Renault 14 Madness

[warren t claim]

Every one of these that I drove through the auction ring had starting and running problems. I can say that they're a comfortable place to sit while the bidding is being ground out in 50p increments.

[artdjones]

At the time these came out Renault was already making a competitor in the form of the 12.According to one writer at the time the Renault engineers referred to the 12 as the "stupid" car and the 14 as the "clever" car.I think we can guess which car looks stupid now.

Having said that,they are pleasant enough,but it would have been cleverer for the engineers to design a car which was actually capable of survival.

[warren t claim]

Was there no Dacia version of the 14?

[Richard]

Just 12 and 20 from that era I think.

[Guest MattJY]

Shares with the Pug 104, plus the engine went in the Pug 205 XS 1.4 plus Talbot Horizon and Citroen (Visa?)

 

Some Volvo 340 connections too.

[stormee]

https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/search.html?dam=0&isSearchRequest=true&ms=20700;21&vc=Car

[warren t claim]

I really think that you shouldn't go too far if you wish to convert an import over to RHD. Create some sort of Ledbury 14 with the wheel on the right but the wipers, vanity mirror and rubber floor mat on the left as per factory.

[MOD500]

 

Steering rack, can’t find one but I do know it’s the same as a Pug104 and suspect it can be sourced as can the clutch cable.

 

 

 

 

When converting to RHD you could use the LHD rack and flip it over. The output spline to the steering column would be in the wrong place, but since you would be drilling a new hole it would hardly matter.

I had considered this when fitting a steering rack to my fiat 500. LHD Fiat 126 racks are much easier to obtain. However, in my case the output spline was far too low so I had to find a RHD one anyway.

[cobblers]

When converting to RHD you could use the LHD rack and flip it over. The output spline to the steering column would be in the wrong place, but since you would be drilling a new hole it would hardly matter.

I had considered this when fitting a steering rack to my fiat 500. LHD Fiat 126 racks are much easier to obtain. However, in my case the output spline was far too low so I had to find a RHD one anyway.

But then the car would go the opposite way to what you steer

[MOD500]

But then the car would go the opposite way to what you steer

That - is a very valid point.

I had considered removing/editing my comment, but I think it's important I learn from this.

[cobblers]

You'd get used to it eventually

[cobblers]

Actually it might be me that's wrong, come to think of it.

[Richard]

Actually it might be me that's wrong, come to think of it.

It's given me a headache and I thought you were wrong at first, but I'm pretty sure you're right.

[oldcars]

My father had one. 1.3? i think. I was little, he used to tow a 1974 Sprite Alpine with it. It broke down in Fort William from memory. 

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

You'd get used to it eventually

 

 

I want to see the reason for rejection on the MOT sheet.

[Skizzer]

It's given me a headache and I thought you were wrong at first, but I'm pretty sure you're right.

Only one way to find out.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Plus when your insurance company ask "does it have an anti-theft device fitted" you can say "DOES IT EVER".

[chodweaver]

It will reverse the steering. If instead the rack is rotated 180° in the horizontal plane and you can push the pinion in through the back of the rack housing, that'd work...

 

If you have to flip the rack over in the vertical plane, you'd need to swap the hubs round too, so the TREs acted on the leading edge of the hub, not the trailing edge. I reckon the steering would feel horrible though...

 

Now my brain hurts too

[Dick Longbridge]

There’s a line between being positive, and being a fruitloop. This project idea rests closer to the latter.

Not that it’s my place to suggest the chances of pulling this off, but if you DO manage it, I will seriously entertain the idea of devoting my life to tracking down and purchasing the remaining UK examples of derv Maxis.

[panhard65]

I thought I had an instrument panel surround for a rhd but now I am not to sure. It might be 17 as I had a couple of those as well.

[Asimo]

I thought I had an instrument panel surround for a rhd but now I am not to sure. It might be 17 as I had a couple of those as well.

july 18 227.JPG

[kirton]

I had a 14 GTL for years;  every summer I unbolted the fromt wings and waxoyled.  Oil got chewed up by the gearbox in the sump and went noticeably thin so I changed oil and filter at about 3,000 miles compared to recommended interval - 6k?.  This built up a fair cache of used oil which came in handy when I had a Austin 1800 for commuting Chippenham to Nailsea in a bad winter - about 150m/pint I think.

 

with only 1218cc the 14  went well 5 up in the M32 grand prix out of Bristol in the evening commute, you did have to rev it hard, I did hanker after the extra power of the TS.  I passed it on to my father who ran it until the rust got it and household management showed the usual enthusiasm when I suggested  getting it repaired and used as a family spare car.

[kirton]

.....and I fitted a front spoiler to it after LJKS* wrote that it improved high speed stability - I was young(er) and thrusting in those days, and two 5" spotlights behind the grill - properly wired in through relay and fuse.

 

Would I have another, yes, but two problems, finiding a good one and SWMBO who has the idea not just that the existing toy must go for me to have a new one, but that it must go before a new purchase;  unreasonable??

 

*LJK Setright for younger readers;  who loved Bristols which can't be bad (either variety,but he only admitted to cars as far as I know)

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

A mate of mine did his apprenticeship at a Renault dealer in 1979-80. He thought they were excellent cars - robust, well designed, well made and nice to drive.

 

All except the 14, of which none of his colleagues had a good word for. 

 

The words 'bastard' was used in conjunction with the whining banana.

[doubleyeller]

Still see the occasional R14 down here in Dorset / Somerset. There again, there's a few R12s still alive here too. There's at least 2 R14s still knocking about Yeovil area, I'll have to try get a photo. I wanted a banana shaped Renault too but I bought a Fuego Turbo....

[D Spares & Tyres]

LHD is part of the charm, you soon get used to it. I've had a few and never had an issue. Anybody scared of LHD probably shouldn't be looking at old Renaults!

 

As for the rear suspension mounts, are they like a Renault 16? They aren't that hard to sort on those, just a bit lab our intensive . Also, having to cut away a piece of the sill / wing area that doesn't usually rot is a little upsetting!

[Louise2cv]

I agree. try it LHD first.

 

I didn't think you could get a better car than the 2cv. Then I got a LHD 2cv and it was even betterer.

[Guest MattJY]

Appreciate the advice and I already have a LHD classic and it’s a pain on UK roads probably due to its low stance (69 Opel GT....no, it’s not a F’ing Manta!)

 

Going to stick with the RHD and yes, as the thread title says....

[Guest MattJY]

Paying a £250 finders fee for any leads that result in a purchase, you have my word on that!

[mk2_craig]

How much have you got for the actual car? Bloody hard thing to value what with them being so scarce.