hi all,
I decided I would change the sump this weekend. After much research I set to on Sat...
Getting the bolts out of the sump was dead easy, even the two at the back under the cross member. The only tool that works is a 1/4 inch drive with a universal joint. You dont have to lift the engine.
Getting the sump out of the car....was a PIG!
I had to take off the exhaust heat heat sheild, then grind of a header bolt which was ceased.
Then I had to jack the engine up 2inches to get the sump past the header and the oil cooler.
Nightmare. the only way i could do this was to jack up on the exhaust header :shock: I was so tired by the end of it that I left the assemby till today.
Today I fitted a new pickup tube (which i pray i tighten up properly (sometimes you forget if you have or not afterwards :shock: ), and put it all back together. Putting it back together was a cinch (funny how jobs seem easier with a fresh head)
Filled with fresh oil and a new OE filter. She purs like a kitten and I now have a straight sump ! !drive
ive looked at the old sump and pick up tube (which I raised a topic on here about) and im amazed the engine was not wrecked/starved of oil.The sump was so dented that the pick up tube was flat on the bottom on the sump with ony a tiny bit of room for the oil to get through, like 1mm around 1/3 of the circumference of the pickup. Im glad I changed it but wow what a job it was getting the old one out.

 

See...It was easy!

 

it really would be a cinch if i had an engine crane.
now i can spend the rest of my time pondering if i tightened the pickup tube tight enough! doh.
those bolts at the back really are not an issue.