Renault Megane RS225 of French Weirdness

[Taistorm]

So after moving the Galant on due to many reasons, I couldn't resist the itch for another immobile project car sitting derelict in the shed so marketplace got the best of me and I turned into a weirdo and picked up this 2006 Renault Megane rs 225 for a very cheap price. I figured I need a project that I can chip away at with ease amd crash out in the space of a few weekends/the odd hour here and there and have it running and driveable (also registered).

 

 

Note: Driveable, which this isn't haha. Who am I kidding?

 

 

Pics make it look mint but it's not. Tidy enough however with 178,000kms. The paint is pretty faded on the front end, rear end and roof as these are notoriously bad for it. A few minor trim pieces missing and interior pretty good bar slight wear on the drivers seat, faulty passenger window and sagging/lifted trim material. Engine however is a no go. Suspect timing has skipped and has caused interference and engine failure. 

[Taistorm]

However I stumbled across this RS 265 being wrecked - Old mate didn't want to part the engine unless the whole thing went so we worked out a deal and now it's here. About 180,000kms, runs and drives but has been in a mild nose to tail.

Sounds like it's running pretty well, just has a minor oil leak around the pcv piping and probably needs the timing belt done. 

From what I've gathered it's a pretty simple engine conversion. Looks to be an updated version of the 2.0L F4R turbo engine with stronger internals and variable valve timing. Just need to modify and swap over the top and rear engine mounts. Swap over all sensors and throttle body, run the 225 flywheel, clutch, gearbox and ecu then modify the fuel pump to suit the rising rate fuel system then a remap.

Pretty weird to be crossing over to this Frenchie but I drove a 5 door about a year ago (which I should have bought) which was stupidly fun in standard form. Turbo pulled from 2k to redline, handled pretty decent, big brembo brakes and factory exhaust popping and banging. Hoping this will be a bit of fun.

 

[Taistorm]

With anticipation to start ripping out the engine of the 265, I built this little trolley out of 2 hand trolleys for shifting it. Reason being is the parts car will be up the side of the house and I need to get the engine over pavers and grass at a higher level into the shed. No castor's but im sure it will manage. Pretty stoked for a couple hour hack job haha, don't judge. Cost me a measly 80huk.

 

 

Hopefully will get the engine out next weekend, but we will see if time allows.

 

Chur

[Snoozin]

Siiick, I've been looking at the prospect of an RS265 myself....

[Taistorm]

7 hours ago, Snoozin said:

Siiick, I've been looking at the prospect of an RS265 myself....

They seem like pretty good value for money over here in Aus tbh. Everything else that's popular is priced through the roof and the 250, 265, 275s can be had for change in comparison for something that's well spec'd and essentially track ready. Seen a minter pop up for sub 10k with about 130,000kms...

[Taistorm]

Managed to sneak in a couple hours today. 

Got the lacky to set her up...

 

 

Then proceeded to start the strip down for engine and gearbox removal. 

 

 

A little bit more time and I'll have the donk out. Just need to disconnect the fuel lines, clutch line, exhaust and halfshafts. Hopefully time allows next weekend.

 

Chur.

[Taistorm]

Engine out. What a prick trying to remove the halfshafts. Ended up pretty much unbolting the whole knuckle & strut and everything connected as the lca was being a bitch. Of course half the exhaust fasteners were seized as well, couldn't unbolt it from the bottom side of the cat, so ended up managing to remove it from the top. Out it came though. I will need to grind off one of the cat lower flange studs though. 

 

 

Trolley worked a treat. Had to lift and shuffle it to turn it due to no castor's but it was easy enough. Length was perfect for both the box and engine as well.

I might try and do some work during the evening this week but we'll see what happens. 

 

Chur.

[Taistorm]

Managed to sneak in an hour on this after the kids went to bed.

Front end off, bit weird getting the bumper off but everything else so far has been nice and easy. 

 

 

Also noticed this black substance sprayed and melted all around the front of the engine area. Wonder where it's come from, will soon find out. 

