To some, the thought of modifying cars themselves can be intimidating. However, when Safely Insured employee, Nick, wanted to enhance the performance of his Renault Clio Sport 182, he decided to take on the challenge himself.

Nick decided to fit a T25 Hybrid Turbo Charger conversion to his engine to transform his Renault Clio Sport 182. Despite not carrying out any modifications on this scale before, he has also decided to share the nerve-racking process with those who may be looking to make this type of modification as well.

However, it is important to remember that Nick is not a professional and the process he describes may not apply to your car. If you are in any doubt, please seek advice from a qualified mechanic.

Installing a turbo is considered one of the most cost-effective ways of increasing the power of a non-turbo car. It has a similar effect to installing a larger engine but without the excess weight (and the worry of fitting it into the engine compartment).

The Process of Installing a T25 Hybrid Turbo Charger

In most cases, purchasers are advised to buy a turbo kit that is designed for their specific vehicle, which is what Nick has done. Nick used the Engine Dynamics Low Boost Turbo Conversion Kit which included detailed yet easy-to-follow instructions which simplified the process.

Prior to fitting a new turbo, Nick took the opportunity to change the clutch of his Renault Clio Sport 182 whilst the sub frame and manifold were removed. After fitting the new clutch, and enduring the strenuous task of lining up the gearbox himself, it was time to move on to installing the all-important turbo.

STEP 1:

 The first job was to remove the subframe and driveshaft’s to allow easy access to remove the manifold and give room to move the engine and other components.

STEP 2:

 I drilled a 15mm hole in my engine through the sump which was then threaded. This enabled the oil drain to feed from the turbo charger. I had to be careful though, one wrong move could have damaged the engine so I made sure to be precise and took my time.

STEP 3:

 I connected the oil feed and fuel injectors. I mounted the intercooler after drilling two holes in the front beam and installed the boost pipes. The piping simply held itself together by being bolted where the fuel injectors are. This was the point where my car started looking like a car again!

STEP 4:

 

 I fitted the turbo charger (which was screwed to the back of the engine) with the downpipe and proceeded to put the sub frame back on, followed by the drive shafts. I also ensured that all suspension components were reconnected.

STEP 5:

 

I then drilled a 20mm hole through the firewall for the wiring and then proceeded to cut the wiring loom and soldered in the brand-new ECU. The inlet manifold is also returned and the pipe work is connected.

STEP 6:

Finally, the moment that 4 days of work had come down to: turning the key and watching her come to life. It was a great feeling to know that not only had I saved nearly £1,000 in labour, but also that I built this all by myself!

---

Q&A – Installing The T25 Turbo Charger

What other modifications has your car had since buying it?

The car has had window tints, 30mm KTR lowering springs, a KTR straight through exhaust, dashboard changes, and just some general tidying up. Nothing too major as the other mods on the engine were changed when I added in the turbo.

What encouraged you to do such a big modification like fitting a turbo?  

Just speaking with some of the guys on the Clio Sport forum to be honest. I was split between either adding in throttle bodies or a turbo but, after some discussion on the forum, and with Engine Dynamics (where I bought the turbo), I decided to go with the turbo as it was the same price. It also meant that I didn’t need to change any internal engine components to get the same power.

How much did adding a turbo charger cost you in the end? How much did you save by doing it yourself?

The turbo kit cost around £2,500, which is a lot of money, but the difference it has made is incredible! I’m not sure if I’ll ever get bored of the car, I mean, how could you? It’s 240bhp in a car that weighs a tonne! I saved myself around £1,000 by doing the job myself; this doesn’t include changing the clutch, that would have cost another few hundred on top.

In what ways did the performance of your Clio change after adding a turbo?

First of all, the acceleration is nuts. As the car weighs practically nothing. You have to fight the steering wheel just to keep it in a straight line now. BHP-wise, the car went from a standard 174bhp, then with a remap to 186bhp. Then, once adding the turbo, and a new remap all the way to 240bhp with 221 ft-lb.

Did this modification affect your insurance?

Of course! Any modification where you’re adding power is going to affect the insurance. As Safely Insured specialise in modified cars, they could give me a price that I was happy with. Not to mention that I couldn’t get insurance for this car online with cosmetic mods, let alone a turbo conversion!

How did you go about finding the right resources/kit for the modification? Are places like eBay reliable to buy from?

For this type of car there are not many places where you can buy a complete kit from. Engine Dynamics is a company I have gone to for a while now, and they were the first company to turbo a Clio, so for me it was a no brainer to buy it from them. I would not suggest anyone buying mods from eBay, especially something like a turbo!

Any advice you’d give to someone looking to do this themselves as well?

Don’t just pay someone else to do it would be my first bit of advice! Some jobs may seem scary but with basic knowledge it really isn’t that hard. I had never taken on a job like this before and still managed to do it without any real problems. Being a car enthusiast isn’t just about driving the car but also about making it your own. For me, this means building it as well.

Now that you’ve carried out such a big modification, what’s next for Nick’s Clio? Are your modification ambitions higher now?

I’m not sure I would say my ambition is higher but I would say there might be some smaller mods done over time, and some body work touch up. I would say buying a new car would be next for me but I don’t think will sell this car just yet – it’s just too much fun.

We are extremely grateful that Nick decided to share his first big modification with us and we are pleased it went so well.  Watch the video below to see more of Nick’s Clio. 

 

If you have a modified car and want to win £500 towards your next modifcation, why not enter our competition? For more details, click here 

To find out more about modified car insurance, click here