After 2 years i have decided the sump on my MK pinto is too low, i can never go on a trip without scraping it on the ground somewhere. I have finally worn through the metal on the bottom near the filler cap and have a nice little puddle of oil on the garage floor. I have temporarily patched the hole with some liquid metal stuff!

Now, my first question is for those with a pinto and a type 9 box, have you bolted the gearbox support bracket on top of or underneath the chassis brackets? my box is currently sitting on top though i'm wondering if i change it so that it hangs from it rather than sits on it and that the engine and gearbox will pivot slightly bringing the front of the sump up a little higher (the front of the sump being the current lowest point of the car by a good inch lower than the bottom of the bellhousing) I would think some high tensile bolts would be able to deal with holding the gearbox ok?

Also does anybody know if mk have made a sump that can offer more ground clearance for a pinto? i got mine from them 3 years ago, didnt know if they had changed their design? I'm thinking that it must be possible to re-design the sump to make it shallower yet wider to keep the same capacity? the math shouldn't be too complicated.

Also i can't heighten the whole engine as the top of the engine (oil filler cap) already rubs (leaves a small mark) on the underside of the bonnet and i'm not wanting to add a scoop.

Oh and i'm not getting a dry sump either!

I will be making a sump guard as well at some point but want to get the sump as high as possible first.

Pinto sump advice and what you have done all welcomed

if you've got welding gear, you could always alter the oil filler, cut off the standard filler, weld plate in it's place and make a smaller filler plug on the back end of the rocker cover

Have you shortened you sump?

That would be the place to start imho

yes it was shortened by mk from the start

Is the sump at the same level as the bottom of the bellhousing?

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Originally posted by flak monkey
Is the sump at the same level as the bottom of the bellhousing?

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Originally posted by iscmatt

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Originally posted by flak monkey
Is the sump at the same level as the bottom of the bellhousing?

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No, it is about an inch lower, the whole of the underneath of the engine and gearbox is sloped towards the front

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On my old westfield I fitted an RS2000 alloy sump. That was much shorter than the standard tin sump and had an extra wing to keep the capacity:

ebay link

If the sump really is an inch lower than the bellhousing (at the back) then it wasnt shortened enough. If it is just an inch lower at the front because your engine is tipped forward then there is your problem.

You may find it is tipped forward to clear the bonnet or nose cone, so check that before going any further.

All I did with mine is cut the bottom off and weld a bit of plate over it. Didnt increase the capacity and have never had any oil surge problems whatsoever.

David

As Garyo says, get an RS sump, its alloy and gives sufficent clearance. If you do make sure you get the pick up pipe and dip stick too.

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Originally posted by SteveWalker

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Originally posted by iscmatt

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Originally posted by flak monkey
Is the sump at the same level as the bottom of the bellhousing?

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No, it is about an inch lower, the whole of the underneath of the engine and gearbox is sloped towards the front

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If it wasn't sloped would the sump still be lower than the bellhousing?

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My thoughts..

1. Jack the engine mounting up to lift the engine. As long as its within the body..

2. A sump skid.. 2 ways.. A canny thick metal guard mounted on the front of the chassis, folded to cover the sump... or, some bits of wood strapped under the chassis rails lower than the sump to act as skids.

All you need is your sump to NOT be the lowest point.

Steve

bump

Have you seen/compared the sump modifications given in ChrisG's book?
Not sure if that's better or worse than what you have.
Can you raise the engine a 1/2 an inch on the mounts? It doesn't need to be moved up much if it's catching but hasn't wrecked the mounts yet.

Finally is it catching because the front dips down on heavy braking? If so, slightly harder springs might sort out the problem.