 

I reckon another hour or 2 and I'll have the engine out. Will see if time allows tomorrow. 

 

Chur.

[Taistorm]

Not a proper update. 

 

Haven't really had time to work on this, however I got the wheels and brakes off. LH brake caliper taper torx retainer bolt broke my torx key which was fun. Then it stripped o  the other side... 

Also the battery tray wanted to fight me as the mount torx caps crew stripped so I had to drill it out. Don't have time for this nonsense, have enough of these issues at work playing with machinery haha.

 

Also split the gearbox off the 265 engine to return to the bloke I bought it off.

 

 

Managed to line up a few parts for sale off the 265 so hopefully the engine will half pay for itself or more which would be a win.

 

Chur.

 

 

[Taistorm]

Got a bit more time in on this today. My son had a bad fever since Friday night so Saturday and Sunday morning was a write off and now my daughter is sick. Had to wait for everyone to go bed before I could crack into it haha.

Drilled out the fucked lh brake disc retainer and got that off. Dropped the lcas and links, removed the cv shafts carrier and popped the shafts out. Remainder of the wiring removed and pulled out of the way, gearbox cables and last few hoses off. Needed to grind down a socket extension for a service on a Renault engine turbo diesel v6 navara the other day so now I had a 8mm square drive socket to drop the engine oil. Did that, as well as the trans oil.

The exhaust decided it wanted a one out so I had to fight it the whole way. 3 lower cat flange bolts were seized and rounded upon trying to remove. Top flange had no access to 1 nut, the top came out but the other started to round. Decided to unbolt the exhaust by the centre muffler. Engine and trans mounts unbolted (trans mount is a stupid ass design and the lower rear engine mount is fucked) and then tried to swing it out. The exhaust didn't want to come out but now I had access to the remaining top flange nuts so gingerly got them off and now I could pull the donk out.

 

Also had a quick look at the weird black stuff sprayed around the engine.

 

 

Looks like the lower timing cover plastic has been chewed away at. I'll get it off another time and see what's going on behind there.

 

Gonna look at ordering a SMF conversion, clutch pack and slave cylinder from the UK and possibly a RS Tuning box for this maybe this week.

 

Chur,

Tai.

[V8Pete]

When I had one of these I was amazed Sterling Clutch and Brake had a Valeo SMF conversion clutch kit on the shelf in Auckland. It was cheaper than anything I could find in UK too.

[Taistorm]

On 26/08/2024 at 10:42, V8Pete said:

When I had one of these I was amazed Sterling Clutch and Brake had a Valeo SMF conversion clutch kit on the shelf in Auckland. It was cheaper than anything I could find in UK too.

They always seem to have the oddball stuff at Sterling. How good though? 

 

Had a look at nz suppliers but nothing was comparable to the UK on pricing. Xtreme clutches here in Aus were wanting just shy of 3k for a SMF conversion kit. So I decided to put an order in at RS Tuning in Leeds, England last week as it was almost half the price. Posted on Friday and arrived on Tuesday, but I wasn't home to sign so they delivered it again today. Can't believe how fast though, it takes longer to get something sent local hahaha.

 

R26 LUK organic clutch with Valeo slave cylinder and a TTV single mass flywheel. Got slammed with $317 import tax though which was annoying. 

 

Now I'm just waiting on them to stock up on the Tuning box to order. I also need to get a rear main seal, gearbox input and output seals and some new torque mounts amongst a few other things.

 

Chur.

[Taistorm]

Not a real update but planning the next step and to organise new parts. Have been super busy with house reno's and family coming over for a holiday plus other family duties since last post. Had a quick moment today to check over a few things. 

 

Firstly, the engine mounts and timing cover swap. As there are a few differences a d changes required to get it to work.

Rs225

Rs265

Covers and mounts side by side (265 on top).

The 265 cam cover has an extra 2 smaller bolt provisions on the top for the top timimg cover. The top engine mount on the 225 also has an extra mount point which bolts onto the intake manifold.

