RHEL Tomact Sump Guard.

This serves two purposes, firstly it is the centre removable cross member, secondly it is a guard for both engine and gearbox sumps.

When the engine is moved back the eight or so inches the standard cross member fouled the engine so the new item has to be a lot smaller in height. To make up for the loss in rigidity, the lower part is stiffened with 3mm wall half inch box section and a further cross piece is attached using the original gearbox mounting holes a few inches behind the main cross member. Then a skid plate is attached that is raised at the front so as to act a bit like a ski when everything bottoms out (rather than and anchor!).

The whole thing weighs 13kg. The first version had many crevices for mud to build up in and i measured nearly 10kg of mud in it after a particularly boggy race!

It seems adequately strong as i have come to a grinding halt several times on submerged rocks with the whole car balancing on the thing!