Hitting the sump on non-Dry Sump Duratecs

Hitting the sump on non-Dry Sump Duratecs

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jezzaaa

Original Poster:

1,889 posts

265 months

Sunday 20th February 2022
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Hi All...been watching YouTube again....mentions and one example of a sump being smashed on a bumpy road. Does the Duratec sump sit below the chassis?

Ta,
J.

squirejo

800 posts

249 months

Sunday 20th February 2022
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Yes- by about an inch (I’ll look properly when I go to garage next- just checked photo of recent engine install)

However, with the dry sump I think the bell housing is the same and the bottom bolts hold a nylon wedge shape (I may be incorrect on this) so the lowest point would be the same dry or wet sump, albeit further back.

jezzaaa

Original Poster:

1,889 posts

265 months

Monday 21st February 2022
quotequote all
squirejo said:
Yes- by about an inch (I’ll look properly when I go to garage next- just checked photo of recent engine install)

However, with the dry sump I think the bell housing is the same and the bottom bolts hold a nylon wedge shape (I may be incorrect on this) so the lowest point would be the same dry or wet sump, albeit further back.
Ah interesting...ok thanks smile

ghibbett

1,903 posts

191 months

Monday 21st February 2022
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squirejo said:
However, with the dry sump I think the bell housing is the same and the bottom bolts hold a nylon wedge shape (I may be incorrect on this) so the lowest point would be the same dry or wet sump, albeit further back.
Yep, you're spot on with this.

The nylon wedge is around £90 to replace, which is a hell of a lot cheaper than a cracked bell housing!!!

ghibbett

1,903 posts

191 months

Monday 21st February 2022
quotequote all
jezzaaa said:
Hi All...been watching YouTube again....mentions and one example of a sump being smashed on a bumpy road. Does the Duratec sump sit below the chassis?

Ta,
J.
It wasn't that Monkey London one, was it?

Either way, you can adjust the ride height on a Seven, so wouldn't be too worried about it.

jezzaaa

Original Poster:

1,889 posts

265 months

Monday 21st February 2022
quotequote all
ghibbett said:
It wasn't that Monkey London one, was it?

Either way, you can adjust the ride height on a Seven, so wouldn't be too worried about it.
Yeah that was one of them...to be honest, he seemed like a bit of a tw@t...but the British roads do deal in surprises...

AndrewGP

2,011 posts

168 months

Monday 21st February 2022
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ghibbett said:
squirejo said:
However, with the dry sump I think the bell housing is the same and the bottom bolts hold a nylon wedge shape (I may be incorrect on this) so the lowest point would be the same dry or wet sump, albeit further back.
Yep, you're spot on with this.

The nylon wedge is around £90 to replace, which is a hell of a lot cheaper than a cracked bell housing!!!
Definitely worth fitting the wedge if you get a dry sump fitted. I initially balked at the cost but figured it was probably worth it and I’m so glad I did….it’s now got a huge scrape down it which would have taken out the bell housing had I not bothered.

jezzaaa

Original Poster:

1,889 posts

265 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2022
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AndrewGP said:
Definitely worth fitting the wedge if you get a dry sump fitted. I initially balked at the cost but figured it was probably worth it and I’m so glad I did….it’s now got a huge scrape down it which would have taken out the bell housing had I not bothered.
So for 360s without a dry sump, is there no protection available? I presume that there's just a metal sump sticking down where the wedge would be on a dry sump car?

squirejo

800 posts

249 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2022
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jezzaaa said:
So for 360s without a dry sump, is there no protection available? I presume that there's just a metal sump sticking down where the wedge would be on a dry sump car?
correct the sump is flat, aluminium and runs the length of the engine to meet the bell housing.

jezzaaa

Original Poster:

1,889 posts

265 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2022
quotequote all
squirejo said:
correct the sump is flat, aluminium and runs the length of the engine to meet the bell housing.
Hmmm thank you ... so a lot of care required then. I had a look to see if sump guards are available but couldn't find any. I wonder if there's fabrication opportunity here? At least to take the first hit and lift the car so the sump doesn't get so much damage.

the av8er

145 posts

129 months

Tuesday 22nd February 2022
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I have a 2 litre duratec. It is fitted with a raceline flat bottom, slimline aluminium sump. I don't know if this gives more clearance than the original but I think it does.
I also have a sump guard. The advantage is protection, the disadvantage is less ground clearance. I've only lightly caught this on a couple of occasions but I think it's worth having for piece of mind.

Paynewright

659 posts

83 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2022
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Most of the sump catastrophes I’ve read about (on K series wet sump engines) usually involves a road with adverse camber both sides and cats eyes (cast iron holder type). This is usually during an overtake!

The general rule is if you can roll a beer can under the sump then ride heights set about right. This however might not be the optimum suspension setting, so it can be a bit of a compromise.

On mine the original 14” wheels and 60 profile tyres gave better clearance. I switched to 13s along with a DS system. Again, some owners switch to 13s as they look better but with it comes risks.


An acquaintance wrote his seven off visiting a local preserved steam railway. At the entrance there was a metal gate stop concreted in the centre of the road. The front of his sump hit this and pushed the whole drive train back 2 inches, the force of which bent the chassis.

Driving a seven you do have to increase your concentration / attention at all times, as things that are non events for a tintop (with all its driver aids) can have dire consequences in the seven.

mickrick

3,701 posts

179 months

Thursday 24th February 2022
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I hit a tilted manhole cover with the sump of a K series R300.
It made me feel physically sick!
It pushed the engine up on the mounts enough for the exhaust to curl the side skin under.
But the sump didn't leak. I changed it as a precaution, but the old one hadn't cracked. Surprisingly tough!

Caddyshack

11,408 posts

212 months

Thursday 24th February 2022
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I split mine open after lifting off on a yump.

mickrick

3,701 posts

179 months

Thursday 24th February 2022
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jezzaaa

Original Poster:

1,889 posts

265 months

Thursday 24th February 2022
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mickrick said:

Ouch! frown

framerateuk

2,771 posts

190 months

Tuesday 1st March 2022
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Speaking of bottoming out, if you get a car with lowered floors you'll get very familiar with the bolts scraping their way over speed bumps (and how to ride bumps to avoid it happening).

I've had the sump tap on a very high but narrow speedbump, and I've also had to avoid large rocks in the road. But as others have said, if the road has a lot of camber, it's best to avoid overtaking as the cats eyes can get pretty high!

(This is on a Sigma by the way)