The Big Project

Fitting the oil pump, rear crank seal and sump

In part five of our Triumph SC engine rebuild, we fit the oil pump, crank seal and sump.

1 Front sealing block

Apply sealant to the small gaskets under each end of the block and press into place. Align the block with the front face of the engine then tighten its two securing screws.

2 Fit the wooden wedge seals

The ends of the sealing block are fitted with wooden wedge seals. Trim with a knife so they are slightly oversize, smother them in sealant, then hammer into the slots on either end of the sealing block.

3 Finishing the sealing block

Trim the ends of the wooden seals flush with the face of the block using a razor blade. Recheck that the front of the sealing block aligns perfectly with the front of the cylinder block. Wipe excess sealant.

4 Fit the oil pump

Give the internal parts of the pump a good coating of assembly lube before fitting. The pump is secured to its boss by three ¼in UNF bolts. Check its orientation then fit the bolts and torque to eight lb ft.

5 Pressure relief valve

Check the pressure relief valve seat inside the block is clean and undamaged. Assemble the spring and piston into the cap then screw the cap into the block with a new copper sealing washer.

6 Rear oil seal

Fit a new lip seal if applicable (early engines use a scroll). Apply sealant to both sides of the seal housing gasket then bolt the housing to the block, ensuring it is centralised on the crankshaft boss.

7 Rear oil seal alignment

With the rear oil seal fitted, check its alignment. It should be concentric with the crankshaft and its bottom face must be flush with the sump gasket face on the underside of the cylinder block.

8 Fit the sump

Coat both sides of the sump gasket with sealant and fit to the cylinder block face. Lower the sump pan onto the block, ensuring the oil baffle at the back doesn’t disturb the gasket. Fit all bolts finger tight.

9 Tighten the sump bolts

Finish fitting the sump by tightening the bolts. Triumph recommended a torque of 16lb ft, but this is too high for the threads in alloy sealing blocks and rear oil seal housings. We suggest 10lb ft.