Youds7 Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 I have a 1998 dry sumped bell tank 1.6 k series which does not have a swirl tower. I understand the swirl tower was introduced due to oil foaming. My question is do I need one?When I check the oil after turning off the engine the oil is foamy. To install the swirl tower is it just a matter of taking off the original top plate, installing the tower and re-routing the oil pipes, or are there other changes needed to the baffles etc?Many thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevehS3 Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 Excellent article from the archives here http://lowflying.lotus7.club/2001/2001_09_03_Apollo.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youds7 Posted March 14, 2022 Author Share Posted March 14, 2022 Excellent article but I already have a dry sump with bell tank. I was just asking if it's possible to upgrade it by adding the swirl tower which I understand was a later modification of the system I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 I have both a low plate and tower (on the car) and confirm they are the same bolt pattern onto the belltank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youds7 Posted March 15, 2022 Author Share Posted March 15, 2022 Thanks for the confirmation. Is it just a simple swap over ie) no internal mods needed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 From memory, I think you have to plug the oil return which I believe is in the upper edge of the bell tank (rather than lid) and this connects up the tower. There are a few components within the tower itself but nothing else below the connection to the bell tank.There are various pictures on the Caterham Parts website in the engine / drysump section, albeit many bits are out of stock.I'll try and get some pics of mine later! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted March 15, 2022 Leadership Team Share Posted March 15, 2022 I'm going from memory here ... you need to replace the top-plate assembly with the swirl tower, just seal it with some anaerobic sealant there's nothing else at the join. The top of the tower then has a couple of machined parts screwed on and a long tube which goes into the tower to aid de-aeration of the oil. I suspect you'll need a longer scavenge hose as well.Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 I needed a longer braided hose to go to the new higher entry on the tower - I ordered one from CC, but its was far too long, so I had Think Automotive shorten it for me. Apart from that, easy enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 There is also a hose / catchtank for the breather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Englishmaninwales Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 I bought the whole tower assembly from CC about a year ago (credit to TomB for alerting me at the time ) but Parts was having a discounted sale on obsolete parts, and I think they told me it was the last one. If that is the case you could ditch the belltank, replacing with a standard bellhousing and clutch release arm and fit a proper higher capacity generic stainless steel dry sump tank (they are designed to de-aerate the oil) from Burtons or such like supplier, in front of the passenger footwell (which you would need to shorten).You would need longer scavenge pump to tank and tank to engine pump pipes made up and rerouted (Think Automotive made some pipes for me recently). I think the whole assembly would be a bit lighter than the heavy, capacity limited, belltank.Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21jigsaw Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 Gold or Purple dry sump pump?Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 Ralloy make a nice alloy DS tank that fits a short footwell, they will place the fitting in your chosen location in either BSP or JIC. push on or male breather single or twin.https://www.ralloy.com/dry_sump_tanks/ral095_dry_sump_tank_square_base_screw_cap/c20p112.html?pos=0&search_params=YTo3OntzOjEyOiJjYXRlZ29yeV9pZHMiO2E6MTp7aTowO3M6MjoiMjAiO31zOjE2OiJjYXRlZ29yeV9yZWN1cnNlIjtiOjE7czo4OiJrZXl3b3JkcyI7czowOiIiO3M6OToiYnJhbmRfaWRzIjtOO3M6NDoibW9kZSI7czozOiJhbGwiO3M6NDoic29ydCI7czo5OiJwcmljZV9hc2MiO3M6MTA6ImNvdW50cnlfaWQiO3M6MToiMSI7fQ%3D%3D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youds7 Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share Posted March 19, 2022 Gold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youds7 Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share Posted March 19, 2022 I've sourced a complete swirl tower. Should arrive on Tuesday from Redline. CC only had the main tower without the dipstick and cap. All I think I need now is the longer scavenge hose, already have the catch tank and hoses fitted. Where does the breather hose connect to? Currently it's connected to the top of the low plate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrightpayne Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Re breather - if you look at the picture SLR77 posted there is a brass fitting near the top of the tower - attaches there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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