A little mod that improves oil quality, reduces heat build up in the oil, and improves pumping losses to the engine. At the moment the Panhard timing case oil level is determined by the hi level drainage points shown here or leaking past the front main bearing.



Normal practice for a splash lubricated gear is to have no more than a third of gear diameter immersed, so why Panhard did this surprises me. Originally they had a fibre wheel of massive proportions meshing to a hardened steel gear, and in all fairness it probably didn’t need much lubrication. Brian’s engine has a dural gear fitted, a specialised aluminium alloy version, that available from most Club sources, and it is made in France.



These new drillings, now restore the status quo, and at the same time allow for this area to get some oil changes. Technically these wouldn’t get fully drained, unless the steel timing cover case was removed, because there is no low level return point. I think it is realistic to revise this mod and lower the oil level further, but as this is the third engine I have modded, I will wait until I get some better feedback on the wear characteristics before doing so.



Next up is restore the crankcase oil drilling that originally existed, before Panhard revised it. I need to get a long series drill to do this properly, as the entry angle into the casting, means the drill chuck would catch otherwise.