and I needed to race. Also hope that people enjoyed seeing it on track, remembering im skint, independant and do the best with what I got


anyhoo, the cars up the drive, she wont move till I get the brakes sorted now.

 

17.06.2009

The only upside to the fried brakes and not rushing to put them on for FCS is that I can have the disks grooved and to a design I find suitable. Recently alot of the R26Rs have been cracking their disks, most think its to do with the abuse they recieve, coupled with the design of the grooves on the disk.





rich CADed me over a design which I think will suit the disk, keeping a good surface area and not weakening it too much. these should be on next week, front and rear, with DS2500/DS300 for the summer months and next track outing.

 

27.08.2009

Not updated in a while, truth be known the cars not moved, ive been driving around in my mums ignis and the megs just been sat there. the grooved disks are on now though and shall be bedded in on the way to trax


i thought it was time to shed some more weight and replace the now 'dud' OEM heavy battery...







odyssey extreme 25, part of the POT groupbuy from rally direct, arrived next day going to fit it this weekend


another benefit is that i can cut the battery tray right down and run the air feed direct to the airbox, rather than its current crushed state.


also been having the dash slowly covered in alacantera, but due to finances its taking a while, will look awesome when fully fitted tho, heres a taster.







also had some CF mirror covers and side badges made up by streamline carbon, getting them fitted just before trax.


pics when they are on

oh...

 

01.09.2009

After getting the bits n bobs sorted over the weekend i spent today fitting the battery, cutting down the tray and tinkering with intake.





first job was to cut down the battery tray whilst trying to keep it looking OEM, which i managed, god knows how as im usually the biggest pikey ever. drilled two holes in it too to add the supporting strap in.





not 100% happy but its legal and will see me sweet for a few weeks. also held the xeno unit in the strap too. all it needs is the red cover to go over the red box which i somehow lost?!




cut the airbox supporting pipe down and looped my airfeed over it too. i wanted it too look no worse than the frankly disgusting megane enginebay already is, i think it looks fairly OEM and tidy.







drove her for the first time in a month afterwards too... still smiling.

 

19.10.2009

Not updated in a while, not even sure if any bugger reads these anymore...

anyhoo

Trax... September 2009

arrived on the sat at streamline to have my prototype CF sidebadges put on, i'll let the pics do the talking...




then off to the campsite to drink and decide to fit my new brakes onto the rear. thanks to richngem, jono n stevie for all their efforts.






decided it would be best to bed them in on the silverstone bypass on the morning of the show and on track, mainly due to me being an idiot...

on the way into silverstone i passed some 306 ccs and i think it was 'sash' at speed, apoligies for velocity and noise but i was 'testing'

show was ok, enjoyed ken block and then i hit what can only be described as a farce out on track.

the silverstone lotus experience cars should be ashamed of themselves, going full chat when we are technicxally on a warmup lap in single file convoy is not acceptable. the car ran ok, kept cutting power on the main straight, either fuel starvation or a dicky injector, but ive not had a chance to check as she's been driven once since then.

I followed a race prepped fiesta ST on ITB's losing pretty much nothing and nearly passing him twice. it was a local car and had silverstone plastered all over it so i was happy with that and the outdragging of the TA evo on the hanger straight





the car seemed a little 'tired' so to speak around trax, i think the summer of tracking and fun was taking its toll on the old girl. the back suspension be it better than before still isnt good enough, well the whole cars suspension isnt, but beggers cant be choosers, (i found this by powersliding round the first corner after the pit straight) as soon as i can i'll be putting the battery in the boot the even up the balence.

off it goes to BTM whilst i'm in the US for two weeks...

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=456496

"Naith your car is a f&$king nail"

"why whats up?"

"everything"

"that's rightttt"

fred worked miracles and ive only driven the car 3 times since but she feels better, she needs to go down in a week or so to have brake bias seen to, new driveshafts and a new anti roll bar... but engine and lubrication wise she's happy for now.

so it's october, she has insurance and MOT but no tax... im skint, but i'll sort that out. ive turned my attentions to tidying the inside up.

Alacantara centre console with a little twist











guy off MS called 'leipz'... the quality and finish is sexual, i cant stop stroking, it really is high end OEM. took me a few hours to strip my old dash out but its so worth it, few more bits coming too.. cost me alot but i stayed in for a weekend and made it possible.

next step... god knows, buckets, carpet out, all i know is she needs work doing and i need to find funds... had to put money into the family tho due to a few issues, meh, be reete...

a mates just decided to sell his new KWV3 coilovers too... bugger

 

18.11.2009


soooo... here be the half cage, going in on friday, coming out soon after to be coated lime green then front mounts will be welded in for ridgidity, quality and weld is very good from what i can see and have had it checked over, not heavy either.




not weighed it but its about 16kg, weight will be neutralised when seats come out though so happy days.

 

07.02.2010


Update time, god its been a while.


truth be told with work being quiet and the weather bad i kind of left the car to fester. theres a huge crack in the windscreen and she needs bits n bobs doing so i simply couldnt be arsed so to speak.


last week I went to oulton park with our riad to let him do some shots and test out kevo's 197. so i half heartedly cleaned her and we tootled off to cheshire. ive been driving my mums car since november and the second i got back into the meg everything made sense again. i was grinning ear to ear.


go to oulton just as a mate of mine unfortunately binned his 106, due to him not using his track time he simply said... you taking the meg out naith then?


never one to turn down a session i took the car out in what can only be described as a monsoon. there was actual ankle deep pudles on the track and i hadnt set the car up and was totally unprepared. but i got a few laps in and she somehow didnt get black flagged due to her 'vocal' aspects





the ABS was throwing a hissy fit and triggering the ESP too under heavy braking making the car wobble so i came in and hooned about in kevs instead.


whilst on track or even on the way home maybe something has hit the radiator, ive lost all coolant but its not severe so i'll sort that in a few weeks when I replace the windscreen and make some changes to the front bumper.






had my mate misterc over this weekend for a clubbing sess so we decided to give the cars a good clean and tidy them up, i'm having my cage welded in at BTM within the next few weeks so i've just left it lying about. was so nice yesterday I thought sod it n fitted it. granted its gotta come out for it to be sprayed the plates and welds to be put in but its all bolted in for now and looks good.


i've carpeted it but forgot to do an interior shot when fitted, duuuur, so will tomorow









this weekend made me remember why I'm a car enthusiast, people looking and asking questions when its just a crappy renault!?!? feels so nice and makes the work worthwhile










still more things to come, yes i know i need a race seat... and loads of other things. if anyone wants to lend me the money feel free