Renault Express GT Turbo
Car No. 2
From 07/2003 to 07/2007
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- As-bought, with broken 1.1 engine.
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- Showcase of front, grille and bumper now in white.
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- Showcase of right front.
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- Showcase of right rear.
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- Found a trailer, and matched its colours with the car itself.
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- Also note the added spoiler.
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- In the snow with the matching trailer.
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- Breakdown on highway…
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- The front has been modified to a Renault 5 grille, lights, sideskirts and bonnet.
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- Another shot with daffodils.
Because I crashed my first car, I was afraid it would not long. I bought this car because its body was in very good shape, but the head gasket of the 1.1 petrol engine was leaking so bad the car couldn’t drive. Some friend at the Renault Tuning Club were, however, willing to assist in an engine swap, and told me I should put a GT Turbo engine in it. I found an engine, a donor car, and two months later I owned one of the fastest vans in the country.
I made many modifications to the car, most of them as a fix for the many mechanical issues I had… The following is a list of mechanical fixes throughout the years:
- Revised engine head (with bought engine)
- New clutch (August 2003)
- New rear brakes (November 2003)
- New radiator (January 2004)
- Changed driveshafts (March + June 2004)
- Changed ignition system to RE209, and moved to improved location (April 2004)
- New starter motor(May 2004)
- Refurbished alternator (June 2004)
- New brake discs and pads (July 2004)
- New rear wheel bearings (August 2004)
- New rear shock absorbers (September 2004)
- Revision of carburetor (October 2006)
And, I made the following styling and engine modifications:
- Dumpvalve
- Bleedvalve for in-car adjustable turbo pressure
- Cup system connection
- Interior changed to GTT style (red carpet, seats, dashboard)
- Widened rear axle by 3 cm total
- Front lowered springs, rear lowered torsion bars
- Rear spoiler (originally from an Alfa Romeo 33)
- Divider between cabin and loading area
- Sound dampening in loading area
- Renault 5 front
Because of all the mechanical issues, I often could not afford its repair or execute the lenghty repairs, and I decided to store the car in the garage for 2 years (between 10/2004 and 09/2006). Then, when I left the country in 2007, I had no option but to sell it. The new owner later informed me he was rear-ended by another car, and he had to scrap the car.
