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Old Nov 7, 2021 | 05:38 PM
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Default New oil pump noisy?

Had a problem with oil pressure dropping to 25 psi above 5k rpm. Replaced the melling m55 with a m155 to attempt to resolve the issue and now it sounds like a rod knocking. Anyone else have this issue?

Last edited by Kacyc3; Nov 7, 2021 at 07:16 PM.
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Old Nov 7, 2021 | 10:21 PM
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I’ve heard oil pumps going bad make whirring or whining sounds, but not a sound like a rod knocking. Maybe you have problems elsewhere in your engine. I recall hearing one rattle a little, but a rod knocking is a pretty distinct sound. Post a video of your engine running.
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Old Nov 7, 2021 | 10:30 PM
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NEver with one sounding like a rod knocking
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Old Nov 8, 2021 | 08:51 AM
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If it sounds like a rod knocking than it could be rod knocking. The oil pump is a couple of gears turning , nothing to make a knocking sound. I have never seen a bad M55 oil pump in all my years of playing with small blocks, your low oil pressure is most likely bearing clearance related hence the rod knocking sound.

Further investigation required.


Last edited by Mr D.; Nov 8, 2021 at 08:56 AM.
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Old Nov 8, 2021 | 08:54 AM
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What exactly did you do to change it out? How far is the pickup from the floor of the pan?

Jebby
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Old Nov 8, 2021 | 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Jebbysan
What exactly did you do to change it out? How far is the pickup from the floor of the pan?

Jebby
Oil pump, sump, sump is 6.75 in from Pan deck/mount surface with gasket in place. Stock pan. There was no sound before the oil pump just replaced it because above 5k rpm it drops from 70 psi to 24psi.

Last edited by Kacyc3; Nov 8, 2021 at 11:42 AM.
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Old Nov 8, 2021 | 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Kacyc3
Oil pump, sump, sump is 6.75 in from Pand deck with gasket in place. Stock pan. There was no sound before the oil pump just replaced it because above 5k rpm it drops from 70 psi to 24psi.
Is the pickup at least 1/4 inch away from the bottom of the sump? I cannot tell from your text.
Corvette pan is 7” deep….the pickup needs to be 6 3/4 off the deck….is that what you are saying?
The only way you could drop pressure off above 5k is an inlet restriction then the pump will cavitate…..dropping pressure….the pump wants more than the pickup can deliver….
Is this a Corvette pan and pickup? The M155 is a 3/4” inlet and I do not know of a 3/4” inlet Corvette pan pickup….

Jebby

Last edited by Jebbysan; Nov 8, 2021 at 11:27 AM.
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Old Nov 8, 2021 | 11:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Jebbysan
Is the pickup at least 1/4 inch away from the bottom of the sump? I cannot tell from your text.
Corvette pan is 7” deep….the pickup needs to be 6 3/4 off the deck….is that what you are saying?
The only way you could drop pressure off above 5k is an inlet restriction then the pump will cavitate…..dropping pressure….the pump wants more than the pickup can deliver….
Is this a Corvette pan and pickup? The M155 is a 3/4” inlet and I do not know of a 3/4” inlet Corvette pan pickup….

Jebby
Yes, I edited my post to be clearer I hope. I read the old pump m55 had the pressure issue because of cavitation due to the smaller inlet and switching to the m155 with the 3/4 inlet was the solution. But the pump is loud.
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Old Nov 8, 2021 | 11:51 AM
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i don't remember ever hearing about a knocking oil pump.

hydraulics may thump if a relief system is
malfunctioning?

cam and distributor gear mesh can be loud?

problem with shaft driving pump?

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Old Nov 8, 2021 | 11:59 AM
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Never seen a M55 cavitate at 5000rpm.......all of the original DZ302 and LT-1 pump were all 5/8" pickup.....plenty of oil to 6500 rpm.....so something else is wrong.
What exact pickup part # did you use?
Did you use a IS55 shaft with steel collar as well?

Jebby
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Old Nov 8, 2021 | 05:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Jebbysan
Never seen a M55 cavitate at 5000rpm.......all of the original DZ302 and LT-1 pump were all 5/8" pickup.....plenty of oil to 6500 rpm.....so something else is wrong.
What exact pickup part # did you use?
Did you use a IS55 shaft with steel collar as well?

Jebby
Usually to busy at 5k rpm to watch a gauge but the Holley EFI datalogged it.. not sure on the number of the drive shaft it was put in a while ago. Here is the video
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Old Nov 8, 2021 | 07:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Kacyc3
Usually to busy at 5k rpm to watch a gauge but the Holley EFI datalogged it.. not sure on the number of the drive shaft it was put in a while ago. Here is the video Melling oil pump noise
Is it possible your inspection cover is misaligned causing that noise? You would have had it off to remove the pan…..

Jebby
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Old Nov 8, 2021 | 07:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Jebbysan
Is it possible your inspection cover is misaligned causing that noise? You would have had it off to remove the pan…..

Jebby
no inspection cover
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Old Nov 8, 2021 | 07:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Kacyc3
no inspection cover
I have nothing…..but if it were mine….the pan would come back off…..