 

From what I've gathered, most in Europe who carry out the conversion drill and tap into the intake manifold to allow for the extra bolt. I'm thinking I might just swap over the 225 intake manifold/throttlebody/injector rail and injectors onto the 265 head. Reason being is that I'd need to swap the 225 tb over anyway (as this is known to have random cut out issues if running an rstuning box), also I can just run the factory fuel system and do away with the rising rate fuel setup. This gives me the oem provision for the top engine mount bolt hole and I can also run the factory engine cover if I choose.

Also checking over the rear engine mounts.

Upper

265

225

 

Lower

265225

 

I'll need to swap over the 225 rh cv shafts hanger and lower mount bracket (engine side) and run the 225 dog bone mounts. Both of mine are torn so I'll just order some new ones.

 

[Taistorm]

Difference in intake manifolds.

 

265

225

 

Also was having a look at the exhaust downpipes.

Both 225 and 265 are 2.5inch but slightly different in design. Both terminate to the exhaust in the same spot. As I'm wanting to decat the system as it's a huge restriction on these, if I can't get a second hand one cheap enough I might just by some pipe and bends and do it myself. The factory 225 exhaust is 2 1/4inch and the 265 looks to have an aftermarket 3inch exhaust (flexi is torn and brackets have broken off at the front). Might see if I can repurpose the 265 exhaust and bodge something together for the 225.

 

225

265

 

Might order the mounts this week and hopefully get a rear crank seal, gearbox input and output seals as well.

 

Chur,

Tai

[Taistorm]

I've been gearing up across the last month in anticipation to try get this thing back together on the xmas/new years break.

 

Parts shipped from rstuning and engine dynamics in the uk, auto Paris and car mods australia over East. Comprised of the timimg kit components, rear main seal, clutch and flywheel bolts, negative battery terminal, engine upper stabilizer mount, engine lower stabilizer mount inserts, rs limited tuning box amd an aem afr gauge kit. Also some oils and fluids from Repco.

 

[Taistorm]

Thought I'd have a go at making a decat turbo downpipe as the factory cat pipe is very restrictive on these. Luckily picked up some 2.5" bends from the only exhaust shop that I could find that was still open a couple days before xmas.

 

Removed the old downpipe, a couple studs were siezed so had to cut and extract them. Welded a piece of flat bar to the flanges for the position. Cut off what I didn't need then cut and welded I'm some pipe. The welding is pretty atrocious but solid enough. Still need to weld in 2 more oxygen sensor bung and I'll probably heatwrap it but it should help it breathe a little.

 

 

Hopefully have some more updates across the next week.

 

Chur

[SimonRS265]

Hello,

         do you still have the RS265 , as I have one with Aircon issue , need a new 2nd hand evaporator , apparently located under the dash .

Renault NZ quoting $4500 ex France .

 

Cheers Simon

[Taistorm]

7 hours ago, SimonRS265 said:

Hello,

         do you still have the RS265 , as I have one with Aircon issue , need a new 2nd hand evaporator , apparently located under the dash .

Renault NZ quoting $4500 ex France .

 

Cheers Simon

Hey Simon,

 

The evaporator is there and youre right, id have to pull the dash out to get to it, however I'm in Perth, Australia. If you're interested we can probably work something out and ship it over. 

 

Cheers

[Taistorm]

Managed to get a little bit of time in on the exhaust today.

 

Made a mount bracket for the original mount. Fucked up the position but was close enough. The bolt is siezed on the manifold so I'll just weld the bracket onto the mount when it's bolted in place cause I can't be arsed trying to remove the bolt.

 

Old oxygen sensor bung removed and welded in place. Very close fit but it should work. Extra bung for the afr. 

 

Mocked up.

 

Cleaned up the welds and painted it black so you can't see how average it is. I'll try get some exhaust wrap tomorrow as well.

 

 

Lastly I just need to die grind the outlet flange to open ot out for the larger pipe but it's more or less done.

 

Chur

[Taistorm]

More downpipe spam. Ground out the outlet flange to match the larger pipe, picked up some titanium exhaust wrap and wrapped it up. Pretty stoked at the outcome tbh!

 

 

Chur