197 Cup F4RT track car

L33 KUP

Platinum Member
Hi, apologies in advance as I’ve never written a build thread before so this may be a long introduction and may be rubbish. So I've been on the forum for a while, albeit under a different user name, but I have never really posted too much and being as my membership was up for renewal seemed like the right time for me to carry out a name swap and finally start a build thread which I have been meaning to do for some time.

My car is a 2008 197 CUP in white which to be honest I didn't really want to buy, in-fact I still haven't even driven it with the standard engine, possibly something which I may come to regret!! So my friend owned this before me and I owned, currently still do, a 172 CUP which just felt so much more involving/raw. To summarise the 172 was faster on the straights and more interesting in the corners. The 197 was marginally faster in the corners had far superior control but felt unchallenged, well from the passenger seat anyway, the chassis just felt too comfortable like everything was well within its limits. Basically I was put off by the 197 feeling too competent for its power.a4008eb5b27f448dd5e7afe770ac92c1.jpgec51d68e9be9c62dd73fb2e9505d84f1.jpg

I’d been looking into the F4RT swap for a little while and thought it sounded like a good idea as at the time most of my mates doing track days had Megane’s both mk2 and 3 RS. So the swap seemed like a nice little curve ball, I was offered a 70k Megane 225 for a very low price, the car had issues but I only needed the engine and drivetrain. The only issue with this was a slipping clutch but it came with a brand new clutch and flywheel set up. I took the plunge and bought this and then bought my mates 197 to convert.

Originally the 197 had Recaros but I wanted to stick with more track focused bucket seats and they sold for good money very quickly.
The engine’s were both removed easily enough and was surprised how easy the front of these cars come apart to allow the engine to be removed. The worst bit was the suspension to allow the driveshafts to come out. All was going very well and I felt like progress was being made at a very satisfying pace. But, theres always a but, I was coming to April and track days were calling and there was no way this would be finished in time so I spent well needed megane swap time on the 172 and enjoyed a few track days in my car and a friend who was kind enough to let me have a go in his megane 250 Cup and a ‘Ring’ trip. Which to be honest was worth it!!
faa95fc573cbb5ead7f36367b19e3e79.jpg
35f3aa027f5a05b09c1ea84bdd622c73.jpg

So this winter I have been getting back on course with the 197 so heres my update. Engine is finally in, the vacuum pipes all routed and fitted bar the brake servo pipe which I need to extend.
eed94548df77595283ddda1f9e38c9e5.jpg6a25f6d0857172da33c37e56774d1735.jpgbccc6ff445786503c216099c1205e341.jpg

I’ve also fitted
hybrid turbo
630cc injectors
new cambelt and water pump
new clutch and flywheel, for now stock clutch flywheel as it came with the car.
3” downpipe
R26 gearbox with LSD
AST 5100 coilovers
SC auto front mount intercooler
Recaro drivers seat on madeno racing base
Renault sparco wheel
Larger front brake disc set up from my friends megane track car
PMS spacers
New rear discs and calipers
331090226f4d7ecfe78c3f4fb1f46ab1.jpg953f2603128d9fb4ec53b7e40e6f820d.jpg23fdf7d7d010014e7f99585fa7fed3fb.jpgc4567dd9d6b1b83390a43301813340aa.jpg

I have left on my to do list:

Intercooler fitting
Rad fitting
Oil cooler fitting
Big job then, wiring which I know is the hardest part, worsened by the fact I have a PH1 Euro 3 loom and not the R26/230 loom. I have an R26 engine ECU and lock set ready to change over though. So may need help here, I’m sure it can be wired still just need to find the correct Renault wiring diagrams for a R26 and a ph1 and work out the differences.

I’ll try my best to keep updating bits and bobs aiming to get the car to R.S tuning for mapping and ecu immobiliser transponder swap then as many track days as I can afford from there on.
 
