Burton sump plug issue

[2cams70]

Slightly off topic, but in the case of the original Mini, the gearbox ran in the engine sump and the magnetic sump plug would come out looking like a woolly mammoth covered in metal filings and the occasional chip off a gear tooth.

While this would have been caught by the filter, it would have had to go through the oil pump first, and I guess that BMC thought it worthwhile to pay up for a magnetic plug to avoid this happening.

Ford still exists and and is healthy! Can't say the same for BMC. Gearbox in sump idea wasn't copied by other manufacturers for good reason - except early front wheel drive Datsun. Early Datsuns almost always used BMC designs as the blueprint.

Credit for the front wheel drive system used by almost all manufacturers these days with the engine and transmission separate and in line with each other actually goes to little recognised Fiat. Fiat had the layout we all know and are familiar with back in the Fiat 127.

Now - let the arguments begin (feeling a bit bored today!!)