Sikora's RB 200

[sikora]

Not really posted a lot on here since joining, so thought I'd finally put something up.

After getting my insurance payout from my written off 182 Trophy, I decided to stick with Renault and went on the search for a mk3. Ended up making the trip up to Scotland to buy a Racing Blue 200.



I went on holiday shortly after picking it up, so didn't really get to drive it for a few weeks.

First thing I did when I got back was to give it it's first proper wash. Clay all over, Auto Glym SRP, Collinite 476, finished with a few squirts of Bouncer's Done & Dusted.

 

[sevenfourate]

Lovely !!!!

About to machine polish and Colinite 476 and done and dusted mine this weekend funnily enough......

How did that combo work out ?

 

[Big Ben]

Stunning car. Looking forward to some more posts

 

[Pav]

looks very nice...enjoy your sparkling baby..

 

[sikora]

Lovely !!!!

About to machine polish and Colinite 476 and done and dusted mine this weekend funnily enough......

How did that combo work out ?

476 is so easy to work with. Supposed to last ages too. I'd used Meg's #26 for years: Great finish, but really difficult to buff off.
Done & Dusted is amazing and smells just as good. Make sure you give your windscreen a few wipes with it too

 

[sevenfourate]

476 is so easy to work with. Supposed to last ages too. I'd used Meg's #26 for years: Great finish, but really difficult to buff off.
Done & Dusted is amazing and smells just as good. Make sure you give your windscreen a few wipes with it too

Cool info - cheers.

Been using Angelwax H2GO on the glass for a while. Good stuff ! Nice to know about the Bouncers though......

 

[sikora]

Few bits I've done over the last couple of months:

Rear caliper was binding a bit. Turned out to be the o/s handbrake cable. Picked up a cable and decided to replace the discs and pads at the same time. Word of warning: Steer clear of Firstline handbrake cables. It'll do for now, but the coating on the cable isn't that durable and the ferrule is too small to fit in the bracket on the caliper.

With all the decent weather recently, I've noticed that my A/C doesn't work. Quick trip the garage for a leak test and a refill. Not as cold as other cars I've had, but it works.

Shiny new discs:





MOT was looming and a quick once over the car revealed a broken front spring. Barely noticeable through the plastic while on the car, but broken nonetheless.
With a trip down the Cardiff planned the following day, I took advantage of being pretty close to Demon Tweeks and picked up some Eibach springs.











Front looks lower, but if I'm honest, the rear doesn't look any different. Maybe I should of gone for the H&R's.......

 

[sikora]

Made an exhaust today Okay it's not as cowboy as it sounds, as I make them from a living.
I had the car on the ramp to weld the centre section not long after buying the car and I can hear it blowing again. It had already been welded by the previous owner, so just wasting my time fixing it again.

New centre section and 60mm pipework. All 304 stainless. I've sleeved this to the back box for now, while I decide what to do

 

[Sean197]

Good stuff! The ride height will settle a little after a few miles so you'll notice more of a difference.

 

[sikora]

Few hours cleaning, ready for Tunerfest at Oulton Park this weekend







20170720_214037 by Dan Sikora, on Flickr

 

[Pav]

 

[sikora]

Got my hands on some TPI wheel bolts. For such a subtle change, they make so much difference.
Also finally got round to removing the Clio badge from the tailgate. Been in two minds about doing this, but I'm happy with the results.







Yesterday was Tunerfest at Oulton Park. First show with a car for a few years and first with a Renault. Our stand was a little out of the way, so not sure if anyone here saw it.

Few photos alongside my friends Mini:

 

[sevenfourate]

Representing the RB clan

Looks fantastic buddy. Did you get many comments ?

De-Clio'd looks much better IMO.....

 

[sikora]

Representing the RB clan

Looks fantastic buddy. Did you get many comments ?

De-Clio'd looks much better IMO.....

To be honest ,I think the Mini got most of the attention

 

[sikora]

Few updates. First off, the Eibach springs. Just wasn't happy with the drop they gave. So after just a couple of weeks, off they came for a set of H&R's. Too the opportunity to refresh a few suspension/steering parts at the same time. New o/s front shock and top mount (n/s was done by previous owner last year) drop links and anti rotation links.
Also fitted 20mm Eibach spacers all round. This was always on the to do list, as the arches really do swallow the wheels on these cars.

Really happy with how it sits now. Ride quality probably isn't as forgiving on the H&R's, but it's a small price to pay


[url=https://flic.kr/p/ZDG8ZA]
20170815_193705 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/61314832@N03/]Dan Sikora, on Flickr[/url][/url]

 

[sevenfourate]

Phat !

Looking very clean too with its new stance. Lovely

 

[sikora]

One problem with the cars new stance on the H&R's was that my new centre section didn't get on with the speed bumps. One too many scrapes and the join at the cat just kept coming loose. So I bit the bullet and ordered a Scorpion system. We do a bit for Scorpion in work, so got a very good price on a resonated system. The flare on the secondary cat took a bit of a beating the final time it came loose, so a quick repair in work saw to that.
While I was at it, I also fitted a Ktec induction kit. Needless to say with the springs, exhaust and induction kit. It feels and sounds like a different car!

One too many speed bumps:






https://flic.kr/p/CBURK7

 

[sevenfourate]

Cool. And interesting ! Bet all that has transformed the 'feel' and attitude of the car !

What do you do work-wise for Scorpion buddy ?

 

[sikora]

Cool. And interesting ! Bet all that has transformed the 'feel' and attitude of the car !

What do you do work-wise for Scorpion buddy ?

Definitely. One thing I missed about my 182 was it's rawness. And while the H&R's aren't perfect, it's certainly brought some excitement to driving the car.

We make catalytic converters, as well as test and issue type approvals on exhaust systems

 

[sevenfourate]

Definitely. One thing I missed about my 182 was it's rawness. And while the H&R's aren't perfect, it's certainly brought some excitement to driving the car.

We make catalytic converters, as well as test and issue type approvals on exhaust systems

Indeed i bet ! The Eibach's were enough for me. So the difference in feeling from having the H+R's on now must be huge i imagine. They are pretty quiet and subdued as standard arent they. So with a bit of firming up and some noise....they do gain a bit of character hey

Good stuff with work. You're in the right place to do a few exhaust repairs for sure