Last edited:
Hi, apologies in advance as I’ve never written a build thread before so this may be a long introduction and may be rubbish. So I've been on the forum for a while, albeit under a different user name, but I have never really posted too much and being as my membership was up for renewal seemed like the right time for me to carry out a name swap and finally start a build thread which I have been meaning to do for some time.

My car is a 2008 197 CUP in white which to be honest I didn't really want to buy, in-fact I still haven't even driven it with the standard engine, possibly something which I may come to regret!! So my friend owned this before me and I owned, currently still do, a 172 CUP which just felt so much more involving/raw. To summarise the 172 was faster on the straights and more interesting in the corners. The 197 was marginally faster in the corners had far superior control but felt unchallenged, well from the passenger seat anyway, the chassis just felt too comfortable like everything was well within its limits. Basically I was put off by the 197 feeling too competent for its power.View attachment 120151View attachment 120152

I’d been looking into the F4RT swap for a little while and thought it sounded like a good idea as at the time most of my mates doing track days had Megane’s both mk2 and 3 RS. So the swap seemed like a nice little curve ball, I was offered a 70k Megane 225 for a very low price, the car had issues but I only needed the engine and drivetrain. The only issue with this was a slipping clutch but it came with a brand new clutch and flywheel set up. I took the plunge and bought this and then bought my mates 197 to convert.

Originally the 197 had Recaros but I wanted to stick with more track focused bucket seats and they sold for good money very quickly.
The engine’s were both removed easily enough and was surprised how easy the front of these cars come apart to allow the engine to be removed. The worst bit was the suspension to allow the driveshafts to come out. All was going very well and I felt like progress was being made at a very satisfying pace. But, theres always a but, I was coming to April and track days were calling and there was no way this would be finished in time so I spent well needed megane swap time on the 172 and enjoyed a few track days in my car and a friend who was kind enough to let me have a go in his megane 250 Cup and a ‘Ring’ trip. Which to be honest was worth it!!
View attachment 120153
View attachment 120154

So this winter I have been getting back on course with the 197 so heres my update. Engine is finally in, the vacuum pipes all routed and fitted bar the brake servo pipe which I need to extend.
View attachment 120155View attachment 120156View attachment 120157

I’ve also fitted
hybrid turbo
630cc injectors
new cambelt and water pump
new clutch and flywheel, for now stock clutch flywheel as it came with the car.
3” downpipe
R26 gearbox with LSD
AST 5100 coilovers
SC auto front mount intercooler
Recaro drivers seat on madeno racing base
Renault sparco wheel
Larger front brake disc set up from my friends megane track car
PMS spacers
New rear discs and calipers
View attachment 120158View attachment 120159View attachment 120160View attachment 120161

I have left on my to do list:

Intercooler fitting
Rad fitting
Oil cooler fitting
Big job then, wiring which I know is the hardest part, worsened by the fact I have a PH1 Euro 3 loom and not the R26/230 loom. I have an R26 engine ECU and lock set ready to change over though. So may need help here, I’m sure it can be wired still just need to find the correct Renault wiring diagrams for a R26 and a ph1 and work out the differences.

I’ll try my best to keep updating bits and bobs aiming to get the car to R.S tuning for mapping and ecu immobiliser transponder swap then as many track days as I can afford from there on.

Really good first post. I'm going to be doing the same after Easter. Will have a 225 loom with r26 ECU. Already have some basic drawings I've found on the forum I'm going to use. Not sure how the looms are different at the moment though. Something to have a look at when I've got the 225 loom infront of me. Be good to share ideas and information though!
 
  • Like
Reactions: L33 KUP
Really good first post. I'm going to be doing the same after Easter. Will have a 225 loom with r26 ECU. Already have some basic drawings I've found on the forum I'm going to use. Not sure how the looms are different at the moment though. Something to have a look at when I've got the 225 loom infront of me. Be good to share ideas and information though!

