New Owner Surrey

[Ej74]

Picking up a Atom 3 245 with 3.5 upgrades this week - car comes with winter wheels and tyres and have bought a trailer to get to some different tracks. Don't ask I know my tolerances are low...

I have used the search function and have some queries :

The car is spec'd with sports brakes - can I fit any big brake kit or just go for the Alcons from Ariel at 3k ?

There is no baffled sump - looks like there are aftermarket options but reference to balance shifter delete - anyone give any definite advice ? go for something like the Tegiwa kit or open clockwise motion kit - what else would I need ? does anyone know how much the sump is from Ariel ?

I've bought thermal underwear and waterproof socks

Thanks All

[reg]

You could probably engineer a.n.other BBK to fit but the Alcon setup is well known and very, very good. By the time you have messed around it's probably not worth it, unless you like tinkering?

When I was looking at retro fitting the sump it was around £1000, in the end I found a car with it already installed.

The best bet for most of these things is to speak to the factory.

[Toilet Duck]

Greetings

It's an engine out job to retrofit a baffled sump. Don't know if you are doing the spannering yourself or paying a garage to do the work, but it might be worth considering a clutch inspection/change whilst you have the opportunity as that's an engine out job as well.

Cheers

[Ej74]

Greetings again Toilet Duck from Lotus Orange 2-11

How much is one ? and what type should I go for ?
The sump is 350 on a exchange basis from Ariel - so down to how much I pay in labour

Do used Alcons ever come up for sale ?

[wasp]

I bought my 3.5 without the baffled sump and had Ariel install one for me earlier this year.

It was tied up with a service and other bits and bobs but factor about £1k all in for the sump and you won't be too far out.

Rookie checked the clutch at the same time (which was still immaculate apparently!) but I fully agree with Toilet Duck that it is a good time to change if it is even vaguely marginal.

With regards to the brakes, I would just go Alcons from the Factory. They are great, the Factory know them like the back of their hand and it will be an added value item when you come to sell the car.

Cheers,
Stu

[Ej74]

Finally have car registered and been out twice in 3 days !!
I wanted to find out about traction  - and yes I had a moment but safely with no other road users - I know now

Car will be booked in early March with Ariel - sump, alcons and service

[phil4]

[quote="Ej74"]
Finally have car registered and been out twice in 3 days !!
I wanted to find out about traction  - and yes I had a moment but safely with no other road users - I know now

Car will be booked in early March with Ariel - sump, alcons and service
[/quote]

Awesome!!

Tank slapper or full 360?

Be really careful out there in the cold/wet, tyres aren't too sticky when they're cold and you can find it very easy to come unstuck.

[Ej74]

Minor tank slapper

[reg]

Welcome to the club. Wait until you get a 'minor one' in 3rd 

[Alex Brandon-Smith]

[quote="Ej74"]
Minor tank slapper

[/quote]

Welcome to the club! Take it easy out there though, it's a lairy old time of year!

Just re the baffled sump, have done about 8 track days so far and had no issue at all without a baffled sump. Factory just say to keep oil topped to max so do you genuinely require it? I'm not running slicks mind but on A048.

[Ej74]

Its was in 3rd gear !!

So what is consensus regarding a baffled sump - to sump or not to sump ?
So with the oil filled there is no risk of oil starvation ?

I'll be running Yoko's, 888's or Kumho's

[Sir Nick]

[quote="Ej74"]
Its was in 3rd gear !!

So what is consensus regarding a baffled sump - to sump or not to sump ?
So with the oil filled there is no risk of oil starvation ?

I'll be running Yoko's, 888's or Kumho's
[/quote]

What's the worst that could happen...oh no, wait

[reg]

[quote="Ej74"]
Its was in 3rd gear !!

So what is consensus regarding a baffled sump - to sump or not to sump ?
So with the oil filled there is no risk of oil starvation ?

I'll be running Yoko's, 888's or Kumho's
[/quote]
I looked at a car without a baffled sump and spoke to the factory about it. They said road use it's ok without but track use whilst it should be ok if you top the oil up I felt it was a sensible insurance policy to fit one if you are using it on track. At the end of the day why have that nagging doubt? Cost wise what everyone else has said, £1000 roughly, also the clutch can be checked etc, etc.

[Toilet Duck]

The thing about oil starvation is it only needs to happen once on a fast sweeping bend and that's your big end bearings gone and a wrecked  engine. I guess it depends how lucky you feel as to whether you "need" a baffled sump,  but there is only one "safe" answer,  and the cost of a baffled sump is always going to be cheaper than a new engine 

For what it's worth,  I run my oil level at about 5mm over the max mark as per factory recommendation (that's how they ran the Atom Cup cars)  and I have a baffled sump.

[Ej74]

I'm lazy as well so taking out the insurance of having a sump now pays for itself with no need for  rebuild or engine

Sump is 1.5k installed