Aluminum Oil Pan Poll

[Tahoe]

Bump, incase anyone else wants to vote. Voting ends this Thursday.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to vote so far, it's been very helpfull. Not much will happen with this project until after New Years. I'll start another thread IF this is a go.

[Rob_LaMoreaux]

Baffling would be a must since the biggest issue I have with the stock sump is uncovering the pickup on right hand corners. Maybe Design in a pickup?

More oil volume isn't really necessary if the pickup does not come uncovered.

Also an aluminum dry sump can be had new for between $700 and $900 plus the pump etc. Cheaper used if you find someone who used to race Formula Ford.

A sump guard really isn't needed like it is for an Alfa. With an Alfa the first thing to hit is the sump, where on the Elan the first would be the frame crossmember. Also on the Alfa the sump is in front of the wheels to it gets close on a steep approach, where the Elan the sump is behind the wheels so it doesn't have approach angle concerns. Yes, my Wife's lowered Alfa Berlina has a sump guard and it hits regularly, where the Elan only ticks the tip of the supertrapp muffler.

Rob

[mrob]

Baffling would be a must since the biggest issue I have with the stock sump is uncovering the pickup on right hand corners. Maybe Design in a pickup?

Has anyone had experience with the "Real Swinger" oil pickup system that was sold by Dave Bean?

[stugilmour]

Thanks for that Rob. I couldn't recall who here owned the Berlina. I had forgotten about the positioning of the engine; mine was a Berlina as well with sump guard, although I don't recall grounding being a frequent issue.

Thinking it over and being under the car fiddling with the starter motor I am also less convinced of the need for additional oil capacity. The clearances to the frame, header down pipe, & starter look like a hassle (as also mentioned by Rohan), let alone the desire to perhaps keep the component more universal. I was originally thinking of the added oil capacity in terms of extended intervals to checking the level; I suppose if the component solves the leaking issue the actual oil consumption may be quite modest. I would sure not want Russ to abandon the project due to difficulties with re-design if a stock shape pan was feasible.

[StressCraxx]

Baffling would be a must since the biggest issue I have with the stock sump is uncovering the pickup on right hand corners. Maybe Design in a pickup?

More oil volume isn't really necessary if the pickup does not come uncovered.

Also an aluminum dry sump can be had new for between $700 and $900 plus the pump etc. Cheaper used if you find someone who used to race Formula Ford.

A sump guard really isn't needed like it is for an Alfa. With an Alfa the first thing to hit is the sump, where on the Elan the first would be the frame crossmember. Also on the Alfa the sump is in front of the wheels to it gets close on a steep approach, where the Elan the sump is behind the wheels so it doesn't have approach angle concerns. Yes, my Wife's lowered Alfa Berlina has a sump guard and it hits regularly, where the Elan only ticks the tip of the supertrapp muffler.

Rob

Rob,
I agree about keeping the pickup covered. I am not sure that increasing the size of the sump is the answer. The early ropeseal pan with the bell pickup in the center of the sump did not run dry as easily. The lipseal pan put the pickup tube on the right side of the pan, with the oil going up the side of the pan and block in hard right handers.

There are some trap door baffles and scrapers to reduce windage available. The scrapers are cheap horsepower too. Modern road cars use some very sophisticated windage trays and scrapers to reduce the pumping losses of oil flailing around the crankcase.

http://www.crank-scrapers.com/Ford_Kent.html

[Foxie]

60 reads and 8 voters? If you take the time to read the topic, place a vote!

I don't seem to be able find the "vote" option here.

However, I have cracked the original aluminium sumps on both my BMW 323s, both which disintegrated on the spot, risking a wrecked engine, and causing inconvenience and expense, not to mention the pollution. They have been replaced with steel sumps.

I have a QED baffled, large capacity steel sump on the twincam, which has survived many a grounding. With the oil cooler, I have more than enough capacity.

Just my experience

[Famous Frank]

I vote for the cast pan (they just look cool) with an extra qt of capacity like Greg Z was talking about........ "T" pan. If it has extra baffling all the better. And I'd pay $350.

Frank

[tvacc]

Has anyone had experience with the "Real Swinger" oil pickup system that was sold by Dave Bean?

I have the swinger on my Elan. Works great.

[Mazzini]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LOTUS-TWIN-CA ... 45ffe84e7e

[StressCraxx]

The cost of building the patterns is prohibitive for a cast sump. Now we can print a pan in thermoplastic. Will an aluminum printer be next?

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/this-could-be-big-abc-news/machines-creating-machines-181919022.html

I can think of some cool things to make!

[sevenhead]

There are all levels of pattern manufacturing depending on quantity that are required.
The patterns could be made using the SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) process.

[Tahoe]

Guys,

I haven't let this die yet and I will pick it up again when I can, however an unexpected hospital visit for my wife a month ago has not helped in the funding department. Shes fine now, but it's amazing how much a couple days in the hospital costs even with insurance. Anyway, it may be 6 months from now, but I'll update everyone again when I can.

[StressCraxx]

Guys,

I haven't let this die yet and I will pick it up again when I can, however an unexpected hospital visit for my wife a month ago has not helped in the funding department. Shes fine now, but it's amazing how much a couple days in the hospital costs even with insurance. Anyway, it may be 6 months from now, but I'll update everyone again when I can.

Russ, no worries to you about this at all. Our prayers and best wishes to you and your wife.

Regards,
Dan