I need schooling - old vs. new engines

DionR said

Can you expand on why it is bad policy? Seems like a win-win to me so I must be missing something.



Agreed, probably doesn't make much difference. But I also wouldn't be surprised if correct pushrod angles adds some efficiency. One that you can't get in an LA without tracking down a 48 degree block and all the associated parts.

BTW, I'm not trying to goad you or start a fight. Just dialoging. I learned a long time ago that I don't know what I don't know so if someone has an opinion about something, better to listen rather than ignore what might be useful info.

Click to expand...

The front mounted, crank driven oil pump is done because it saves money. That’s it. All the crap attributed to cam driven oil pumps can be largely related to shitty timing chains. The oil pump gets blamed for spark scatter but it’s almost always the timing chain.

There are only two cases that I can think of that moving the oil pump forward is a good thing. That is the external wet sump system and the dry sump system. Other than that, the pump should be mounted in the rear.

Think about it. Even with Chrysler’s center sump pan, you have moved the pick up away from where all the oil goes under acceleration. That’s stupid. Unless you are counting every nickel and dime you can. On top of moving the pickup away from the movement of the oil, you now have to make the pickup tube longer. Again, there is nothing good about that.

In order to get the longer tube to have the same restriction as the shorter pick up, the diameter has to be larger. Quite a bit larger. Now you are fighting for room in the pan and you need to clear the rods and all that. So it never gets to be as big as it should.

Does it work? Yes. Is it good engineering? Not even close.

The front or timing cover mounted oil pump is not an improvement. It had been done before with poor results. It’s now back in vogue. It’s a cost savings and thats it.