I have a newly built 454 running on the engine cradle...the oil pump is a high volume....priming with the drill I could easily get 62+ psi at low RPM's of the drill - lots of oil reaching the upper end (62 is the oil pump relief spring pressure - according to melling). When the engine is idling it stayed at 60-70, and after 20 minutes only dropped to just under 60. The oil cooler lines only felt slightly warm - so maybe the cooler was keeping the oil thick? Seems high.

So the question is what are 'good' oil pressures? Should I remove the water from the oil cooler to let things heat up? (hose water temp is about 56 deg.)

I noticed the water pump could outrun the hose feeding the water at anything slightly above idle - so I'm going to make a bucket to hold extra water to feed the cooling side of things.

It seems a little high to me. What weight oil are you running? We like to see oil pressure around 25-35 at idle, and about 60-70 up high. Do you know what you bearing clearances are?

I have 15-40 in there (rotella) and the clearances are 2.5 for the #1-4 mains and 2.9 for #5. 1.6 or 1.9 on the rods (I need to check my notes). Oil galley holes drilled for timing chain (1/32") and bearing (roller cam)

Well if those clearances are correct you seem dead on! Is the pump a melling select? we have had nothing but problems with standard mellings. Now being made overseas? It could just be that the oil is staying cool. Were you able to get an oil temp reading?

The oil pump is not the select - just the regular M77HV. I actually had a bad one - spun fine by hand (smooth) but once installed and oiled it had a slight bind - so pi$$ed off, had to drop the pan and replace it. Shoulda, coulda, woulda on the upgrade.....

Also - it's a mechanical oil pressure gauge.....

I hear that, any oil temps?

You only need a high volume if you're running loose clearances on your mains & rods- as one might do with a high RPM engine. If you're at stock clearances and add a HV pump, it's going to ride the bypass- the extra volume has to go somewhere.

Ok Ok makes sense. It should still drop lower then 60 psi?

my 496 MIV's w/stock HV pumps idle at 60lbs + .. especially when cold ...run 70-80lbs @ 200* running

I agree if the pressure is that high when cold. Might not be a problem. When it heats up it should drop some.