Upgrades and improvements for longevity

[James Anderson]

Would there also be a benefit in Steve's additional stiffening plate in place of washers, but keeping bolts? I can see that extra studs might be seen as an extra hassle when it comes to putting crankcases down on disassembly?

Ruairidh - is your sump gasket home made, or from stock now somewhere?

Agree, when it comes to the inevitable removal of the engine, especially one fitted with a deep sump, studs are going to be a big problem. Like the idea of the stiff retainer, I've cut down a battered old sump to just its edge and hold it in place with 4-6 shallow headed bolts to reduce damage to the crankcase/sump surface as much as possible. The retainer could be especially useful for this purpose.