Sump Replacement or repair

[Rob P]

Travelling to the Open Golf today in Scotland I had to abandon the trip after hitting a rock on one of the nice twisty back roads. Sump is now split in two places and has a massive dent in it.

Have been reading the various posts on the removal of this and I believe FredJohn has repaired his (welded) but wondering if there are any replacements around as mine looks absolutely shocking
Is the actual job as easy as is being suggested?
Just a little confused about how the second pair of axle stands are placed under the suspension without moving it, I'm assuming the car is jacked first and then lowered onto these? anyone got a picture of the four jacks in place so I don't get it wrong, apologies if I'm being dumb but still a little in shock at the incident which left a huge puddle of oil in a Scottish lay-by within a few minutes of the incident
Rob P

[daveiow]

On the 4/5/15 BCN posted that Lotus had a delivery of news sumps.
I can't do the link thing but have a search under " New sumps"

[Rambo]

viewtopic.php?f=33&t=24199&p=304449&hilit=New+sumps#p304449

Amazing what you can do with copy and paste

[GeoffSmith]

Steve has them in stock:

http://www.sjsportscars.co.uk/

[Rob P]

Thanks for the speedy responses guys, Love this forum and still love the car ..........just

Will be ordering the replacement tomorrow, here's hoping he still has them in stock, might even order a new Cam cover gasket and repaint the cam cover whilst I have the car in bits

[Fredjohn]

Rob
Raise car at A post points then place stands under inner jack points. Remove jack and wheels, allow hubs/suspension to hang then place axle stands under hubs/suspension without raising or lowering it. These 2 stands only gently support the hubs not the car's weight.

I've PM'd my phone number if you want a chat. See article in WikiLEC if you haven't already.

Good luck
John

[Rob P]

Cheers John,

I'll order a few parts today and make sure I have read the article in WikiLec and will call to review any questions if that's OK

Appreciate the help

Rob P

[dapinky]

Rob,

To be honest, I've never found the extra effort of using 4 stands worthwhile - and the reduction in working space can be a tad anoying.

Admitedly, they do keep the rafts all lined up and thus easier to replace the bolts for the prongeron when replacing it, but as they don't really take much weight, they are also quite easy to accidentally dislodge if you hit them with a stray arm/leg whilst under the car - thereby removing the initial value of doing it.

I have never had any great problem with lining them up on reassembly - it may take a few minutes longer, but still less time than adding the extra stands.

Basically, it is probably the *best* way to do it, and if it's up on a proper ramp/lift would be okay - but on the floor it just tends to get in the way.

(just my opinion - and I'm sure others will swear that it is the only way to do it!)

[alan e]

Rob,

To be honest, I've never found the extra effort of using 4 stands worthwhile - and the reduction in working space can be a tad anoying.

Admitedly, they do keep the rafts all lined up and thus easier to replace the bolts for the prongeron when replacing it, but as they don't really take much weight, they are also quite easy to accidentally dislodge if you hit them with a stray arm/leg whilst under the car - thereby removing the initial value of doing it.

I have never had any great problem with lining them up on reassembly - it may take a few minutes longer, but still less time than adding the extra stands.

Basically, it is probably the *best* way to do it, and if it's up on a proper ramp/lift would be okay - but on the floor it just tends to get in the way.

(just my opinion - and I'm sure others will swear that it is the only way to do it!)

i only used 2 stands when i changed my sump with no problem refitting the prongeron the 2 bolt heads between the sump and the gearbox can be a pain to get to but apart from them i had no problem changing it, i used loctite 5699 grey silicone to seal the sump to the engine but dont use to much you dont want it getting into the oil ways that was over a year ago with no oil leaks yet when you heve the sump off dont forget to clean the oil pick up pipe and filter.

[Rob P]

Cheers Alan, appreciate the note about cleaning the oil pickup, I probably would have missed doing that

[Artaban]

I took the sump off last week and cleaned out the oil pick up with carb cleaner; lot of gunk in there. The result? The tapping you get when you first start the engine has gone from 30 seconds down to less than five. I was amazed at how quickly the engine quietened down. Well worth doing.
Andy

[stevieg8571]

Rob,

If you've got the car back to Preston I'll gladly give you a hand, and can bring trolley jack, axle stand, wheel chocks etc, if you need any help that is?

Steve

[Rob P]

Hi Steve,

thanks for the offer of assistance, I am currently awaiting the delivery of the bits and pieces and will give you a shout once I've read up on the process if that's OK

Rob P

[stevieg8571]

That's fine Rob, It'd be good to have a chat and help out if possible.

Steve

[Rob P]

That's fine Rob, It'd be good to have a chat and help out if possible.

Steve

Always glad of an extra pair of hands, once I have the timeframe for the parts I'll be shouting up
How do you take your brew, tea, coffee or other tipple

[stevieg8571]

Start with a brew and end with a tipple is best I've found!

See you soon.

[Rob P]

OK so the sump has arrived and looks the business so this will be started this weekend. I have read through the Sump removal piece EC9 page 37 of the manual, not a lot of info really but now noted.
I also did some searching on the forum and found the removal process for the progeron, MJ18 page 38 under starter motor removal (how does that work ) Will make sure I complete the following as part of the process

Replace Sump
Replace Oil Filter
Clean out oil pickup and filter
Spray Progeron and generally clean it up (it's pretty clean anyway but a extra coat of paint won't go amiss)
Clean up the nasty welding on the Exhaust down pipe (highlighted in another posting)

Anybody think of any other jobs worth doing whilst I have the car on axle stands please feel free to holler

[Artaban]

Only the usual checks.
Condition of the driveshaft rubber boots and for any oil leaks where the driveshafts go into the gearbox. Because checking the gearbox oil level is such a pain you really don't want a leak around the seals.
I'd also give the radiator support frame (the 3 small bolts from the prongeron attach to it at the front) a good dose of waxoyl or similar. Can get a bit rusty and its much easier to get at it when the cars on stands.
Can't think of anything else. Hope it all goes well.
Andy

[Rob P]

Quick update after work done yesterday, only started late afternoon after golf and watching the F1 qualifying
Prongeron removed as per the notes from the manual all bolts were pretty easy to get off so well pleased with that, it has a few dinks and bumps here and there but will be cleaned up and painted before being put back on the car
Sump removed, again as per the manual, only issue I had was I needed to also remove a half round plate covering the lower half of the clutch housing hiding the Ring Gear as this plate had a lip covering the last two nuts holding the sump in place.
Replaced Oil Filter, again easy to remove, although the new filter from SJS was slightly deeper than the one I took off but fit OK.
Cleaned oil Pick up filter which to be honest wasn't that dirty, the oil that was left in the bottom of the sump was clear of any bits so all looks OK
Took a few piccy's of the sump

Old Sump.JPG

Sump damage.JPG

Sump Hole.JPG

Also when removing the old sump it had a gasket in place, all feedback I've had says no gasket but to use gasket sealer and even manual says this so I'm a little confused to find it had one on.
Further work today weather permitting.
Checked the drive shaft gaiters and one looks a little tired so might have to look at replacing that as well

[Steve A]

Ouch what the hell did you hit ?
Oil filters vary in depth depending who makes them

Don't throw that sump away