TheSamba.com :: View topic - Anyone running a deep sump on their Straight Axle bus?

Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:19 pm

Hi Guys
I'm gearing up to fit a deep sump on our bus in preparation of a larger motor. Only problem is that I just held the thing under the bus and it's CLOSE to the ground. The sump I have is 97mm deep, is that deeper than most??? I haven't measured the clearance but i'd say it's only about 70mm from the ground (2-3/8" ). Looks like I may have to rethink, what is the slimest deep sump available???

Sat Aug 23, 2008 7:12 am

I know someone that lost a rather expensive motor that way. When you do the new motor, full flow it, put a external cooler for some more oil instead of the sump. Berg's writings (not the gospel but still), sell sumps to prevent oil starvation when doing quick acceleration combined with high volume pumps, or cornering. Its not necessarily things you are going to run into in most bus driving days. He specifically says 'sumps are not sold to solve cooling problems, if you have a cooling problem fix that first'. That i agree with. But extra oil would have to help temps a bit. The risk of hitting anything with it is up to you and how low your bus is.

Sat Aug 23, 2008 7:19 am

bugginmiami wrote: I know someone that lost a rather expensive motor that way. When you do the new motor, full flow it, put a external cooler for some more oil instead of the sump. Berg's writings (not the gospel but still), sell sumps to prevent oil starvation when doing quick acceleration combined with high volume pumps, or cornering. Its not necessarily things you are going to run into in most bus driving days. He specifically says 'sumps are not sold to solve cooling problems, if you have a cooling problem fix that first'. That i agree with. But extra oil would have to help temps a bit. The risk of hitting anything with it is up to you and how low your bus is.
Ha, I know that guy too.

Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:49 am

I'd think that a deep sump on anything lowered is Bad News Bears... for sure.
X2 on the Full Flow.

Sat Aug 23, 2008 10:34 am

Slowlow wrote: I'd think that a deep sump on anything lowered is Bad News Bears... for sure.
X2 on the Full Flow.

are you old enough top have ever watched bad news bears?

here is mine on a 36hp bought from berg...definately close to the ground but i dont have my bus real low just sorta low.

Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:10 am

ive been running CB Performance's Wide Glide sump for years without any issues. im not slammed but 'normal' low.
mine is a 2 qt, they offer a bigger 4qt but its probably not much different than what you have.
http://cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=198

Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:54 am

Eric ripped his normal engine filter plate off his bus on the way to charlotte, i dont think he will ever be running a sump. :lol:

Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:59 am

You have to think about what a sump really does.

1: Increases you oil capacity, so thats more oil to warm up to normal operating temps (slower warm up)

2: stops the oil pick up pipe sucking air under hard cornering (is that going to get used on a bus.

I just did not bother on my engine, cant see the point.

Sat Aug 23, 2008 12:44 pm

Thanks Guys
The case I'm using is freeflow I hadn't thought of an extra cooler to increase capacity :roll: Looks like I can sell that and use the money for an oil cooler.

Oh and Gator NICE RIDE :D

Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:30 pm

I have a 1.5q sump and full flow on my bus and never worried about ripping it off. The major set back is that I don't think my Westy hitch will work with it.

Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:43 pm

gatorwyatt wrote: Slowlow wrote: I'd think that a deep sump on anything lowered is Bad News Bears... for sure.
X2 on the Full Flow.

are you old enough top have ever watched bad news bears?

Not when it first came out, No.

And for some reason I had No idea that that bus was yours.... I saw it at CTS but I didnt see/meet you!

Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:24 pm

Slowlow wrote: gatorwyatt wrote: Slowlow wrote: I'd think that a deep sump on anything lowered is Bad News Bears... for sure.
X2 on the Full Flow.

are you old enough top have ever watched bad news bears?

Not when it first came out, No.

And for some reason I had No idea that that bus was yours.... I saw it at CTS but I didnt see/meet you!

yea, its todds bus :(

Sun Aug 24, 2008 6:52 am

my65vert wrote: Slowlow wrote: gatorwyatt wrote: Slowlow wrote: I'd think that a deep sump on anything lowered is Bad News Bears... for sure.
X2 on the Full Flow.

are you old enough top have ever watched bad news bears?

Not when it first came out, No.

And for some reason I had No idea that that bus was yours.... I saw it at CTS but I didnt see/meet you!

yea, its todds bus :(

It could be worse Mike. At least you didn't sell it to someone who sandblasted the logos and painted it pink or something.

Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:44 am

I knew a guy who had one in a big motor lowered bus, and the directions he gave me to his house the first time I went there was "once you are about a mile away just follow the line of oil and it will lead you to my driveway!!!" I run a 2qt sump but im not super low just "normal" low my sump is about 1" above the bottom of my trans cradle, if it hung below that point I would be worried!! extra oil in an AC engine is never a bad thing, FWIW berg (Gene, not Middle) says his sumps decrease the oil temps by 10 degrees.

Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:23 am

vwtony2 wrote: I knew a guy who had one in a big motor lowered bus, and the directions he gave me to his house the first time I went there was "once you are about a mile away just follow the line of oil and it will lead you to my driveway!!!" I run a 2qt sump but im not super low just "normal" low my sump is about 1" above the bottom of my trans cradle, if it hung below that point I would be worried!! extra oil in an AC engine is never a bad thing, FWIW berg (Gene, not Middle) says his sumps decrease the oil temps by 10 degrees.

I always figured if the sump didn't hang lower than my exhaust that I wasn't going to run one. That way the exhaust would hit before the sump would.

Mon Aug 25, 2008 12:31 am

Thanks for the replies guys, that story about the directions cracked me up :lol: The sump of my engine is probably only about 30-40mm above the trans cradle, so I'm definately not going to bother, I think I'll go extra cooler if need be.