Thanks, I bought a megane wiring diagram CD from eBay and it has listed mk2 megane 04 and then 08 but there’s a lot different and it’s not clear if it’s still for the R.S.

I’ll add some photos of the diagrams they should help, but yeah the basic idea should
be the same as those drawn up by another forum member in guides section.

IMG_0806.JPG

That’s the 08 one, maybe somebody on here could confirm this is a ph2/ R26 diagram?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sean197
welcome and what an introduction!!looks like these meg swaps are more and more popular..if you need any help just give us a shout or get in touch with my man @trevor milnes :thumb:
 
  • Like
Reactions: L33 KUP
welcome and what an introduction!!looks like these meg swaps are more and more popular..if you need any help just give us a shout or get in touch with my man @trevor milnes :thumb:

Thanks Pav I remember reading your build thread some time ago and remember it being one of the things that swayed me towards the swap, fingers crossed I can modify this loom. If not, then the search for an r26 loom will begin. The worst bit about this is I have passed on one thinking, nah I won’t need it ‍♂️[emoji23]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pav
@L33 KUP
I've started working towards the wiring as I have a PH1 loom like your self. The wiring diagram you posted above is for the Clio 197/200. I've just been through it and written down what each of the parts of the drawing are.
Just need the same for an R26 ECU and then I can start modifying the wiring. I'm thinking of sticking with the Clio wiring loom and added the bits required to control the turbo side of things.

38422497070_8d653f9703_b.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sean197
@L33 KUP
I've started working towards the wiring as I have a PH1 loom like your self. The wiring diagram you posted above is for the Clio 197/200. I've just been through it and written down what each of the parts of the drawing are.
Just need the same for an R26 ECU and then I can start modifying the wiring. I'm thinking of sticking with the Clio wiring loom and added the bits required to control the turbo side of things.

View attachment 120402

Yeah I noticed the x85 after and thought ah that’s the wrong one!!

I do have the wiring diagrams for these but I spoke to Trevor and for what I see as a very reasonable price he will convert the loom so it’s plug and play and do the immobiliser ECU. This seem a no brainier for me so I can get on with more of the pipework routing and get ready to finish.

I’m slightly concerned with my exhaust though I have a Miltek fitted and a miltek link pipe but I have a 3” downpipe so I think I’ll end up going custom from downpipe back PMS is the other option but not sure I can be bothered to fit a downpipe now the engines in place. Decisions decisions [emoji23]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Yeah I noticed the x85 after and thought ah that’s the wrong one!!

I do have the wiring diagrams for these but I spoke to Trevor and for what I see as a very reasonable price he will convert the loom so it’s plug and play and do the immobiliser ECU. This seem a no brainier for me so I can get on with more of the pipework routing and get ready to finish.

I’m slightly concerned with my exhaust though I have a Miltek fitted and a miltek link pipe but I have a 3” downpipe so I think I’ll end up going custom from downpipe back PMS is the other option but not sure I can be bothered to fit a downpipe now the engines in place. Decisions decisions [emoji23]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Would you be kind enough/willing to share those drawings for the r26 ECU? I know it's easy and a good price to send away for someone else to do the loom but really want to do most of this myself, part of doing it is a learning process for me rather than the end conversion.

Cheers again.
 
Would you be kind enough/willing to share those drawings for the r26 ECU? I know it's easy and a good price to send away for someone else to do the loom but really want to do most of this myself, part of doing it is a learning process for me rather than the end conversion.

Cheers again.

They’re on my laptop at home so I’ll Pm them over to you. I was more than happy to do the wiring but I also want the car for track this year and times running out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
They’re on my laptop at home so I’ll Pm them over to you. I was more than happy to do the wiring but I also want the car for track this year and times running out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's great when you get a minute. Can start working on it in a little more detail then. Cheers!
 
So had a very busy day yesterday as I haven’t had much free time so got to it, loom has come back so got this fitted, I had to make some adjustments to this but all done now.

