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Oil pressure after cam install

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Old Jun 15, 2026 | 08:50 PM
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Default Oil pressure after cam install

Hello everyone, recently installed a tsp bald eagle cam with all the fixings in my 98 c5. I replaced the oil pump (GM12710303, thought I had a melling high volume as originally posted) lifters, pushrods, cam plate, pretty much everything that would be recommended except cam bearings (they looked decent i thought) Now im running into an issue with oil pressure, it builds good until I get to about 4500 all the way up to 6000rpm where if im doing a pull it drops and stays flat at 40psi. Ive changed the oil and filter and just replaced my oil pressure sending unit as it just went bad. Not really sure why suddenly id be having low pressure issues, anybody have any insight? Haven't hooked a mechanical gauge up to it yet.

Last edited by Leumas0202; Yesterday at 01:52 PM.
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Old Jun 15, 2026 | 11:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Leumas0202
Hello everyone, recently installed a tsp bald eagle cam with all the fixings in my 98 c5. I replaced the oil pump (melling high volume and o ring) lifters, pushrods, cam plate, pretty much everything that would be recommended except cam bearings (they looked decent i thought) Now im running into an issue with oil pressure, it builds good until I get to about 4500 all the way up to 6000rpm where if im doing a pull it drops and stays flat at 40psi. Ive changed the oil and filter and just replaced my oil pressure sending unit as it just went bad. Not really sure why suddenly id be having low pressure issues, anybody have any insight? Haven't hooked a mechanical gauge up to it yet.
which o-ring did you use, and how did you select it?
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Old Yesterday | 11:04 AM
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and did you have to force the pick up tube back into the pump? or did it just go in easy?

Any particular reason you with with the HV oil pump? It is not doing you any favors on a stock engine.
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Old Yesterday | 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Black
and did you have to force the pick up tube back into the pump? or did it just go in easy?

Any particular reason you with with the HV oil pump? It is not doing you any favors on a stock engine.

Ok so I was misinformed. I ran with the GM12710303 pump which is apparently stock pressure and volume, which is a little silly its called "high performance" in my opinion. And the pickup tube went in just fine if I recall with a gm blue o ring. I'm going to hook up a mechanical gauge and verify pressure before the end of the day.

Last edited by Leumas0202; Yesterday at 12:19 PM.
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Old Yesterday | 12:38 PM
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Did you check the cam bearing clearance? Out of spec bearings can cause oil pressure problems.
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Old Yesterday | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by jcgunn
Did you check the cam bearing clearance? Out of spec bearings can cause oil pressure problems.
No I didn't, if it were cam bearings wouldnt it be a constantly low oil pressure concern? It builds great pressure until I get on it above 4500 thats when it drops.
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Old Yesterday | 01:22 PM
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What spring is in the pump? Could it be dumping pressure early?

How much pressure at idle?

Did you cut the filter open after you changed it?
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Old Yesterday | 01:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Kubs
What spring is in the pump? Could it be dumping pressure early?

How much pressure at idle?

Did you cut the filter open after you changed it?
Cold idle is 40-50psi, when hot its 20-25. The spring is whatever comes in the GM12710303 pump, i was mistaken in thinking it was high pressure or high volume, thats the one I installed. Do you know how pressure would act if you hit the regulated pressure? Like does it stay at that regulated pressure or does it drop off like that?
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Old Yesterday | 02:11 PM
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I would expect it to drop a little but mostly maintain. Unless the valve is sticking.

I havent really seen a OE pump go bad unless it had 300k+ miles on it. I would have probably left it alone.

Did you clean the lifters well before install? Did you do new lifter trays as well?
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Old Yesterday | 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Kubs
I would expect it to drop a little but mostly maintain. Unless the valve is sticking.

I havent really seen a OE pump go bad unless it had 300k+ miles on it. I would have probably left it alone.

Did you clean the lifters well before install? Did you do new lifter trays as well?
They were new LS7 lifters in sealed bags and weren't dirty or anything, and yes did lifter trays. And i figured it wouldnt hurt to throw an oil pump in while it was out, oh well
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Old Yesterday | 02:40 PM
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Lifters typically have a sticky rust preventative coating on them that needs to be washed off in solvent before being used. Its possible there is a plugged up one or a few.
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Old Yesterday | 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Kubs
Lifters typically have a sticky rust preventative coating on them that needs to be washed off in solvent before being used. Its possible there is a plugged up one or a few.
You are suggesting that a plugged lifter would not impact oil pressure from idle to 4500 rpm, and only impact oil pressure from 4500-6000 rpm keeping the oil pressure at 40psi ?
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Old Yesterday | 02:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Kubs
Lifters typically have a sticky rust preventative coating on them that needs to be washed off in solvent before being used. Its possible there is a plugged up one or a few.
Huh, well, guess I should've paid attention to that then, didnt know that. You think I would notice a plugged lifter? Nothing sounds too noisy and power feels good
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Old Yesterday | 02:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Leumas0202
Huh, well, guess I should've paid attention to that then, didnt know that. You think I would notice a plugged lifter? Nothing sounds too noisy and power feels good
The faster you get a mechanical gauge on the motor, the faster the speculation stops.
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Old Yesterday | 02:51 PM
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Originally Posted by lucky131969
The faster you get a mechanical gauge on the motor, the faster the speculation stops.
I know, I plan to as soon as I get off work, just worrying over it at work all day lol.
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Old Today | 07:46 AM
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Originally Posted by lucky131969
You are suggesting that a plugged lifter would not impact oil pressure from idle to 4500 rpm, and only impact oil pressure from 4500-6000 rpm keeping the oil pressure at 40psi ?
Originally Posted by Leumas0202
Huh, well, guess I should've paid attention to that then, didnt know that. You think I would notice a plugged lifter? Nothing sounds too noisy and power feels good
Just spit balling possibilities. It could restrict flow for sure at higher RPM, but likely it would just be low from the start.

I agree that a mechanical gauge will confirm if the new sensor itself is culprit or not.
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Old Today | 07:49 AM
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Couldn't get a gauge on it yesterday but did cut open the filter, lots of silver metal bits in it. Im just gonna pull it and rebuild the bottom end.
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Old Today | 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Leumas0202
Couldn't get a gauge on it yesterday but did cut open the filter, lots of silver metal bits in it. Im just gonna pull it and rebuild the bottom end.
Wow, the only thing i can think of, which i highly doubt it. is that you pushed one of the cam bearing out of place..
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Old Today | 01:00 PM
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Originally Posted by helga203
Wow, the only thing i can think of, which i highly doubt it. is that you pushed one of the cam bearing out of place..
Not sure, I was very particular about everything so not sure. Live and learn I guess, fresh rebuild with peace of mind will be nice.
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Old Today | 01:02 PM
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>>Do you know how pressure would act if you hit the regulated pressure? Like does it stay at that regulated pressure or does it drop off like that?<<

I see now that you are pulling it apart to investigate the debris in the oil filter.

To address your question I can share my observations from two of my vehicles that have mechanical gauges and from oil-pressure testing other vehicles with a mechanical gauge.

On my racecar [not a Chevy] the pressure will increase with RPM until the [adjustable] setting of the pump-relief valve is reached. Then the pressure will decrease 5-10 psi and remain relatively steady with further RPM increase. Same for my other car with a mechanical gauge. Both these vehicles have high-volume oil pumps.

In testing stock-type engines, when the relief-valve setting is reached with cold oil, the pressure decreases about 5 psi. With hot oil, evidently the relief valve setting is not reached on many vehicles I have tested.

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