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MG MGB Technical - Sunp removal with engine still fitted

Hi every one. Can any of you old hands give me the best way of taking the sump off a 1972 MGB GT with the engine still in place. I know that the manual tells me how to do it but a will bet my life on that you experienced members will know either a better way, or have some good advice on the tricky bits . Those who have helped me out before know i cannot do the job myself. So my son is going to do the manual work with me telling him how to go about it. The biggest problem's look like the front sump bolts and then you will have to take two bolts from where the gearbox is to drop the rear of the sump. Any advice will be appreciated regards TONY
Anthony Basham

You have to take off the front engine mounts and lift the engine -- rotten job
W Wilkinson

Not so bad really. Just remove the bolts from the front mounts, jack the engine up under the sump and fit wooden packers between the mount faces and let the engine back down again. Remove the sump.
Iain MacKintosh

IIRC I did it without loosening the engine mounts. I put the jack under the engine backplate and jacked it up a little (until car started to lift). With the right spanner you can just get at the 5 tricky bolts at the front. Once these were out I removed the jack and removed the rest. However, I think Iain's suggestion of loosening the eninge mounts is probably a better idea and would only take a couple of minutes (may need to remove alternator to get at one engine mount).

Iain C
I D Cameron

Easy job as Iain says. Takes next to no time and there is plenty of room to get at the bolts and remove the sump once the front of the engine has been raised from its mounts.
David Overington

I agree with Iain, no need to loosen the mounts, a bit fiddly but not all that difficult.
Ron
R. Algie

Did mine without loosening the mounts, but filed a ring spanner for easier access on the front bolts.
K Harris

Many thanks for the advice, the reason i have to get the sump off is i have an Ivor Searle engine fitted only done 7000 miles. It cost over a grand. But an oil cooler pipe leaked when i was running it . I thought i had got away with it but it has started to knock when hot if revved. The oil pressure is still reading 40 PSI at idle when hot 65 PSI cold . What are the chances i may have got away with just a shell or shells gone as it sounds like just one big end knocking. Or do you members think the crank will be damaged and i may as well pull the engine. Talk about me having bad luck spell with my cars, i think i must be jinked Tony
A Basham

This thread was discussed on 02/03/2007

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