Got a bit more serious with trying to see how the engine will fit in the 480 today so lifted it out again and got the car up and stripped back a bit. It's a very tight squeeze into the bay!
Yesterdays initial offering highlighted the fact that the sump was going to foul the subframe with the engine low enough to close the bonnet and that the alternator and tensioner setup may need to be changed or the chassis rail nibbled out just a bit to make way for the belt. These are removed from the engine at the moment along with the AC pump, which won't be going back on. It could have been a lot worse, I couldn't have hoped for better really at this stage of the game. The AC pump is attached to the stock engine mount and with both items removed, mounting possibilities are good in this corner. 3x M10 holes, spotfaced to the same plane in the block. Nice and easy to work with.
I decided to see where doing this would get me-
With the subframe lowered to the extent the studs would allow and the PAS pipes moved out the way, I tried again-
Believe it or not, there is clearance between the sump and the subframe, a little more would be nice
I'm wondering about the possibility of modding the sump...
The existing engine mounting point on the subframe will need to go as you can see it's too close to fouling the oil cooler inlet/outlet on the oil filter assembly. The mounting location will be close by but but will need to allow for the filter assembly. It seems that if I were to space the subframe off a little, perhaps replacing the stock bushes altogether with something nice that will space it into the bargain, the dream begins to look more like reality. Longer captive studs will be needed but I think this is going to be an essential part of the plan, ride height can be messed around with later if necessary, it may well sit down a little with extra weight anyway and ride height and suspension considerations can be dealt with when the time comes, along with brakes, tyres etc. The net result of spacing the subframe off and dropping the ride height down to compensate will be no different to lowering the car in terms of geometry, add in a lower ride on standard springs anyway with the extra weight and I think there's a happy compromise to be had.
This is how it looks up top as you see it from below previously-
I think the bonnet might just close
Believe it or believe it not, as you see it here, that engine is hanging in free space, not touching a thing but it hasn't quite got enough wiggle room, just need to find it that bit of extra space in a few places and hopefully we'll be cooking. Next stage of trying engine and gearbox should be fun... Then for very tedious alignment and checking and measuring and checking and measuring and measuring again and so on until I'm happy enough to actually start bolting and welding. Don't want the whole thing to be on the piss. This will be the first major milestone.
O.C. 480 D.