Drilling the sump for an oil return
 

Hey guys!

I've decided I'm starting the process of turbo-ing my MX5 maybe, so time to get cracking! The first thing I need to do is drill the sump for the oil return from the turbo. From what I can see, the sump won't come out without removing the engine from the car...

How do you guys usually drill your sumps? Engine out?

In the car...air regulator attached to breather.
Search for it, or check the FM website under documentation/ kit installations.
Also, use a braided line with a -10AN line and fitting the first time. Dont cheap out and use a rubber hose.

Hah, that's pretty genius!

When I turbo'ed my previous car I spent 5 days dealing with a bolt that held the gearbox support brace to the car, in order to remove the sump. It was a pain. If I had known this a few years ago, I would have saved myself a hell of a lot of work!

Thanks :)


What if shavings DO remain in the oil sump? I reckon they'll just be picked up by the oil filter?

this thread has lots of information here - https://www.miataturbo.net/general-miata-chat-9/best-way-remove-tap-oil-pan-42915/

Pretty good pics of how I drilled mine in my build thread. It was pretty darn easy.

First clean about 2" of the area around the drill spot with a metal brush. Tape up the crap out of the drills 1/2" from the start of the drill to ensure you dont over do it. Use a small drill to start, then go up to a bigger drill. I think i used 3 drills when i did mine. Then reach in there through the hole and pull out any metal shavings if you can. Then don't tap it fully... 3/8" is plenty good (entire tap is 1 1/8" long) Just enough as you want the threads to be tight as possible.

Use jb weld on the threads after wards. At last hook up your hose that will go up to the turbo and use a funnel to run oil down the line... have the oil drain open and a bucket to collect the dirty oil. You can use old oil btw as its just to try to get any shavings out.

Grease the drill bit good as that well help shavings to cling to it. You can bend a piece of wire with a small loop on the end with some clay mashed in to the loop and work it around inside the hole several times and you well get 90% of the shavings out. Pour a gal. or so of mineral spirits through a hose after installing the fitting and let it run out the drain. Then put in some cheap oil and run for an hour or so and drain. You should be good to go. Go to Flyin Miata site and they have directions on how to measure where to drill and so forth.

Holy crap the man in the shadows has returned.

Well thanks for all your tips guys!

you can use wax on your drill bit to catch shavings and a magnet to on the bottom of the pan to catch stray shavings.

Super magnetic aluminum pans FTW!

---- me its just aluminium, the oil pump will shred anything that makes it past the gauze and the filter will catch the rest.

Dann

Haha, magnetic aluminum!