Le Mans recreation

[Impromptu]

So in the mean time I took Mike's advice and brazed a tab onto the oil filter. If fits neatly under the oil tube (see photos below).

I put back the sump and filled it with oil, but no oil pressure yet when running the starter motor. I read elsewhere on the forum I need to prime the system by putting oil in the tube supplying the camshaft. I'll disconnect the oil pressure gauge from the block to allow air to escape, and hopefully that will be sufficient. If you have more suggestions on the priming the pump I would be interested to hear them.

[Peter McKercher]

The best way is to disconnect the pipe at the top of the pump. It is a tight fit to get a wrench in behind the radiator, so I cut one in half to do the job.

[Impromptu]

I was reluctant to remove the large pipe on the oil pump. Indeed there is not enough space for a spanner due to the radiator. So I tried first by opening the cam cover (was only put on the day before, so easy to do), and undid the coupling towards the cam shaft. I found a smal funnel which fitted neatly into the tube and filled up the tube. In parallel I had left a funnel with oil on the oil pressure fitting on the lower end of the block overnight (photo shows both funnels attached to the engine). Aftersome time (low temperature in the garage so the oil was rather viscous) all seemed filled up and when cranking the engine with the handle the air bubbles coming out on top through the oil became small enough. Also,the oil level in the funnel below on the oil gauge coupling started to rise when cranking, so I decided that must have been enough. I closed it all up and indeed I managed to get oil out at the gauge when cranking by hand and after cranking with the starter motor the oil pressure gauge indicated quickly more than 30 psi!
Next: cleaning of the carburators.

[Peter McKercher]

That's certainly the easiest way. My Nine Sports primes easily that way. My Le Mans does not