custom sump

[hoshy]

Hey guys,

I was thinking about getting a batch of m40/42 lower sumps made up. I'd have them a little shallower than stock and perhaps baffled too. I'd want it made out of steel too.

I just think a sump that's a little higher off the ground would be good for the lowered cars and if it was made of steel and the right shape it would be more inclined to bend rather than crack when it does crack the odd speed bump.

Anybody know of any companies who do custom sumps?

[fuzzy]

any local fabricator could knock them up for you. i had an alloy one made for mine. whats the reason eveyone uses alloy for sumps rather than steel?

[Jhonno]

Weight, and don't rust..

[hoshy]

I'm not sure why they use alloy. Most obviously it's lighter but apart from that I dunno.

One thing I would be a little worried about is that if it did take a bang then it might crack the upper sump.

[gcs325i]

You could probably knock one up yourself, looking at what the mk1 escort boy's use when fitting a 2L red top in their motors its just a jigsaw of flat steel plates.

[hoshy]

I'd like to but my fabrication skills are not good at all!

Much rather get a decent quantity made up too. I reckon it would be a good seller.

[fuzzy]

Weight, and don't rust..

would the inside be prone to rust with all that oil flowing around? you wouldnt want rust flakes getting drawn up through the engine?

[hoshy]

I'd imagine the inside would be fine. Loads of older cars use steel sumps.

[papercutout]

I'd have one. If I don't make one first.

I doubt you'd get rust on the inside, and anyway, whats to stop you using high temperature paint on the entire thing?

I'd now really tempted! Have you looked at how low the oil pick-up is, and whether you actually can make it shallower?

Just wondering, I know this is a bad photo, but I was being artistic, getting a real photo of them wasn't my aim! But what're they for? The 3 lumps...

[maxfield]

I doubt you'd get rust on the inside, and anyway, whats to stop you using high temperature paint on the entire thing?

What if the paint started flaking?

[gcs325i]

Painted out side only I'd suggest to be on the safe side. Inside would never rust.

[maxfield]

Sounds sensible to me.

[Jon_Bmw]

Some older model peugeots come with steel sumps. In fact it seems to be luck of the draw sometimes, some mi16's came with steel sumps, some with alloy.

[DanThe]

Nothing rusts like an old ford sump! You need to check out how low the pickup is before you go any further IMO

The best sump shape is deep and narrow which is obviously a PITA for ground clearance

[hoshy]

Cheers guys..

You make a good point about the height of the pickup!

I suppose a lightly modified pickup could be in order too.

[murran]

my 320/6 e21 has a pressed steel sump!
the steel will be put on the 325i engine thats going in next week.
i too dont like alloy sumps. id rather have one that dints rather than cracks.

[navi]

why dont you just dry sump it and have done with it? you wont be hitting any speed bumps with the sump pan again! thay also use alloy for sumps as its a better way to keep the oil cooler.

[daimlerman]

Can see no snags with a steel sump pan,seem to remember that my eta engine came with one.Only issue really is the total capacity,I would expect that BMW's engine designers did a bit more than say ' Ve must make zee sump hold four and a bit litres of ze oil'.