Fitted the exhaust link pipe so at the moment I have a miltek system but 3” downpipe, I’m looking at changing this at the moment I’m thinking of using MIJ in walsall as they did a top job on my friends 325 E36 track car.

Fitted cooling pipes, the conversion requires the clio pipe to the heater matrix as the megane pipe is larger then using a reducer to mate to the megane pipework

Partly stripped out the interior, I will be removing headlining and the door cards and the radio next.

Fitted battery relocation kit, this allows the air filter to be fitted in the old battery location, in my view this is a cleaner look.

Fitted vacuum pipes for turbo engine, I had to cut the old pipe that goes onto the inlet manifold for the 197 engine then heat up the shortened end so I can then push it onto the megane ‘T-piece’

Fitted a megane rad, I’ve bought a new one but the quality of the reproduction items isn’t the best so I’m unsure if I should just stick with the original Megane item or go Clio rad.

Fitted the intercooler pipework and the cross member, the plastic crossmember needed a lot of cutting to clear the rad I feel this still needs more off though.

Fitted oil cooler pipes and removed washer bottle to allow the oil cooler to sit here. I’ve ordered a washer bottle kit to go inside the car as there is plenty of room inside but not much room in the engine bay.

So up next is fit the expansion tank hoses and find a way to mount the bottle, decide on rad set up, fit a fuse/relay box as there are two left from the old battery box set up and they look messy now, add oil and water and run it up.

e10bde3346ed7fca88075d309df79b47.jpg

b98c2dddd8b9a686c0042b7090d063a6.jpg5bc82ee4e041837e11c69e1890428313.jpg
b7bf7bfb31543adc9412badd3f3c686a.jpg



What’s people’s advice on the radiator side?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Use the Megane rad mate. You'll only end up doing it in the future if you don't. These conversions generate a lot of heat and the clio rad just ain't up to the job when you add the snail into the mix.
 
In my experience the clio radiator was fine, even when flat out on track in a 23degree ambient temp the water temp didn't get above 92 degrees. Getting the heat out the engine bay is a lot more important.
I see you're using the SC intercooler - don't, it's an ebay Direnza item and not up to prolonged full-throttle runs, which I found out. Upgrade to Forge or Airtec megane items, or the Mishimoto and Forge universal items are just as good.
 
i fitted megane rad, its a lot a pissing about and it still doesn't fit very nice, id have stuck with clio if id known. but if you do have to get another one just buy a 1.5 dci megane one, exactly the same and much cheap. Agree pattern parts ones are a bit shit but at like £45 i just got a spare
 
  • Like
Reactions: L33 KUP
Clio rad is now back on and oil cooler fitted seems a much better fit and I think with an oil cooler I should be okay. I’m looking at running a turbo cooler also this winter when I have more time but I really just want to use the car now.

I could do with advice based around 630cc injectors though. I obviously would like to run the car first and ideally get the fluids bled and make sure I can get gears etc, however I’ve fitted the 630 injectors already.
Will the car run okay at idle with these? I will not need to drive the car as it will need MOT and the likes so just to run up to temp and check for leaks. Or should I be swapping back to the standard injectors for this process?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
im sure you should stick with standard injectors until you have it mapped..fuel timing/amount will be wrong and it could cause some damage..that's what i was told by a few people so im really echoing them..
 
It's coming along.

Really want to get mine started.

I've also got 630 injectors as I didn't have any std ones.

What did you use shaft wise as your running the r26 gearbox.

Is it meg shafts with clio outer cv's or are the meg one's a direct fit?
 
Maybe contct Chris at efi or rs tuning whoever you intend to use for mapping and ask their advice.

Chris at efi has been very helpful to me.
 
For the sake of it I’ll just pop the standard ones back in, looking at getting a good day in tomorrow on it so I’ll try tKe some photos and update for there with progress, fingers crossed


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk