C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Installing melling oil pump

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 10, 2019 | 11:53 AM
  #1  
Vette2lo's Avatar
Vette2lo
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 123
Likes: 3
Default Installing melling oil pump

I’m in the process of installing g the pump and after reading some posts and watching a video I’m unsure if shimming the oil pump is necessary or it should be fine without?

also, it came with 2 springs, high and low relief. Which 1 is recommended?

I have a built motor going the turbo route.

Thanks in advance
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2019 | 12:08 PM
  #2  
aaronc7's Avatar
aaronc7
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,049
Likes: 316
From: USA
Default

which pump did you get?

I would generally follow the builder advice on oil pump and built motor as they will know the bearing clearances and such. My builder recommended a higher volume pump, so that's what I got.

Before knowing your specifics, I would say go ahead and install the stiffer spring so you get a little more pressure at high rpm.
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2019 | 12:52 PM
  #3  
turabo87's Avatar
turabo87
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 144
From: Miami
Default

I just came fresh from finishing my build so it's all fresh in my head. If you ordered a 10295 pump, it comes with the 10%higher pressure relief spring already installed (the red spring). It also probably brought a blue spring (lower pressure) and another spring for COPO Camaro which is a VERY HIGH oil pressure relief spring. I left the 10295 with the red spring it brought already installed. I did not shim the pump at all. I also used the black o-ring provided, since my pickup tube was straight not tapered (read the instructions on this, it's important you select the right o-ring). All that said, my new pressures with the Melling Oil pump 10295 are: at cold start oil pressure is 50psi at 95F at idle, 38PSI at 180F at idle, and 32 PSI at 199F at idle. My oil pressure at 190F at 6kRPM is 60PSI.

Last edited by turabo87; Jan 10, 2019 at 06:19 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2019 | 02:10 PM
  #4  
Vette2lo's Avatar
Vette2lo
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 123
Likes: 3
Default

Originally Posted by turabo87
I just came fresh from finishing my build so it's all fresh in my head. If you ordered a 10295 pump, it comes with the 10%higher pressure relief spring already installed (the red spring). It also probably brought a blue spring (lower pressure) and another spring for COPO Camaro which is a VERY HIGH oil pressure relief spring. I left the 10295 with the red spring it brought already installed. I did not shim the pump at all. I also used the black o-ring provided, since my pickup tube was straight not tapered (read the instructions on this, it's important you select the right o-ring). All that said, my new pressures with the Melling Oil pump 10295 are: at cold start oil pressure is 50psi at 95F at idle, and 32 PSI at 199F at idle. I forgot now what was my max oil pressure at fully warmed engine, but I can get that for you later.

perfect! Thanks bud that answered all my questions and concerns.

yes 10295 pump. I left the red spring in there and now assembling the pump as I’m typing.

So so I guess I shouldn’t stress about the shimming part!
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2019 | 02:56 PM
  #5  
turabo87's Avatar
turabo87
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 144
From: Miami
Default

Originally Posted by Vette2lo



perfect! Thanks bud that answered all my questions and concerns.

yes 10295 pump. I left the red spring in there and now assembling the pump as I’m typing.

So so I guess I shouldn’t stress about the shimming part!
My application is an NA cammed daily/street/Mexico so I didn’t bother to shim. I’m sure you’ll get different opinions here. I owe you my max pressure at fully warmed up temp later when I get out of work, but it’s nice and high.
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2019 | 05:49 PM
  #6  
leadfoot4's Avatar
leadfoot4
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
Community Builder
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,334
Likes: 1,589
From: Western NY
Default

OP, when you say "shimming", are you talking about the installation procedure that involves removing the front cover of the pump, and using shims to measure the position of the pump's drive gears to the input drive (or something like that)??
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2019 | 07:04 PM
  #7  
turabo87's Avatar
turabo87
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 144
From: Miami
Default

FYI, my oil pressure at 190F at 6kRPM is 60PSI and I never shimmed the pump. I’m sure that’s what the OP means, that extra calibration procedure.
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2019 | 08:05 PM
  #8  
Vette2lo's Avatar
Vette2lo
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 123
Likes: 3
Default

Originally Posted by leadfoot4
OP, when you say "shimming", are you talking about the installation procedure that involves removing the front cover of the pump, and using shims to measure the position of the pump's drive gears to the input drive (or something like that)??
yes that’s what I meant by shimming
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Jan 10, 2019 | 08:05 PM
  #9  
Vette2lo's Avatar
Vette2lo
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 123
Likes: 3
Default

Originally Posted by turabo87
FYI, my oil pressure at 190F at 6kRPM is 60PSI and I never shimmed the pump. I’m sure that’s what the OP means, that extra calibration procedure.
good to know bud thanks
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2019 | 08:33 AM
  #10  
leadfoot4's Avatar
leadfoot4
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
Community Builder
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,334
Likes: 1,589
From: Western NY
Default

Originally Posted by turabo87
FYI, my oil pressure at 190F at 6kRPM is 60PSI and I never shimmed the pump. I’m sure that’s what the OP means, that extra calibration procedure.
Originally Posted by Vette2lo


yes that’s what I meant by shimming
I had my oil pump off, a couple of years back, when I installed a new harmonic balancer, and replaced the timing chain, "since I was already in there". I had read about the shimming procedure in one of the LS engine books, that was published by 'HP Books'. However, the shim thickness they mentioned, was so thin, I had nothing that would work. I then looked in the factory shop manual, and didn't find any mention of this procedure. So, I simply installed the pump loosely, found that there was a little "wiggle room" with the retaining bolts, and I did my best to "center" the pump within this play. So far, so good.
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2019 | 09:14 AM
  #11  
turabo87's Avatar
turabo87
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 144
From: Miami
Default

You’ll be fine if you don’t shim/calibrate/center the pump. Whatever you decide to do, DONT FORGET THE NEW ORING AND TO PUT THE RIGHT ONE. Also, don’t forget to prime the pump with oil manually before installing. Fill that sucker up and rotate as best as you can, and try to install it with as much oil in it as possible.
Reply
Old Jan 11, 2019 | 09:58 AM
  #12  
93Polo's Avatar
93Polo
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,976
Likes: 487
From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by turabo87
FYI, my oil pressure at 190F at 6kRPM is 60PSI and I never shimmed the pump. I’m sure that’s what the OP means, that extra calibration procedure.
Shimming isn't so much for pressure but to set the rotors at proper clearance so that it doesn't get out of center at RPM. Especially OEM pumps have been known to fail over 6k RPM. I have shimmed 2 oil pumps (1 for my car and another on a friend's) it isn't hard but yes many have had success without taking the extra step.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Installing melling oil pump





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:58 AM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE