Once again, thanks all for all your kind comments.
AWEM - the sump is already on the car - I hear you about the anodising, but it won't happen just yet. I may be able to do it next winter, but I will have to contract it out, I think the surface area/current requirements will far exceed anything I can muster.
Stuart - currently getting around 450bhp, but we've done all but no tuning work. The main mods are: Remove the VANOS & turn the cams up to 11. Replace BMW ECU with a DTA device. We're running a proprietary ignition/fuel map, the guy who did the work has locked the ECU down, but the kind chaps at DTA have furnished us with the "back door" entry code
![:med:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/meditationf.gif)
so we might be tempted to experiment later in the year. Other than that & the dry sump setup, the engine is stock. Next tuning mod is high performance cams (they will allow up to around 600bhp), then it starts getting a bit pricey.
Phil - I'd hoped to be working on another one by now, but illness has prevented that. Once I'm back at the machines, which - work permitting - will be next week, I could get started. Of course, I need a customer first...
And now, for the news:
IT WORKS!!!The engine has been started & run, and everything is A-OK.... Well, almost; there's a slight leak around the spigots; which is basically due to my faulty spigot design. I should have left room for a washer or, better yet, left a small flange to allow the spigot to seal properly. I'm going to make some new spigots which will be grooved to take an o-ring. I'll also clean up the face on the sump where they tighten up, to ensure a nice oil-tight seal. That should happen next week sometime, depends on when the engine is removed again.
There is still an oil leak into the bellhousing. My money's on a dodgy crank seal, as we know the sump is flat as a flat thing. At least,
I know that...
The next photos (other than one of a new spigot) will be of the car on the track hopefully!