Sump modifications & fitting the engine
Before the engine can be fitted the sump needs modifying to reduce the depth to prevent it grounding out all the time. The original sump has a drop down bulge at one end which is chopped off to reduce the overall depth by about 50mm. Steel plate is then used to form a box which extends the length and width of the original sump, which is then fully welded to the original sump. This modification results in a lower profile sump with the same oil capacity as the original. In addition the drain plug has had to be relocated and a baffle plate has been fitted to prevent oil starvation during heavy acceleration, cornering and braking.
As a consequence of the sump mods, the oil pump pick-up pipe also needs modifying to maintain the original clearance between the sump and the pick-up strainer. On the left below is the unmodified oil pickup pipe fitted to a new oil pump, on the right is the modified pickup pipe and oil pump fitted to the engine.
With the modifications complete, the engine and gearbox can now be bolted together and fitted in the chassis - woohoo!...Now were motoring! Before lifting the engine in the prop shaft was fed into the transmission tunnel from the engine bay and bolted to the diff. The chassis was lowered at the front and raised at the rear to make fitting the engine easier as it needs to go in at an angle. Once lifted over the chassis my able assistant no.2 Jason guided the tail of the gearbox down into the tunnel and fed the propshaft into the gearbox, making sure the splines were aligned. The engine was then lowered into the engine bay and lined up with the rubber mounts and dropped into place.
