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TR4 oil sump capacity increase

To: triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: TR4 oil sump capacity increase
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 10:23:29 EDT
Greetings:

I recently purchases a sump spacer that is intended to increase the oil sump 
capacity of a TR4 (and TR3, etc.) engine by a quart or so.  It is basically an 
aluminum shim about 1/2" thick and has a bolt hole pattern that follows the 
spacing of the engine and oil pan bolts.  See eBay (expired) item #2486077464 
for an idea of the configuration. By the looks of it, this offers me the 
opportunity to increase both my oil capacity and the potential for leakage. But 
that's not the issue; it's part of the fun.  Here, however, are the questions:

1   Do I need to make any changes to the windage tray, or baffle, in the 
existing oil pan?

2   Do I need to extend the reach of the oil pump pickup to reach closer to 
the bottom of the deeper sump?

I expect that the baffle in the pan is to reduce oil surge away from the pump 
pickup in hard cornering, acceleration and braking. (Note that I don't 
actually do much of any of these; I drive occasionally and conservatively.) The 
baffle may also serve to reduce the whipping-up of oil in the sump caused by 
the 
crankshaft rotation. If I simply put the sump spacer in the engine-to-oil pan 
sandwich, it will likely lower the baffle below the level of the oil.  Will 
this lead to excessive whipping-up of the oil? I did acquire a spare oil pan 
for 
experimental surgery if this proves necessary. I'm thinking that I could 
remove the baffle and reattach it to the sump spacer to achieve its original 
installed height -- if that seems like a desirable or required move.

As to the position of the oil pump pickup, I suppose that as long as it is 
submerged, all will be well. That being said, however, is it possible, 
desirable, and achievable to extend its pickup deeper into the sump?

Obviously this whole proposition is a nonessential exercise in "improving" a 
TR4 that's already running fine.  However I do have an oil pan leak of 
considerable proportions. And since I have to remove the pan anyway, why not 
make the 
job more pointlessly complex? At least, that's my thinking. All wisdom, 
conjecture, speculation and information is welcome.

Bob Sharp
Michigan
64-ish TR4

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