Oil Pressure Concern on rebuilt 355
1. Is the oil pan full of oil or is it low on oil. I have seen motors that suck air and loose oil pressure under acceleration becuase of this.
2. When the oil pump pick up was installed was it measured to be 1/4" off the bottom of the pan or so and was it either bolted or welded in place
3. PUT A MECHANICAL GAUGE ON IT!!!--- Do this immediatly before you even think about starting it up again. No oil pressure will destroy a motor in a matter of seconds and then you have a nice looking paper weight.
4. Did you mess with the pressure spring when you installed the pump or did you just take it out of the box and install it.
5. Do you have any type of excessive lifter noise (Ticking, clicking, sewing machine noise)?
6. How did your machine shop clearance the engine, did you check the clearances upon assembly? Is 5w30 enough? What did the machine shop recommend to run for oil?
Also as for the fram oil filter, I have one on my 600+hp 8000rpm 385c.i. LT1 that I beat the **** out of on the street and the track. I also have one on my 06 GTO and my pickup truck. This cannot be cuased by an oil filter. Even if the filter was clogged the bypass would turn on and you would have higher oil pressure! K&N filters cost double the price because they say K&N on them and can actually clog easier becuase they filter such small particles and then the bypass will enable and you wont even be filtering any oil! Again from one LT1 guy to another put a mechanical gauge on it before you even think about sticking the key in the ignition again.
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!!!I wouldnt drive it untill you get the mechanical gauge on it! If that checks out ok, get Napa or GM sensors. Once thats taken care of get that bitch on the street and let it rip.
Seriously I had mine WOT within 2 miles and within 50 it was already on the dyno.
I also used 15w45 Rotella for break in and Im still using it. Im sure that helps keep pressure up a bit and Rotella is suppossed to be great oil.
!!!I wouldnt drive it untill you get the mechanical gauge on it! If that checks out ok, get Napa or GM sensors. Once thats taken care of get that bitch on the street and let it rip.
Seriously I had mine WOT within 2 miles and within 50 it was already on the dyno.
I also used 15w45 Rotella for break in and Im still using it. Im sure that helps keep pressure up a bit and Rotella is suppossed to be great oil.
On my 355 its like at 70 cold, 50ish at idle and 80 wot.
For break in I let it idle for 25min, changed oil and filter, then drove it around to make sure there were no leaks + goin WOT a few times to check oil pressure and seat the rings then drove it to speedinc to slap on the dyno, to really seat the rings good.
Last edited by AChotrod; Sep 29, 2009 at 06:10 PM.
Then to the oil matter! They said as well to go with a mechanical guage first thing due to electronic guage failure possibilities. They have seen this as well. The also recommended the next step would be to swap out the oil sending unit....Worst case scenario the pump may be bad but doubt full. I asked about the bearings as well and they told me they used H series race bearings and that I would diffently be able to tell if I had those going bad. Since there a harder bearing that I would see junks more or less rather than shavings from initial start up. They said if I didn't have much in the first 2 filters that it wasn't bearings. I'll be back next month I said I'll bring a my filter to them and they will cut it open with this machine and they'll take a look. With no noises or anything acting up they said it's diffently not bearings. So it's a waiting game. Where is everyone installing these mecahnical guages both on the motor and in there cars????? pictures would be great, I love new ideas. Plus not sure exactly where to install or where every one ran them to! Where exactly on the motor? i was thinking about installing it in the council by the cigeratte lighter, that gapping hole. Id have to modify a little wall/plate thingy but ideas are great.. thanks guys






