Dieselvol

I'm pretty new around here but already know this forum is the best place to get answers. I'm getting started restomoding a junked out '67. The LS7 is ordered, but I noticed the engine was converted from dry sump to wet sump. What's the difference and why does everybody seem to make this conversion? Thanks.

jrg77

Most cars come with a wet sump. The oil is stored in a pan below the crankshaft. The oil pump sucks oil out of the pan to lubricate and cool the engine.
That works fine as long as there is enough oil in the pan for the pump to suck. Really sharp curves and turns can cause the oil to slosh to the side, not get sucked up, and allow the bearings to get damaged due to lack of oil.
A dry sump system stores the oil in a separate canister. It sucks the oil from underneath the engine much more aggressively. Usually they include and air/oil separator in the system. This in important because the oil takes on air as it is whipped around in the engine. Oil foam does not lubricate engines well. This system better manages the oil in high G, high rpm situations. It also allows the engine to make more power.
Folks do not use the dry sump system because it takes fitting and plumbing another tank with extra parts. It is also much more costly than a wet sump oil system.

redvetracr

$$$$$

Dieselvol

Yeah, and you get to revisit that cost as well. I have a diesel pickup with an external oil cooler. About 3 years into it, I had to replace all the hoses and fittings as they were misting the whole world with oil!

Cars Simplified

Engineering Explained produced a pretty good video about this recently: