Lowering Sump with Engine in. HELP !

[C J R]

So following previous advice, I am attempting to lower the sump without removing the engine. Need to do this to fix an oil leak which I have identified as coming from the sump on the turbo side of the engine, where the engine mounting is located.
 
I have followed the previous advice and removed the bolts/nuts and lowered the front cross member, it has lowered about 50mm. But I am struggling to raise the engine/gearbox by jacking the gearbox up.
 
As I jack the gearbox up, the cross member lifts at the same time. I have loosened the engine mounting nuts where they attach to the cross member, so I cannot understand why the cross member is lifting with the engine/gearbox.
 
I addition I cannot create sufficient access to remove the engine mounting bolts. Until these are removed the sump will not drop so I can attempt to fix the leak.
 
Can anyone offer any advice ? What am I doing wrong ?
 
Thanks
Chris

[pete sparrow]

Hi Chris
Have you disconnected the gearbox from the power plant bar,that runs to the rear diff? If disconnected that might give you a little more lift on the gearbox?!
Good luck

[C J R]

Pete,
No, very good point, its still connected.
 
I\'ll disconnect it in the morning and try again.
 
And in answer to your earlier question, yes I am practicing for Santa Pod, but I do not want to risk further problems or dropping oil on any track/strip etc. So repairs first, then playtime !!!
 
Thanks
Chris

[efiniste]

You shouldn\'t need to touch the PPF. I didn\'t.

Maybe the engine mount bolts are catching on the subframe. Have you tried getting a pry bar in between the engine and subframe to see if they\'ll move independently of each other?

What happens when the subframe hits the chassis legs (ie gets back to its original position)? You should be able to lift the engine past that point until the top of the gearbox hits the bulkhead.

Steve

[pete sparrow]

You shouldn\'t need to touch the PPF. I didn\'t.

Maybe the engine mount bolts are catching on the subframe. Have you tried getting a pry bar in between the engine and subframe to see if they\'ll move independently of each other?

What happens when the subframe hits the chassis legs (ie gets back to its original position)? You should be able to lift the engine past that point until the top of the gearbox hits the bulkhead.

Steve

Chris has a Dragon diff brace fitted,so that might make the difference. Like i said just a thought,well actually more of a guess really.

[C J R]

Hi Steve,
I tried a pinch bar between the sub frame and the engine mounting and whilst I could prise them apart, once the pinch bar was removed, they sprung back again.
 
I didn\'t try lifting the box & engine way up to to the bulkhead as I expected the sub frame to stay put in the lower position.
 
I will try jacking everything up and see what happends. If no luck, I will remove the PPB from the gearbox.
 
Maybe I\'m just being a little too cautious as I do not want to stress or break anything.
 
I\'ll let you know how I get on.
 
Thanks for your replies guys.
Chris

[efiniste]

Chris has a Dragon diff brace fitted,so that might make the difference. Like i said just a thought,well actually more of a guess really.

Ah, yes. That probably would make a difference.


Chris, have you unbolted the steering rack from the subframe too?

[C J R]

Hi,
So I took your advice and jacked the gearbox/engine up until the sub frame touched the Chassis, then using a long screwdriver I joggled the engine mountings free of the sub frame.
 
This created just enough space to get a socket on the engine mounting bolts.
 
Current status, engine mountings removed, first 5 sump bolts removed, it seems one or two have stripped threads in the block !! and the hex head of one (at the back near the gearbox) has completely rounded off and I cannot get sufficient space to hammer on a 3/8" socket, aghhhhhh.
 
Someone has not re-fitted this sump from the last time the engine was rebuilt.
Oh well back to it.
 
Thanks for your advice.
Chris