New 440 build oil pressure

PRHeads · Dec 28, 2018

My old Chilton manual shows 55psi@2050rpm.

(The “2050” rpm seems kinda odd to me. Perhaps it’s a typo and should be 2500?)

The only reason we’re discussing any of this is because someone wasn’t in love with what they were seeing on the oil pressure gauge.

biomedtechguy · Dec 29, 2018

VR-1 20/50 2/3rds of the year in South Louisiana, VR-1 10/40 when it's cold for about 12 weeks here...That is what I use in my stock block 440, and I used to use in the 4 bolt main 421 Tripower, BUT
Since the 421 has been rebuilt and has roller lifters, now I am using 10/30 Valvoline in the 421 and it is doing great.
I want my next build (stroker RB) to be able to use a 10/30 if possible, all other things equal, thinner oil means more power to the wheels.

Duckmanreno · Jan 3, 2019

BSB67 said:
No harm. But if it was mine, I would put some effort into understanding why. I would start with double verifying the correctness and accuracy of your gauge, then, 2) pull the current relief valve, or entire pump and verify that the valve is not hung-up and is operating smoothly. 3) contact the builder and get the bearing clearances.

Do you know if it has a new Melling pump, or the factory original pump? Do you know what the oil pressure use to be? If you have the previous pump, maybe try that one.

Yes my thought is the gauge accurate?

Daves69 · Jan 4, 2019

IMO, Maybe find out what shimming the pump relief spring stiffer may yield for you. Doesn't cost much. If it shows positive results, get the spring per PRHeads.
After that, I think I might pull the pump and do some tolerance checking.

69L48Z27 · May 16, 2019

@Sonny - Any updates on your oil pressure? Curious what you did and what the result was.

Sonny · May 18, 2019

69L48Z27 said:
@Sonny - Any updates on your oil pressure? Curious what you did and what the result was.

I installed a high pressure Melling pump and use 40w oil. Idle pressure is about 12-15 psi and cold is close to 80. Think it created a leak or two at the timing chain cover and or oil pan. Ugh.

69L48Z27 · May 19, 2019

Sonny said:
I installed a high pressure Melling pump and use 40w oil. Idle pressure is about 12-15 psi and cold is close to 80. Think it created a leak or two at the timing chain cover and or oil pan. Ugh.

Thx! I was thinking about installing a spring to my original pump. I’m is the same boat with regards to ‘low’ pressure. Is the Melling high pressure or volume or stock?

BSB67 · May 19, 2019

Sonny said:
I installed a high pressure Melling pump and use 40w oil. Idle pressure is about 12-15 psi and cold is close to 80. Think it created a leak or two at the timing chain cover and or oil pan. Ugh.

So basically, nothing changed at hot idle due to the pump change.

Sonny · May 19, 2019

BSB67 said:
So basically, nothing changed at hot idle due to the pump change.

Sonny · May 19, 2019

It helped a little. Doesn’t drop below 10-12. Before it would dip to 8 then recover.

BSB67 · May 19, 2019

Sonny said:
It helped a little. Doesn’t drop below 10-12. Before it would dip to 8 then recover.

2 psi is not really a change. Plus it sounds like you're using different oil. As mentioned before, the better bandaide for your problem would have been a standard pressure high volume pump

Sonny · May 19, 2019

BSB67 said:
2 psi is not really a change. Plus it sounds like you're using different oil. As mentioned before, the better bandaide for your problem would have been a standard pressure high volume pump

Don’t you need a high volume pan with a high volume pump?

Sonny · May 19, 2019

69L48Z27 said:
Thx! I was thinking about installing a spring to my original pump. I’m is the same boat with regards to ‘low’ pressure. Is the Melling high pressure or volume or stock?

High pressure.

BSB67 · May 19, 2019

Sonny said:
Don’t you need a high volume pan with a high volume pump?

No

Hemirunner · May 19, 2019

Throw some 20w50 in it and see what change that makes. It should let ya sleep better at night and if the pressure doesn’t go up, you know there’s issues elsewhere.

Sonny · May 19, 2019

Hemirunner said:
Throw some 20w50 in it and see what change that makes. It should let ya sleep better at night and if the pressure doesn’t go up, you know there’s issues elsewhere.

I saw more improvement going from 30w to 40w than I did from the pump change.

Hemirunner · May 19, 2019

Sonny said:
I saw more improvement going from 30w to 40w than I did from the pump change.

What’s the idle rpm?

Sonny · May 19, 2019

Hemirunner said:
What’s the idle rpm?

1100 park. 800 in gear.
It’s 90 here today and I paid closer attention to the gauge. It never got less than 15 psi in gear in traffic.

Bee1971 · May 19, 2019

My 383/432 Stroker - New motor

180 degrees hot idle 650/700 Rpms

Full groove main bearings - .002 / .0024 Clearance mains/rods

10w30 Valvoline VR1 Idle 18-20 psi - Cruise 70 psi

20w50 Valvoline VR1 Idle 25 psi - Cruise 75 psi

Hemirunner · May 19, 2019

Sonny said:
1100 park. 800 in gear.
It’s 90 here today and I paid closer attention to the gauge. It never got less than 15 psi in gear in traffic.

20w50 and forget about it. I ran that summer and winter when I was a kid...

New 440 build oil pressure

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