Can the oil pump be removed, when the engine is still in the car? Do you have to undo the engine mount and lower or raise the engine a bit?

Regards Jack

I am afraid the simple anwser is NO!
Chris Draper

Actual, the answer is yes, I've done it several times.
Brian

I have a Spyder chassis. The last time I refitted the engine I left all the auxiliaries off, including the oil pump.

I then found a problem fitting the pump due to lack of clearance.

I was able to fit the pump by unbolting the end cover to get enough clearance to insert the drive gear into the block, then refitting the cover. Mark the cover before removing, it only fits one way.

Sean Murray

I have done it on a baby elan with spyder chassis. It was a bit painful. I even filled it with oil and kept it at the right angle to keep it out of my sleeve. I would have thought the plus 2 to be easier.

note. The reason I had to remove mine on a restoration was beacuae I could not get oil pressure when cranking prior to start. Hence, the oil priming. I had put some in but it had stood for months since I built the engine.

Mike

Brian, did you undo the engine mount to change it?

Is it best to lower the engine or raise it?

Its the chassis thats in the way, not the inner wing. so may be different for a spyder chassis

Regards Jack.

Jack,
Its been a couple of years since I did it, but if I remember correctly,take off the oil filter canister, take off the right side eng. mounting compleatly and I think I (raised) the engine, you can also get an assistant with the help of a bar to push the engine to the left. Although I never did it you could take off the end cover as Sean said, it will give you a little more room. It is a tight fit but it can be done in a Lotus chassis. Prime the pump well but you will loose a lot of oil as you fit it as you cannot fit the filter/canister first.
Good luck,
Brian

Instead of trying to fill the pump/filter with oil before fixing to the engine I suggest that you install it dry and pump oil into the engine via the gauge port in the block.

Use some sort of syringe or grease gun with suitable adapters. The same technique should be used after an engine rebuild prior to starting it for the first time

Ian Phillips

Ian,

Re: priming down the gauge pipe.

I tried this with can after can with no success. The gauge is on the oil output pressure side of the pump. Isnt it the other chamber that the oil is needed to create the lift.

Might be wrong, but thats how I see it. I had to prime the pump and re fit it before it would show oil pressure.

Mike

Removed the end cover of the pump, but still not enough room to remove the pump. I ended up removing the right hand mount and removed it when the engine was lowered.

Hope it works and doesn't leak. I don't fancy go through all this again.

<!--QuoteBegin-JACKJABBA+Nov 20 2003, 04:05 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (JACKJABBA @ Nov 20 2003, 04:05 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->

Hope it works and doesn't leak. I don't fancy go through all this again[/quote]
Jack,
Thats the "pleasure" of owning a Lotus.
Brian.