The side wings and chin have now been completely removed and all supporting brackets and clips ground off / drilled out.
As suspected it's shown up two sizable areas of rust. While quite large they're a fairly easy fix as I can get the replacement panels rolled and bent at work for free.
Spent a total of 6 hours battling with the sump / Oil pan. When I bought her the guy said that he'd found an oil leak coming from the pan and supplied me with everything I need to do the job. I didn't argue as it was a good deal and assumed that it would be fairly straight forward . . .
In fairness, If I'd read up on the task beforehand online I could've got it done in half the time . . . and if I had to to it again I'd do it in a quarter of the time but none of that helped me on Sunday and Monday evening !!
Long story short, not enough clearance to get the pan out, release motor mounts, jack and block engine, unbolt sump and hit with hammer.
Thankfully the replacement pan has been redesigned and went in without a scratch.
A pic from end-of-play Monday - this is with the motor blocked.
No pics of the finished job as by that point I was proper p!ssed of with laying on my back on my gravel driveway.
I've also replaced the oblong number plates with U.K legal but U.S sized number plates . . . I had a theory that it'd improve the front view by making it look more proportioned (I think it does) and on the back the new plates cover the factory holes the old ones do not.
Pics from this morning.
So, to summarise :
New Oil Pan - £0
New Pan Gasket - £0
New Hardware Kit - £0
New Oil Filter - £0
5 qts. of Oil - £0
New Number Plates - £13.98
So far so good.
