I need some real world input! i know the 10lbs per 1000rpm rule but is that gospel? i built my motors (454 stroked to 496 internal balance w/ 250 blowers) when i ordered the oil pumps, i opted for the moroso blueprinted race pumps. they are hi-volume but not hi-pressure. i also shimmed the springs w/ 2 washers and blueprinted the bottom end to insure clearances. i do have some wide clearances on the rod ends but only about 2 thousandths on the journals. eagle said this would be ok. as of today i have 115 hours on the motors and they run great. i am running castrol syntec now but about to change to royal purple. cold pressure on gaffrigs is 60lbs but typical running i see about 40 from 2000 rpm on up and only see about a 5 lb fluctuation during an extended 4000rpm run maybe as low as 38 or so. come down to idle and presure goes to about 25 lbs. anybody else see pressures like this? i would think that w/ 115 hours if something was wrong i would know it by now. is the lower pressure a result of a hi-volume pump??? or is it a result of the rod clearance? also do you see a pressure drop due to running roller lifters? what does everybody else see on their motors?? any help would be appreciated! thanks...Russ

I built a pair of engines, a couple of years ago, very simular to yours with those exact oil pumps. only thing i did different was change the spring, instead of shimming. those engines have always held very good pressure 60-80 psi when running (3000 rpm+) what weight oil are you runnning? roller lifters should not cause any pressure loses.
dave

boater31

i bought a boat once with a just rebuilt 454 from a so called expert engine builder. the oil pressure was high all the time. i figured the engine was just tight. it was. so tight i smoked the bearings on the third run.
i heard later from other power boaters in the area that the guy that built the engine for my boat had a reputation of building them too tight and i wasn't the first one it happened too.
in my opinion, your oil pressure is nothing to worry about. 10lb. per 1000rpm is a good rule but not law. a high volume pump has wider gears so it can pump more than a standard pump. it wouldn't cause any pressure loss. you would definately have seen or heard a problem by now since your motors make more torque in a lower rpm range at lower oil pressure.

Boater31,
I have exactly the same dilema. I also have an Eagle crank and the clearance is too much between the rods.
I really don't like the oil pressure but I just recently had to do a rebuild on the motor (due to a lifter breaking) which had a total of 81 hard hours and the bearings looked fine.
I still would like to see more pressure but there isn't much I can do now.

26scarab
next time you do a rebuild, you could put oil restrictors in the block which force more oil to the mains and less to the upper end.

Your fine,,,,, boaters all use10lbs per 1,000 rpm,,, GM used 5 lbs per 1,000. and I think like 3-5 lbs t idele !! Yikes !!! Excess oil pressure robs HP. You seem to hold steady. I wouldnt wory about it.

Your oil pressure readings sound good to me. I build a set of 502's 4 yrs ago with HV oil pumps. I always have 60lbs of pressure when cold, and about 40lbs warm. I also have about 25lbs of pressure at idle. This is with about 250hrs on the motors. You shouldn't have any problems. Depending on the cam you are running you may want to do a valve job at about 200-250hrs. with new springs etc. The motor should last a long time and be fine with those oil pressures.

What weight oil? Try a higher viscosity.
What's the oil temp. Keep it under 240 degrees.
my $0.02
Gary

thanks for the input guys!!! i feel better now! i changed the bearings in the motor after 40 hours first time to check and to also blueprint all the clearances. everything looked fine. i will tear it down and look again over the winter. panther my heads are merline vr series and i am runing a mild roller cam. was told i didnt need a wild cam w/ a blower. what are you guys running for cam in a similar motor w/ a blower??

went w/ new eickert coolers this time and oil only gets to 180. so i am good there. broke it in w/ 20/50 oild and now on a 20-40 syntec i think. going to royal purple next change. what viscosity should i use of theirs??