Oil pressure help

[duster360]

I have always done the 3/8" clearance also. Thinking back on it, my oil pressure may be a little higher in that video than it will be in my car. On the dyno the engine had Brad Penn 20/50, I will be using 10/40 Joe Gibbs oil. So it will probably drop a little pressure but probably not much. My engine has fairly tight tolerances.

 

[yellow rose]

I disagree w/ a part of one of the above posts. I sucked the oil pan dry w/ 6 qts in it w/ a hand drill on the engine stand. And I`ve never read, or seen a pick up setting on the bottom of the pan. Is that a small block thing? I`ve always shot for 3/8" clearance myself. chevy, 440 stroker,or 426 hemi.

Just so we are on the same page...you out 6 quarts in a stock pan with a stock pickup? And the pick up was 3/8 off the floor? That would mean you had 5 in the pan and 1 in the filter to start. At 3/8 off the floor you left an easy 1-1.5 quarts in the pan.

Some one in another thread posted a page out of a small block FSM that showed the pick up must touch the pan. IIRC! I learned it in 1979-1980 when I bought my first Direct Connection book. I believe it's in there as well.

 

[B3RE]

It is highly probable that your lifter bores are worn out and oval shaped. This is VERY common with the SBM and their stupid 59 degree lifter angle. J.Rob

This is my thinking also. A missing galley plug, as some have mentioned, would have next to zero pressure. Another thing we don't know is what kind of lifters are being used. If a roller, it may be uncovering, or nearly uncovering, the oil band causing pressure to drop once the oil thins and bleeds past the lifter more easily.

 

[4spdragtop]

I didnt realize about the pump touching pan. Or maybe I forgot that I remembered???
Checked both 69 Plymouth FSM and 84 Dodge truck FSM.
273 right up to hemi ALL say strainer must touch pan.
84 has no mention of strainer to pan(stupid sideways pic).

 

[yellow rose]

Thanks for posting that. I knew someone posted that in another thread, but I probably couldn't find it.

 

[Mooch42]

Did you figure out your problem? I am fighting the same issue

 

[Kendog 170]

As previously said ( At the rear of the driver's side oil gallery, in front of the distributor shaft ) Not sure how mechanically inclined you are. If it was me I would at least pull the Dizzy and check for missing plugs there maybe you'll get lucky. . As said there are a couple. One is a bypass plug for oil filter. I have read a few posts that without it you are bypassing your oil filter and can lose oil pressure. Maybe someone has more info?
As for lifter galley plugs (not sure)I missed one in front (behind timing cover) once on left galley and lifters on that side were noisy and not pumping up. Luckily I shut down on break in and fix without issues. I am not one of the smart ones here but thought I would throw it out there. Hope you figure it out.

 

[Kendog 170]

Found this thread for some x-tra info.
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/361067/re-340-low-oil-pressure.html