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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 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.
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.
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!
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.
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)??
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)??
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.
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.
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.