H/C swap oil pump concerns
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,396
Likes: 52
From: Sicamous BC
H/C swap oil pump concerns
You guys have me sweating over my oil pump. I degreed my cam & installed the crane adjustable, torrington timing set. Re installed the oil pump with a new o'ring.
My thoughts are, the heads are on, install the rockers & pushrods, install the intake. Before reinstalling the timing chain cover & associated steering etc. Spin the motor over, no plugs & verify oil pressure & the lifters pump up. Can I do this yes/no? If yes has any else done it?
My thoughts are, the heads are on, install the rockers & pushrods, install the intake. Before reinstalling the timing chain cover & associated steering etc. Spin the motor over, no plugs & verify oil pressure & the lifters pump up. Can I do this yes/no? If yes has any else done it?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 2
From: Cape Coral FL
I have not heard of this. I think you won't be able to build enough pressure to show cavitation due to a pinched o-ring.
I would just make sure the o-ring is installed properly and verify it's not pinched. Also make sure the oil pump is as centered on the crankshaft as much as possible.
I would just make sure the o-ring is installed properly and verify it's not pinched. Also make sure the oil pump is as centered on the crankshaft as much as possible.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
I don't think you can, unless you have one of those cameras on the end of a flexible probe. It's kind of taken on faith. I ended test fitting mine a couple of times, to get a feel for it. Just get it aligned with the opening, and it'll be all right. It's the guys that are all twisted up, and don't put the pump in straight that end up with a pinched o-ring. It is pretty cramped if you do it like I did, on jackstands.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: St. Paul MN
It is VERY easy to pinch the o-ring especially with the new style thicker o-ring. Basically, if the pick up tube doesn't insert almost effortlessly and "snap" into place, its probably pinched. If you insert the pickup tube with VERY minimal force and the pickup sits flush against the pump without the bolt you can be confident that you have it in correctly. Use a liberal amount of assembly lube on the o-ring, take your time and it make sure to "feed" it in straight (doesn't seem like you can do it any other way but you can). It should slip right into place.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,396
Likes: 52
From: Sicamous BC
What bothers me is the spacers that you install behind the oil pump because of the timing set. To fully seat the pick up tube I had to pry a bit then it kinda snapped into place, I did that a couple of times. You probably could pulled it into the place with bolt but I wanted to see how it went in....defiantly some pressure then it snap in like it was meant to be.
I'm nervous....I think I will pull it back off for all the time it takes.
I'm nervous....I think I will pull it back off for all the time it takes.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
Whether or not to pull it apart depends on how far along you are. Turn the motor over to prime the system and start the car up if you're done. Don't go revving it or anything just start it up and let it idle. You'll know pretty quickly if there's a problem You're not going to destroy the motor by starting it up and letting it idle for 30 seconds unless you did something else wrong. If you still have the car half apart, then go ahead and reinspect it. Keep in mind that you can start the car with it half apart. You don't need it 100% back together to start and run it for a minute. 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
YES!!! I HAVE DONE IT!!
I had a ZERO oil pressure issue and it turned out to be a wiring issue,, but to figure out what it was I had to expirement. To prove it I disassembled the front of the engine and rechecked EVERYTHING!!!!!
Everything was good. 
I removed the plugs and cranked the engine and verified the oil pressure good using a mechanical guage with the timing chain cover OFF! It proved good! It will work..
I even installed the plugs and fired it up for 30 sec with the cover off to prove dynamic oil pressure. It was fine TOO!
BC
I had a ZERO oil pressure issue and it turned out to be a wiring issue,, but to figure out what it was I had to expirement. To prove it I disassembled the front of the engine and rechecked EVERYTHING!!!!!
Everything was good. I removed the plugs and cranked the engine and verified the oil pressure good using a mechanical guage with the timing chain cover OFF! It proved good! It will work.. I even installed the plugs and fired it up for 30 sec with the cover off to prove dynamic oil pressure. It was fine TOO!
BC
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,396
Likes: 52
From: Sicamous BC
Thanks Bill, I could not think of a reason why this could not be done, that's why I posted in case I was missing something. I think this step can save some DIY's all lot of pain as you went thru in your post. I've relocated my OPS to the front of the engine so I would like to verify that is working properly. Will also leave the rocker covers off to insure the lifters are pumping up. I did pull the pick up tube out far enough to spin the o"ring to make sure it is good condition & it is. I've already installed the timing cover damper, I will stop with any further re assembling in the front, install the Fast 90/90 to minimize the fault codes & spin it over.
Thanks to all for your comments.
Thanks to all for your comments.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 26,679
Likes: 17
From: This vette goes to 11 Milford MA
St. Jude Donor '03-'05
When I installed my SLP chain, I had to use the oil pump spacers. I made the critical error of bolting up the pump and then the pickup. I had low oil pressure because it was sucking air from a cockeyed o-ring/tube alignment. I had to tear it all down again and bolt the pickup in first. If you start the motor without the front cover and balancer, your going to have oil everywhere and possibly a vibration issue from no balancer.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,493
Likes: 1,178
From: Dyer, IN
Prepare for a mess......I've never done it, nor would I. Pay attention to the assembly, and follow the service manual, and you'll be fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
He just wants to spin the engine over with the starter. What vibration and what mess??? I did it and there wasn't any mess! Oil pressure came right up but, it took a while for the oil to flow out of the rockers.
The crankshaft harmonics happen mostly during combustion. Just spinning the engine over, there not significant.
The crankshaft harmonics happen mostly during combustion. Just spinning the engine over, there not significant.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,396
Likes: 52
From: Sicamous BC
I did not try fitting the tube before tightening the pump bolts, might have helped, but with the spacers it changes things. My plan is still to spin it once the manifold & rockers are back into position....still think this would a good step for dumb asses like me.
The ported Fast 90/90 is going well....slow...being careful.
Preloading the lifters was interesting....all the searching certainly displays the controversy, in the end you have to decide.
The ported Fast 90/90 is going well....slow...being careful.
Preloading the lifters was interesting....all the searching certainly displays the controversy, in the end you have to decide.
Last edited by CTD; Sep 20, 2008 at 08:31 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I did not try fitting the tube before tightening the pump bolts, might have helped, but with the spacers it changes things. My plan is still to spin it once the manifold & rockers are back into position....still think this would a good step for dumb asses like me.
The ported Fast 90/90 is going well....slow...being careful.
Preloading the lifters was interesting....all the searching certainly displays the controversy, in the end you have to decide.
The ported Fast 90/90 is going well....slow...being careful.
Preloading the lifters was interesting....all the searching certainly displays the controversy, in the end you have to decide.