Jebby
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Old Nov 8, 2021 | 08:24 PM
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Never heard (or heard of) pump itself knock.

AFAIK, all OE sbc since about 1993 have OE M155 spec pump.

we Know your sump/pickup was also changed because the new M155 Requires larger 3/4" OD than the old 5/8" M55 pickup..

Is new pickup loose fit in new M155 pump ? ... banging into something and intermittently sucking air ?

Is new pickup brazed/welded to pump body ?

did you also replace oil pump intermediate shaft's plastic Retainer/Collar ? or R&R w/ all metal OPIS ?

Is windage tray not fully-tightened to studs or pan ?

Is dipstick contacting pickup or tray ?

Is there adequate clearance between top of OPIS and bottom of dist shaft ?
melling does sell a stronger chrome moly shaft (12550) that's a bit shorter.

Have ya tried a Different filter ? If filter has an anti-bypass valve ... perhaps valve is malfunctioning ?

Last edited by ebbnflow; Nov 8, 2021 at 08:34 PM.
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Old Nov 8, 2021 | 08:32 PM
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Originally Posted by ebbnflow
Never heard (or heard of) pump itself knock.

we Know the sump/pickup was also changed because the new M155 Requires larger 3/4" OD than the old 5/8" M55 pickup..

Is new pickup loose fit in new M155 pump ? ... banging into something and intermittently sucking air ?

Is new pickup brazed/welded to pump body ?

did you also replace oil pump intermediate shaft's plastic Retainer/Collar ? or R&R w/ all metal OPIS ?

Is windage tray not fully-tightened to studs or pan ?

Is dipstick contacting pickup or tray ?

Is there adequate clearance between top of OPIS and bottom of dist shaft ?
melling does sell a stronger chrome moly shaft (12550) that's a bit shorter.
Yes….it requires a 3/4” pickup…..which there is no such animal for a Corvette pan…..so that means it has the passenger car pickup on it…..which I do not see how that would work….
The Corvette pickup is specific to the Corvette pan…..it picks up the oil much further forward….the two are not interchangeable so I would like to know what is on it and how it works.
I asked twice already and no answer on that…..
If the pass car style pickup was used on a Corvette pan and not brazed….when the pan is lowered on, the pickup would hit the sump and bend up….

Jebby

Last edited by Jebbysan; Nov 8, 2021 at 08:33 PM.
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Old Nov 8, 2021 | 09:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Jebbysan
Yes….it requires a 3/4” pickup…..which there is no such animal for a Corvette pan…..so that means it has the passenger car pickup on it…..which I do not see how that would work….
The Corvette pickup is specific to the Corvette pan…..it picks up the oil much further forward….the two are not interchangeable so I would like to know what is on it and how it works.
I asked twice already and no answer on that…..
If the pass car style pickup was used on a Corvette pan and not brazed….when the pan is lowered on, the pickup would hit the sump and bend up….

Jebby
Well I don't recall the pn, but some time back melling tech provided pn for one of their pickups to fit ... perhaps it was same for mid-nineties C4.

fixed that for ya ... just looked it up using a little more than "that's the way I always did it" ... pickup is melling 254S
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Old Nov 8, 2021 | 10:40 PM
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I would say the crank is hitting some portion of the new pump or pick up assembly. Pull the pan.
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Old Nov 9, 2021 | 08:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Jebbysan
Yes….it requires a 3/4” pickup…..which there is no such animal for a Corvette pan…..so that means it has the passenger car pickup on it…..which I do not see how that would work….
The Corvette pickup is specific to the Corvette pan…..it picks up the oil much further forward….the two are not interchangeable so I would like to know what is on it and how it works.
I asked twice already and no answer on that…..
If the pass car style pickup was used on a Corvette pan and not brazed….when the pan is lowered on, the pickup would hit the sump and bend up….

Jebby
Sorry, updates are very random on my phone. Not sure on the pan it was on the 400 in the car when I bought it.. how can I tell the difference?

The drive shaft is a hardened one with the collar built into the shaft.

I have nothing…..but if it were mine….the pan would come back off…..
I did no metal found in the pan, no damage found on the pump with the pump removed. Yes the sump is welded to the pump.

Here is another scenario I read on this forum 10 yrs ago.

I fella was laying on his back replacing the oil pump. He misplaced the pump mounting bolt and substituted one of equal diameter / threads.
Later it was found that the bolt was a tad longer than stock. It forced its way into the lower main bearing gouging the crank.
You can imagine the noise it made at start up.

I am not saying that's what happen to you. But my question is, does the Melling M155 use the same length bolt as the M55?
not sure I hope so, I didnt even think about that.

I ordered the pump for a 93-97 Camaro with the LT1 thinking it would fit without issue and would be a pump to resolve the issue above 5k rpm. If you have a sump part number that is specific for a corvette id be interested in seeing it as Rockauto says they use the same as all other small blocks.

Last edited by Kacyc3; Nov 9, 2021 at 11:36 AM.
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Old Nov 9, 2021 | 02:23 PM
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Summit also shows the same sump for a 79, it says the 82+ is different.
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