Busey131

iTrader: (11)

Alright hopefully someone can shed some light on this for me.
I just swapped a ls1 out of a '03 c5 into my '98 trans am, only thing I swapped over from my old engine was the oil pan, and accessories.
Has a trickflow 228/232 112lsa cam, double roller timing, high volume pump, etc...
I just finished installing the engine last week, and upon start up she is only running 20 psi cold idle, where as my previous engine ran 45 psi cold.
Is this normal for a high volume, or the result of a bad pump or pinched pickup o-ring?

Thanks for any help in advance...
Gary.

Whiteaw57

iTrader: (2)

Are you using the stock guage to find this? To me it sounds low. My stock pump hits about 50 to 55 cold in my cammed car. Interested to hear other opinions also

Busey131

iTrader: (11)

I am using the stock guage currently, but the next step is hooking up a mechanical guage. The oil sending unit seem to be functioning fine, as the pressure increases with the rpms like normaL, and i tried 2 brand new sending units.

ANTICOP RAM AIR

iTrader: (7)

If that mechanical gauge checks out and your pressure is indeed low, Id look at the pump. I read somewhere that the oil pump pickup had something to do with this... Id start there. Also, there is a spring inside that you can change out to increase pressure.. either way, youll need to open it up...Id start by checking the pickup, screen and spring

Whiteaw57

iTrader: (2)

Yeah a mechanical to verify would be my first thing. then you can start chasing it. Definitely sounds a little low

2000PewterT/A

Check the oil pump pickup tube o-ring gasket. When it isn’t sealed all the way it will draw in air and read low oil pressure along with aerating the oil. There is a TSB for it and I would definitely check and replace the o-ring for the pick up tube. Gm has special procedures on how to do it properly, there is a special procedure.

SOMbitch

iTrader: (8)

Is your pickup to pan clearance good? 1/4" to 3/8" is optimal. You can check it with silly putty or play dough..

ABQ99TA

iTrader: (17)

I would not drive it. I just put a new motor in my car and after 250 miles my oil pressure went down to 20psi at idle and after cutting open the oil filter I have to pull the motor back out because you can tell at least one bearing is toast.

Busey131

iTrader: (11)

Well the car hasn't and isn't being driven until this is figured out. Looks like i'll be dropping the pan again. Thanks everyone.

forcefed6

iTrader: (7)

sounds like an issue good luck with the car

Busey131

iTrader: (11)

Well after dropping the pan, everything seemed to look alright.
O-ring wasn't pinched, pickup to pan clearance is just under 1/2".
I'm swapping the oil pump next week, is there anything else I could possibly be missing?