My steering rack is in the way!

[rayofleamington]

Hey all, random update, the engine is in and the box also. The engine sits in very low as the clearance issues with the steering rack. So now it looks like the sump will be only about 6 and a half inches from the road surface. So I was thinking about a rather radical idea.

I've run a Minor with only 3.5" clearance under the engine bashplate and it was useable. The only time I grounded it was when driving onto a pavement area that started with a V. I drove onto the V, forgetting to put a wheel on the kerb and had contact.
If you can put a bashplate at the front to allow for parking incidents I can't see that 6.5" will be a problem.

For serious offroad use I raised the front to 6.5" and it took some mean bumps and ditches to hit the ground - certainly couldn't have grounded it on European roads!

This was with standard minor torsion bars (51 years old) so if you have new uprated ones, it will add an extra large margin.

[ian-s]

Michael,


Couple of other points:
1) Remember to shorten the dipstick
2) You could put a washer under the oil relief spring just to keep the pressure up a bit if you are worried about the reduced oil capacity.

Regards,
Wal

Putting a washer unde the oil pressure relief spring will do nothing for the reduced oil capacity . If the oil pressure is dropping because it is too hot it will still drop as the oil pressure relief valve only works when the oil pressure exceeds the strength of the spring.
Why not modify the sump to put 'wings ' on the side like the Ford emgines have , with appropriate one way valves you could then have the same capacity (or more) and more sump surface area to cool the oil.

[Wal]

Sorry my mistake, got carried away thinking about hot oil and sumps.

Regards,
Wal

[plastic_orange]

I think if you have 6.5 inches clearance between sump and road you are ok - check a standard minor. Normally you don't want to go below the height of a housebrick - or 4 inches.
I've not measured son's fiat engined minor, but it's certainly not 6.5 inches.

Pete

[Innovator]

Aussie Mike,

You can in theory put the rack anywhere but what you can practically do is another thing. If you wnted to move the rack up you would have to start cutting the bulkhead and reworking but it could be done.

Alternatively you could move the rack towards the rear and this will not alter the bmp steer, only the ackerman characteristics.

John