Reno 21s.... worth saving?

[skinnylew]

can't believe this thread has got thus far without any pics
Mk1


mk2

uber race version

that should make up for that

[Lankytim]

Yes, you are absolutley right. I have allowed the thread to be pictureless for far too long. I must be punished.

In the meantime, tadaa!





Whatya all think? Quite a foxy number, I'm sure youll agree.

Oh yeah, I'm back online but the 'wireless' needs a wire, and the only one I have is about 2 ft long, hence I'm typing this from the floor in our hallway (I guess thats my punishment)

[Fiat Daft]

linseed oil ftw!

[skinnylew]

ooooooooooooo met brown ftw

[Lankytim]

Linseed oil??

Ive been told that Reno 21 gearboxes are big in the kit-car scene and theres loads of adaptors to fit different engines... A rover V8 would fill that engine bay pretty nicely.. perhaps...

No, better get a drivers window and MOT first.

[swordfish210]

Behold the brown-ness ;D Looks like a great buy

[MWF]

Oct 1, 2009 21:04:44 GMT Lankytim said:

I've been told that Reno 21 gearboxes are big in the kit-car scene and theres loads of adaptors to fit different engines... A rover V8 would fill that engine bay pretty nicely.. perhaps....

Yeah they had a strange engine gear box arrangement, I think the engine is mounted longitudinally which on a fwd is a bit strange. The gearbox seems to get used a lot on rear engined kit cars like the Lamborghini reps.

Thing is I don't think all the 21's used the same set up.

Most logical engine to fit 2.0 Turbo from the 21 Turbo. Very good engine and with little more than a bleed valve will produce around 200bhp - would be hilarious fun in a brown one pensioner spec one.

Rear also winds down on torsion bars I think so you only have to cut two springs

[RetroMat]

that looks rather nice! Good save that man!, never really looked at renault 21's before but I can definatly see the potential. Slightly lowered over a set of the 21 turbo wheels

[tigran]

Excellent save! I'm guessing the linseed oil was in regard to the black plastic bumpers, which aren't so black. Suppose linseed oil is something that blackens them up again.

Some cool looking ones

[Rich606]

I could be wrong, but I seem to remember the 2.0 engines and diesels are longitudinal and fwd, on the UN-1 gearbox so beloved of the kit car builders, but the 1.7 is transverse-engined. I think the transverse gearbox wasn't up to the torque of the larger engines.

The Turbo apparently has a stronger 'box still. The UN-1 was used in many variations in this, the Renault 30 (when was the last time you saw one of them?), the 25 and the Master van. Big weakness on them is 5th gear, literally an object lesson in how not to design a shaft. And I mean literally, I was taught about it in a lecture on shaft design

[skinnylew]

the turbo looks to have a completely different light/bonnet set up hmmmmmmmmmmm

[BenzBoy]

Nice save! I prefer the early shape, it's purer. I'd be so tempted to put a turbo lump in it, that would be great. Lowered over beige banded steels. Marvellous.

[hongkongphooey]

Oct 1, 2009 22:32:24 GMT skinnylew said:

the turbo looks to have a completely different light/bonnet set up hmmmmmmmmmmm

Front wings,rear bumper and body mouldings too.

[nigelbickle]

I have an early Turbo-and canhighly recommend. Completely boggers-yet Its midrange poweris astonishing.
I've a (spare) set of bright yellow 21 turbo original alloys -with good tyres tucked up in the garage-if wanted.

[MWF]

Oct 1, 2009 21:52:13 GMT tigran said:

I'm guessing the linseed oil was in regard to the black plastic bumpers, which aren't so black. Suppose linseed oil is something that blackens them up again.

Yeah a few on here have taken to using linseed oil to re-blacken oxidised black trim. A quick search should bring up a thread on it.

[stealthstylz]

Kept noticing this thread but never read it. Excellent save! My dads had a couple of 21s, a stock red 2 litre and a 385bhp FWD Turbo (that sadly ended up under a tractor). They're excellent cars, though the cooling system is wibblepoo. My dads non turbo used to pop head gaskets fairly often and for ages we couldn't work out why. However we eventually found one of the water pump outlets (iirc) was solid in limescale with only a pinhole letting the water through.

Matt

[Rich606]

Renault 21s live longer with Calgon?

[hongkongphooey]

Oct 2, 2009 7:32:57 GMT nigelbickle said:

I've a (spare) set of bright yellow 21 turbo original alloys -with good tyres tucked up in the garage-if wanted.

Too many stud holes i believe.

[Lankytim]

I read up on reno 21s on Wiki and its true that the 1700 engines are mounted transversely and the 2 litres are mounted longitudally due to the 1700 gearbox not being up to the POWAH of the 2 litre. My Audi 100 has exactly the same arrangement as this 2 litre Reno. Apparently the extra hassle in designing an engine bay that could accept both set ups was incredibly expensive for Renault. Incidentally the 1700cc and 2litre variants have slightly different wheelbases!

I cant wait to start work on it. Although I never classed myself as a fan of French cars, this one ticks all the boxes for me. It will probably be a while before I have the time though. When I crack open the linseed oil ill start a readers ride thread.

[xbo11ox]

Looks class in a glass LT! Nice save. I bet its super comfy and pretty economical.