Ariel Atom 3.5 - back from the dead

Ariel Atom 3.5 - back from the dead

Author
Discussion

celger7

Original Poster:

85 posts

132 months

Friday 15th December 2017
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Fitted the exhaust and the manifold tonight after work and als test fitted the wings for a cheeky look and I am blown away, it looks angry!! I love it!!

Wheels dropped off at the painter today too, so hopefully get them back soon too.














celger7

Original Poster:

85 posts

132 months

Sunday 24th December 2017
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Some more progress!















UberMeister

302 posts

151 months

Sunday 24th December 2017
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Looks awesome - great to see you reviving a smashed up Atom as opposed to just buying new bow

Do you have a build manual to help with torque settings etc?

FlyingTrotter

311 posts

154 months

Sunday 24th December 2017
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Really impressive - if you have not already done so I would also post or send a link to the Atom Club forum - lot of owners on there and they would love this excellent thread

Really like what you are doing save for the white wings and mud guards but I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Miss mine when I see threads like this - with the side pods you can take it up to 350bhp with their upgrade kit when you get used to the performance - did it have the standard size wheels or the wider ones ? I ask as the wider are supposed to really help in handling the power - I always fancied getting some and now the higher performance models all seem to have them

Well done for saving the car - I am sure it will give you lots of fun

celger7

Original Poster:

85 posts

132 months

Sunday 24th December 2017
quotequote all
FlyingTrotter said:
Really impressive - if you have not already done so I would also post or send a link to the Atom Club forum - lot of owners on there and they would love this excellent thread

Really like what you are doing save for the white wings and mud guards but I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Miss mine when I see threads like this - with the side pods you can take it up to 350bhp with their upgrade kit when you get used to the performance - did it have the standard size wheels or the wider ones ? I ask as the wider are supposed to really help in handling the power - I always fancied getting some and now the higher performance models all seem to have them

Well done for saving the car - I am sure it will give you lots of fun
Thanks very much, we are having a great time putting it together.

Re the wings and the guards, they will be gloss black, still in the unpainted fibreglass at the moment, wanted to test fit everything first to make sure it all fits well before paint, the white would look quite horrid smile

Tonight we put the guards on the frames with the adhesive, once completely cured we will paint them.

The pods are only for the looks at the moment, no charge cooler and no oil cooler, maybe in the future.

Wheels are 16 inch in the rear and 15 in the front, 225 out back, not sure if they are the wider wheels, the original car was very well optioned, so maybe smile

celger7

Original Poster:

85 posts

132 months

Sunday 24th December 2017
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The car will be going through the compliance process without the wings and the windscreen to make the process a bit easier and to make sure they survive.


bencollins4

1,091 posts

205 months

Sunday 24th December 2017
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Awesome project and I'm massively jealous of your massive garage and contents! Great work!

celger7

Original Poster:

85 posts

132 months

Sunday 24th December 2017
quotequote all
bencollins4 said:
Awesome project and I'm massively jealous of your massive garage and contents! Great work!
Thanks mate smile

TAHodgson

875 posts

170 months

Sunday 24th December 2017
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celger7 said:
We will cover the sides, anyone have any recommendations as to what to use? I've seen some Atoms with it and without, prefer to have it covered because it will be used in winter too, I know it doesn't provide much protection from the elements but every bit helps.
I remember being skeptical before doing this to ours, all I can say is it makes a hell of a difference! Sides combined with the screen will make it absolutely tropical in there.. Make sure you use some form of rubber bushing/gasket between the plastic and the chassis on each mount. It rattles like a b**** without it.
Also, if it's not already done, look in to the upgraded wheel bearings (esp. if doing regular track work) stolen from some kind of Porsche, much more long lasting.
Enjoy!

Toilet Duck

1,329 posts

184 months

Sunday 24th December 2017
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TAHodgson said:
celger7 said:
We will cover the sides, anyone have any recommendations as to what to use? I've seen some Atoms with it and without, prefer to have it covered because it will be used in winter too, I know it doesn't provide much protection from the elements but every bit helps.
I remember being skeptical before doing this to ours, all I can say is it makes a hell of a difference! Sides combined with the screen will make it absolutely tropical in there.. Make sure you use some form of rubber bushing/gasket between the plastic and the chassis on each mount. It rattles like a b**** without it.
Also, if it's not already done, look in to the upgraded wheel bearings (esp. if doing regular track work) stolen from some kind of Porsche, much more long lasting.
Enjoy!
As that's a 3.5 it should have the latest uprights with the porsche bearings as standard. I made my own side panels for my Atom 3 using sheets of 3mm perspex, I made cardboard templates first to get the basic shape. I assume you specked the mounting lugs on your new chassis? You can have them with or without. I'd be interested too in the price for a new chassis if you don't mind sharing? I know that they are made by Arch who I believe also do chassis work for Caterham. Cool project, watching with interest smile

Edited to add, I just looked at your pics again and can see the chassis lugs for the side panels wink

Edited by Toilet Duck on Sunday 24th December 21:38

celger7

Original Poster:

85 posts

132 months

Sunday 24th December 2017
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We asked for the lugs to be put on, the original chassis didn't have them.

Re the cost of the chassis, I sent you a pm smile

Harryst500

126 posts

123 months

Monday 25th December 2017
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Excellent work, I look forward to seeing this progress

Toilet Duck

1,329 posts

184 months

Tuesday 26th December 2017
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celger7 said:
Re the cost of the chassis, I sent you a pm smile
Sorry to be a pain, but could you resend please? For some reason my profile was set to not accept PM''s, I've changed it now smile

celger7

Original Poster:

85 posts

132 months

Saturday 20th January 2018
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Finally it is on its wheels, did an oil change while it was still up in the air so all is well.

Took it up down the street a couple of times, I have driven some very fast cars but this is something completely bonkers! Scares me a bit!

Some photos of the finished car, minus the wings, will fit them after the registration process, which will take a while smile














celger7

Original Poster:

85 posts

132 months

Saturday 20th January 2018
quotequote all
Toilet Duck said:
Sorry to be a pain, but could you resend please? For some reason my profile was set to not accept PM''s, I've changed it now smile
Hi Duck, sorry for my tardy response, I have not checked this since my last post. Sent you another pm smile

573

309 posts

200 months

Sunday 21st January 2018
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Cool project.

Toilet Duck said:
I know that they are made by Arch who I believe also do chassis work for Caterham.
They do. They built the imperial chassis and still build the CSR ones apparently.

Atom Johnny

1,072 posts

175 months

Friday 15th February 2019
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thumbupdriving

Fonzey

2,056 posts

126 months

Friday 15th February 2019
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What a great thread, for some reason I laughed out loud at the thought of buying a smashed Atom just to get a donor K20 engine! Seems a bonkers way around.

Good job smile