Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Series 1 Roadster - Undertray.

I have noticed that modern cars now have many plastic under-trays to improve the slip stream of the underside of the car.
Racing cars do the same trick to make it as aerodynamic as possible.
Dave's idea is right on track and certainly a worthwhile project to tackle on a winters evening if you have nothing else to do!

but Oh that sumps sticking down is a major worry, how about a smaller sump or possibly raise the engine?

No room to lift the engine, and the oil pick up sits right at the bottom of the casting, so without re-engineering, and taking a reduced oil capacity, it's a non starter. A dry sump plate is available in the US, but the pump/tank and pipework would be best left to a race car preparer. I do believe that there would be a market for a dry sump fix, but it will be pricey. A new sump casting with a shorter oil pick up pipe with an oil cooler to restore capacity would work, but tooling up for a new sump would also cost a fortune. When I win the lottery then.
The Noble uses a dry sump fix, so I bet their engineer could fix it. Anybody got a contact?

Good reply DaveW,
the problem wont go away until some grey matter is awakened.
It affects so many cars I am surprised that it has not been tackled seriously before?
I personally would not buy a car with a low sump like that.Period.
Love is blind when buying a car and I understand the emotions involved.
But that low sump is a corker and needs to be addressed in the fullness of time.
After all the high gate stoppers in merry ole England are not going to be removed any time soon and probably never!
In fact the speed bums are getting higher by the day.
Pity we could not fit air bags and just pump up the Moggie when needed?

To be honest, the classic Mini sump is not much higher. It would be interesting to get a measurement but I would be surprised if it was over 4 inches clearance. The Mog is three and a quarter on the low edge. I believe that speed bumps are restricted now to three inches, although some higher ones are around. Hopefully after one or two accidents involving snowploughs, they might see sense and lift them all. Speed bumps are as cerebral as a bloke with a red flag IMO.

I know this is going over 'old ground' but having been a victim, I am happy with the Mulfab conversion and sump guard / deflector.

Even so we have 'Bottomed Out on Sleeping Policemen Humps twice at very slow speed since the conversion was fitted. Is there no respite?

The Ground Shot that I think Ruby was asking for?

The Mulfab Sump and the back edge of the Deflector

The Full Size Deflector

Going over old ground Frank????

Let's hope it's not uneven then.........

A fine looking underside frank, may all your bumps be little ones!
Well worth the time and effort I bet.

Leaving aside the Antipodean humour, there is a very serious issue here. Namely, that MMC KNOW this is an issue ( anecdotal evidence in relation to cars serviced at the Factory makes it plain that many, many Roadsters come in with damage to sumps/ cross members), why aren't they doing something about it?
Having done a quick google search it seems that certain figures in the higher echelons at MMC are more concerned with the Gumball Rally than customer care issues.
OK, I'm ranting ( and many of you won't be at all surprised at that) but market share in the motor industry is a fragile thing and I have this awful feeling that MMC are dissipating many years build up very quickly!
Please feel free to disagree- I'm sure many of you will
Cheers,
G
PS I note Simon's comment that the Factory do 'look into' this site on occasion to see what current views are. Good- they might take note of them

It would make a lot of sense to engineer a fix for this, especially since the Roadster remains in production, and retro fitting a fix would generate loads of money. I'm surprised an enterprising dealer hasn't taken this up if MMC are not interested. Another inch off the sump would allow a decent skid plate to extend back to the bellhousing and give about four inches clearance. Based on what we saw at Superform, a sump could be knocked up there 'easily' by scanning an original in, then taking a slice out. If the bottom could be belled out a bit, there would be no loss of capacity and all it would need then would be a shorter pick up pipe for the strainer. The same could be done for the Aero.

G ---Well said!!!These are exactly my sentiments! I would really think twice before committing to a replacement roadster
purely on account of this blasted sump, which really takes the edge of open road driving---sometimes literally!