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I've got 3", how big is yours?
cerbera - 8/7/12 at 01:54 PM

Before you all start with your mucky replies, I'm talking about ground clearance to the sump.

Was wondering if I need to look at adding a sump guard.

Ta

flibble - 8/7/12 at 02:07 PM

70mm and slightly paranoid about it
Been OK for a year though.

owelly - 8/7/12 at 02:57 PM

2" and it was a problem. Now 3" and I have to be carefull!!

Chippy - 8/7/12 at 03:16 PM

If it was me I would fit a sump gaurd, some may say thats overkill, but a cracked sump is definatel engine kill. IMHO Ray

rusty nuts - 8/7/12 at 05:14 PM

Shorten the sump ?

beaver34 - 8/7/12 at 05:38 PM

loads, ended up with a dry sump

ran stock before and never hit it though there was around 3"

bi22le - 8/7/12 at 05:56 PM

I reckon mines around 70mm. I have never hit the sump. I have speed humps all over the place.

907 - 8/7/12 at 06:20 PM

I had 4" under mine....

So I lowered the chassis to match.



Paul G

Furyous - 8/7/12 at 06:52 PM

My crossflow had 4". My Duratec currently has about 2.5" but I haven't driven it yet. Once I get the shortened sump in it should be 4" again. From memory, it's about 5" to the chassis.

Low clearance near the wheels isn't as much of a problem as low clearance in between. As the wheels lift up, so does the low hanging sump. If there was something hanging down in the centre of the car it wouldn't be lifted as far.

adithorp - 8/7/12 at 08:17 PM

Think mine is about 75mm. I occationally tapped it on speed bumps so made a gaurd. It's basically a skid made from angle iron and bolts to the engine mounting.






cerbera - 8/7/12 at 09:14 PM

Thanks for the replies gents.

I like your idea Adi, will have a look to see if I can do the same thing.

cerbera - 31/10/12 at 12:02 PM

I'm looking at making a skid plate as per Adi's post above. It appears the R1 lower engine pickup points on my build have not been used, for whatever reason.

Would it be a big no no if I was to fashion a skid plate and bolt it straight to the engine pick up point?




FASTdan - 31/10/12 at 12:59 PM

around 70mm from memory (2.3 duratec with shortened sump).

Speed bumps have never been a problem, but unexpected depressions in a fast road are!!

bi22le - 31/10/12 at 01:23 PM

quote:
Originally posted by cerbera
I'm looking at making a skid plate as per Adi's post above. It appears the R1 lower engine pickup points on my build have not been used, for whatever reason.

Would it be a big no no if I was to fashion a skid plate and bolt it straight to the engine pick up point?






If you need to fit a sump guard and there is no other place to bolt then what's your options?

I would say its ok though. The bolt holes will be strong and the skin of the sump is thin so anything will help. I would be concerned on how to stop it roatating back into the sump if its only bolted in one axis.

adithorp - 31/10/12 at 01:28 PM

You could but then all the force would go into the gearbox casing. Can you extend the brackets up and bolt to both mountings?

adithorp - 31/10/12 at 02:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by bi22le
I would be concerned on how to stop it roatating back into the sump if its only bolted in one axis.


Mine has a small block welded to each leg that locate agianst the engine mount to prevent it rotating. That wouldn't work in this case though.

cerbera - 31/10/12 at 03:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by adithorp
Can you extend the brackets up and bolt to both mountings?


Hmmm, I don't think so. :/

Not sure what to do now. Have driven approx 1000 miles since purchase and never had any issues with hitting the sump, although its always first in my mind when coming to some dodgy road surfaces.

If I whack the sump it could mean a new engine, if I fit the sump guard to the lower pickup points and end up damaging the gearbox casing that could also mean a new engine.

Davg - 31/10/12 at 03:24 PM

I would go for fab'n bottom engine mounts and then do as per Adi has done his skid. As said mount straight off the R1 casing and asking for trouble!
Cheers D

Paul Turner - 31/10/12 at 03:31 PM

Been driving a Seven since 1988 and in that time I have hit the sump once. Have about 75mm ground clearance currently, had less in the past.

On that one unfortunate occation it was my fault really, visiting a large country house (not mine) and there was a metal gate stop sticking out of the tarmac about 25mm. The road was cambered either side of the metal stop thus clearance was reduced. It cracked the Dunnel Zetec sump along the front weld but it was only weeping, no significant oil loss. Repaired it with araldite and it lasted 2 years until I took it off to get it re-welded. The nose cone was cracked where the engine had moved.

On the same afternoon a "mate" of mine had a similar occurence on another road not far from where I was. He had only got 50mm ground clearance (told him he was crazy several times) and the resulting damage wrote the chassis off and cracked the gearbox.

When I had less ground clearance I got the bellhousing stuck on a speedhump at Stoneleigh and another at Mallory.

cerbera - 31/10/12 at 04:14 PM

Thanks for sharing your experiances Paul

ian locostzx9rc2 - 31/10/12 at 05:13 PM

75mm is ok but you have to be careful 90mm to 100mm ok