Newbies first post, lots of doubts!

[RicarAtom]

This is my first post in this forum, nice to meet you all and hope someone can clarify this a bit for me.

So I bought my first Atom two weeks ago. It is a Atom 3 from 2009 built by TMI. It has 4500 miles ran and it is equipped with a K20 built engine with lower compression Turbocharged. Last dyno tune made 330 whp on 100 oct fuel. Previous owner told me he also had 6 speed transmission built and change to a bit longer gear ratios.

It has stock coilovers (Bilstein) 10 settings with HR 180-60-50/60-60-25 front springs and 180-60-60/80-60-30 rear springs. Car sits on stock wheels with Toyo 888R tires 205/50/15 front and 225/45/16. It has both aero wings. Intentions of using this car are like 80% street road use and 20% track use. It has another set of wheels and tires for the track which I haven’t pick up yet.

I have several questions that I which to ask in order of importance for me. Please, I will really appreciate your help here.

1. I’ve read a lot by now about tires on this and other forums and on Lotus forums too and probably one of the best investment we can make in our cars. I’ve read about Toyos 888R not being good for our cars because of it being so light will never get them heated enough to maximize their grip. How true is this? Will the correct psi fix or help with this? Should I change to Yoko A052 for the street cause theh heat fast enough? Excuse me if these questions are repetitive but everyone has different opinions in the forums. Also, what is the best tire sizes (front and rear) on stock wheels? Maybe it is good to put wider rears…

2. As of coilovers, are Bilstein shocks old technology for this car or are they still good enough for what I’ll use them in the car?

3. What seats do you recommmend me to buy and fits in the car for a bit more comfort on longer rides? Maybe padding from Riverie or JK (lots of old bad reviews) I’ve read about Recalo Pole Position ABE but don’t know if I need big modifications on rail and chassis for them to fit. Right now it has 2 stock bucket seats (not the bench).

Attached are some pictures of the car and suspension. Hope you’re doing great as you read this post and that you can help me understand this things LOL.

Best regards!

[IanG]

Hi

The Bilsteins are great for what you are going to use the car for easy to adjust 1 soft 10 hard normal road use I use 6

Tyres are a personal choice
I have used 888R’s never had a problem on the road
AO 52 are great for both track and road

Size on the rears
You can use 245/45/16 but you will need the wider mudguards as the larger tyres will rub

Seats
In the UK we only have 2 options the factory bench seat or individual tillett seats

Hope this helps
Ian

[RicarAtom]

Thanks for your reply!

So I’m ok with 888R for street use? I was kind of skeptical since reading about no grip street because of not being able to heat this on street.

On rear tire size, do fitting wider rears will improve handling or grip or not worth the extra investment on mudguards and stuff?

For seats I have original/stock individual bucket seats. I spoke to Reverie for their cushion for our seats but I don’t think they will work with what I have. Not sure though. Mine has like a rubber type of padding which I don’t like and I don’t think I’ll be able to install a padding/cushion on top of those.

[speedmachine]

If you are going to do any trackdays, do NOT buy r888r, those are a complete waste of money, ruined the total feel and confidence if the car, I had a 3.5 supercharged.
On the street they where no good as well, but you wont come near the limit so doesnt matter that much.
I would just not buy them.
Kunho v70 are the best, but not available anymore.
I had fine results with avon zzr, but fronts are difficult to get heat in, for the rest perfect.

A052 are very good as well and you could definitely check nankang ar1’s, they perform pretty good for the money as well.

Seats I had Tillett b6 and where very nice and solid, i am 186 cm’s and 90 kg’s, that was the true limit of that seat, if you have an american posture, probably b4 are better

[RicarAtom]

Thank you Speedmachine.

What tire size on the AR1 ? Seems that widest rear is 225 on 16” wheel.

Will Tillett seat brackets fit in stock rails or do I need to do any special installation?

[speedmachine]

Thank you Speedmachine.

What tire size on the AR1 ? Seems that widest rear is 225 on 16” wheel.

Will Tillett seat brackets fit in stock rails or do I need to do any special installation?

Normally there is no rails and you have to either make one or buy one through the factory (like I did together with the seats)

I dont know about ar1 as I did not have those myself on my 3.5

[Curves Junkie]

It is important that you renew the orange elastomer dampfer at all four corners.
At the front they are broken and at rear they are not anymore there.
You need them for bracing when cornering
When the damper is compressed to the maximum, the damper housing is propped up against the elastomer damper and does not compress any further. Without it, the wheel on the inside of the bend will buckle.

[RicarAtom]

Thank you sir!

Do you know where can I find those elastomer? This is why I thought I needed to change them. Any other maintenance I should do on those shocks?

[Mrlizard]

ao52 or ar1 for tyres imo - also make sure you get the pressure's right from the handbook, i found my aa3 was really sensitive to the right tyre pressure

[Curves Junkie]

Thank you sir!

Do you know where can I find those elastomer? This is why I thought I needed to change them. Any other maintenance I should do on those shocks?

You are welcome.

I think you are located in US and her I not know a shop where you can go for a service.

Honestly - the shock absorbers look very worn.
As to why the polymer on the front axle is so perous, I can only assume that it could be due to massive UV radiation.

At the rear, it looks like it has melted off.
What is that to the right of the rear shock absorber? Is that the KAT or something from the exhaust.

The Polymer does not have to be from Bilstein and you only need the correct height as a measurement.
I would have all four completely overhauled and at least renew the oil of the shock absorbers.
Ask at the Ariel FB group there are a lot of US guys - maybe there is someone who can tell you a shop.

[John Scherrer]

RicarAtom is on Puerto Rico ..

[Fastlane]

Honestly - the shock absorbers look very worn.

At the rear, it looks like it has melted off.
What is that to the right of the rear shock absorber? Is that the KAT or something from the exhaust.

I would agree and I reckon that is indeed part of the exhaust right up against that rear shock (it looks almost to be tuching it?). If the heat has melted the bump stop/elastomer/rubber buffer then it has likely boiled the oil inside it and therefore damaged the seals. I'd sort this out first and then get the shocks rebuilt.

[RicarAtom]

Right now I’m out of Puerto Rico on vacations until the 4th of December so I’m not close to the car to get better pictures.

I do got this pictures and I don’t think tube and shock are touching. Also, don’t know how hot that tube gets but it is part of the compressor housing inlet from the Turbo.

[Curves Junkie]

RicarAtom is on Puerto Rico ..

Oh, but it is nearer to US than to UK/EU and maybe easier to get some parts or service.

I would agree and I reckon that is indeed part of the exhaust right up against that rear shock (it looks almost to be tuching it?). If the heat has melted the bump stop/elastomer/rubber buffer then it has likely boiled the oil inside it and therefore damaged the seals. I'd sort this out first and then get the shocks rebuilt.

I do got this pictures and I don’t think tube and shock are touching. Also, don’t know how hot that tube gets but it is part of the compressor housing inlet from the Turbo.

Hear what [mention]Fastlane[/mention] is writing. He confirms my suspicion and you will have or get real problems with this shock absorber.
The tube must be radiating heat, because in the close-up it looks really melted. The heat also destroys the oil inside. If the shims inside are not metall they will be also damaged.
The dampers must look like my old one:

IMG_7062.jpg (788.76 KiB) Viewed 3263 times