i have a truck

[ingenius1]

for a long time, since probably about 1998, i was a member of moparchat. that site seems to be gone. here is a bit of my history and my current "problem". i don't have a lot of $$ because i am retired. back in '96 or 97, i became the owner of a couple of Dodge pickups. over a few years, i made a few modifications to the heaviest one, the 5000 pound D250. the first 1/4 mile pass it ever made was 16.70 at around 90mph. that was in about 1999, i think. over the years, i slowly made changes, and a couple of years ago ran a 13.20 @103mph. i realize that is slow for cars with delay boxes and trans brakes and slicks, but this truck isnt a particularly "hot" hot rod. it is more of a work truck, but it will ruin a mustang's day. anyhow, a year or so ago, i exploded an oil pressure gauge. i knew that the oil pressure was a bit high, it pegged the 70psi oil pressure gauge. the engine is basically a 440, but due to a couple of mods, i have to run an external pickup for the engine oil. the oil pump is a high volume pump. the oil pressure is at least 100psi when cold with 10w-30 oil. warm it is 75ish psi. i don't like it this high. about a year ago, i took an old oil pump and removed the pressure relief spring and swapped it into the HV pump. that dropped the oil pressure, but to about 50psi cold and 45ish psi warm. a few times a year i run the engine to 6000 rpm, and i am not convinced that 45psi is a particularly good thing at 6000 rpm. so here is why i am posting: i have been looking for oil pressure relief springs that fall in between these values. the internet is loaded with standard (low pressure) springs, and springs that are rated at 70psi. 70psi would be great, but if there are only 2 versions of springs, i already have them, and the "70psi" version makes 100psi. are there any other oil pressure relief springs? if not, what can i do with either of the ones i have to modify the pressure at which they open? it is a real PITA to get to the oil pump to change these springs, so a lot of "trial and error" isnt really an option. i have to jack the engine up and remove the left front engine mount to do so. i am getting too old to be lying across the fender for an hour or so at a time, my ribs don't like it.
thanks for any help/information in advance.

 

[Yunick13]

Have you tried shimming the "low" pressure relief spring to increase the pressure?

 

[ingenius1]

actually, i wondered if that might work, but it seems that when i was a member of that other site someone had mentioned that and was advised against it. i have to say that at that time, i had an old, tired truck 440 in the pickup, and at that time, i was less concerned than i am now, so i didnt pay much attention. i have no idea how much shimming to do. i suppose i should investigate changing the steel brackets for the motor mounts, currently they are from a van, and are best described as a rather strange shape, kind of a "U" shape but ballooned at the bottom. i don't know if a straight sided bracket would work, if it would, it could provide enough clearance to be able to change the springs from below. i have some aftermarket brackets based on original truck RB brackets, but they are not at all anything you could call 'identical'. i will have to check. if you (or anyone else) has any idea hot much shimming would be needed, i would appreciate that knowledge.

 

[rbkt65]

There are adjustable valves that you can put in the pump. They are externally adjustable. Get 1 of those. Mancini has them. MRE21550 for 45.00. We build our own, but this is something you could do fairly easily, I think.