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At some point in it’s history, OUA444L had some harsh treatment, or just bad luck. Impossible to tell now apart from the impact damage on the sump. Clearly a heavy collision. A very large dent which bent the sump out of shape. Whilst at the Triumph & MG Spare show at Stoneleigh earlier this year I found a sump that was the correct shape albeit with some surface rust.
With the front suspension and front cross member removed, now was a very good time to tackle the sump replacement. The sump is secured with 21 (yes 21) bolts. 19 screw into the tapped block from the underside, but 2 are bolts dropped in from above with nuts and washer underneath. Puzzling but there must have been a reason. 
Once the bolts are undone then a tap with a hammer to break the gasket seal and off it came. The photos show the old sump on the right complete with residual gasket and the engine sludge sitting in the dented base. On the left is the replacement. Cleaned and painted (on the outside) with a nice new gasket ready to be refitted.
Refitting was simply a matter of offering up the replacement unit to the block. Taking care not to dislodge the gasket. Then replacing the 21 bolts. I tightened up the bolts in a manner that would pull the sump in evenly so as not to snagg the gasket. I hope I have tightened each sufficiently – time will tell.
With the sump off i took a few photos of the crank – the block number 1522 can be clearly seen on the left.