Morris Minor Owners Club

Yet another hole in it!
cheesed off with pot holes and speed bumps - this is the 3rd time I've caught my sump on the things. This time we were camping out in Goathland and the track down to the site was like a mine field explosion zone - holes everywhere.
Does anyone have any helpful advice please - I drive a modified traveller which has a marina engine. Are there modified sumps which can be put on which are 'shallower'?
Thanks for your time

Steve

How about a "bash plate" as used on rally cars?

When you say 'modified' traveller, does that mean it's possibly got lowered front suspension? A shallower sump would mean less oil capacity. Maybe your just going in to the bumps and holes to quick be more visual and slow down

Personally I'm with marky. Come kind of sump guard would be a better option. Although, taking it slow helps too...

I used to have a superb (but heavy!) sump guard on my Rally Minor. It was like a large steel sledge bolted up on the sidemembers and sloping up at the front to more bolts through the front crossmember. Great succes - huge trails of sparks behind on rallies! But - it did need an oil cooler to be fitted to the engine ! You could probably modify a Mini sump guard (the 'Scottish' one is best!!) to fit nowadays - they weren't readily available in my time .
You should look to the suspension height as already mentioned (and are the dampers empty/knackered?) - and when driving on '3 ply' as we used to call it - consider putting one set of wheels on the hump - and not dragging the sump/clutch mech/gearbox crossmember along the hump!

Thank you all for your helpful responses.
If I was to modify the Marina sump by cutting and re-welding up to the level of the drain plug would this over-reduce the quantity of oil required to run the engine safely.
I am a mature moggie owner and drive with respect for my vehicle and get most upset when she gets 'bashed' about

You could indeed - but you may have to modify the oil pick-up inside the sump - and I doubt you will gain more than about an inch - for quite a bit of work!