Hello but I'm not building a Haynes roadster, quite

[Davey]

Well I've now completed the sump alterations and hopefully there should be some photos attached to this posting. I cut 35mm out of the sump pan using a demolition reciprocating saw with a coarse metal blade fitted, to hold the sump while I cut it I clamped it to the front rail of the Dragon. I re-used the front and sides of the piece I cut out to extend the mid section to retain a similar volume to the original, I reckon I'm probably about half a litre shy of the original which I don't think will cause too much of a problem as its not really going to be a race car.

Once I'd welded the base back on and the extension pieces on I cut out the section where the sump pan goes down at the front (photos will explain better than words) and then welded on a piece of 3mm ali sheet to close the whole sump off. Inside I drilled three 8mm dia holes in the pan base to prevent air locks. I filled it with water and found a couple of pin holes just as Ash did so just went over them again. The sump plug had been butchered in the past and was a real mess so I turned the head down in the lathe so that it was a nice fit in a 12mm nut which I then welded onto the plug so it now has a nice big 19mm hex head.

D.

[Davey]

Here's the last few photos of the sump.

D.

[Davey]

I managed to get an hour on the Dragon today and have refitted the sump and oil pickup pipe. While I had the engine hanging on the crane I used a G clamp to measure the required travel on the clutch release fork. From fully engaged to fully disengaged the fork moves 20mm at cable position which works out perfectly as my clutch pedal has about 24mm movement. I also had a stroke of luck with a radiator, a nerighbouring business specialises in French cars and has a C5 diesel he's breaking. well a quick meausre up and the rad will be just the job so £20 later I have a rad and both hoses, might try for the fan too on Monday.

D.

[Bonzo]

Sump looking good Davy

Pleased to see that you are managing to find some time for your build

Never know, you may even manage to get the motor up & running before the start of your forthcoming silly season

[AshG]

sump looks good like the stepped design should reduce the need for baffles

[Davey]

Cheers guys, "design" might be over stating the case a bit Ash, it suggests forward planning . Not so sure about firing the lump up Ronnie, I'm still saving for the ECU , it would be nice though

D.

[Davey]

No actual progress to report as we're in the middle of our "silly season" workwise but I have had an absolutely brilliant day today. Mrs booked and payed for our Goodwood FoS tickets this morning (£618 for a long weekend away in the camper van but what a weekend ). I also had a good and lucrative day's work which is always a pleasant experience . Then I managed to do a bit of a deal that will pay for the Dragon's ECU. I haven't touched the beast since before Christmas as I have to get the exhibition trailer sorted, only four and a half weeks to our first outdoor show and I reckon I've still got about a hundred hours worth of work to complete by then so the Dragon is buried in the corner again . anyway by this weekend I should have the wherewithall to buy the Emerald ECU so it might just be possible to fire ethe lump up in about two months I reckon.

Happy daze, D.