Austinma62

This is probably a dumb and simple question that could be answered but my car isn't here right now and I don't have a shop manual yet (none on ebay). I am wanting to do a heads cam swap this spring and I was wanting to replace the oil pump for increased security and peace of mind. My dad thinks that in order to do that you have to drop the oil pan, and to drop the oil pan you have to pull the motor. Is this true? I don't necessarily need to upgrade the stock one but once I get the heads and cam and with the increased power I would like to have better lubrication. Thanks guys

supersick99z

iTrader: (66)

No, LS1 oil pump is in front of the timing cover so if it's coming off replace it anyways!

By the way...my dad thought the same thing when I did my cam

Austinma62

Haha thats what I was thinking, I have seen lots of people replacing there oil pumps during a heads cam install and I had a hard time believing everyone was pulling there motor. Thanks buddy

supersick99z

iTrader: (66)

I mean pulling the motor to replace the oil pump would be like pulling the motor to change the belts Good luck!

99LS1Bird

you dont have to pull the motor to change the pump but from all my experiences you do have to pull the oil pan unless someone can tell you how to get the pick up tube bolt back in without pulling the pan ive yet to be able to do it

TooLateVTEC

iTrader: (2)

For a stock motor like yours its pointless to do unless it has low oil pressure or 100k miles on it.

IMO

Justus67

iTrader: (3)

The pump is a must for bigger cams, if you have a smaller cam you can get by for a while. IMO chage the pump to a ported ls6 pump and since its out I would change the timing chain too. A double roller is relatively cheap and like you said, "peace of mind".

Justus67

iTrader: (3)

One more thing, if you change the pump PRIME IT before you run the engine and break-in the cam. The easiest way i have done this in the past is disconnect the coil paks and bump the starter until the oil is moving. Not the best way but effective.

Austinma62

I plan on running TSP 228r with the CNC ported 5.3L heads. I have 118k on the motor right now.

hcb1700

iTrader: (9)

Changing the oil pump would be the best thing to do if your going to add a cam. You have to lower the pan a bit in order to get the pick up tube bolt out, but you don't have to take the pan off. Get the ported LS6 pump. That's what I installed on my brothers Camaro.

Austinma62

Now if your just lowering the oil pan, what do you do about the oil pan gasket?

TooLateVTEC

iTrader: (2)

The gasket sticks to the block usually and as long as you dont **** it up with whatever you use to hold the pan down while you change the pump/install the pickup tube than your fine.

UnZFeat'd

iTrader: (1)

how can you fit anything in there without dropping the pan and making this **** into a big *** federal case? i dont have an engine hoist or anything i can use to lift the motor out and get in there. is there something im not getting? im seriously about to have a heart attack/go on a shooting rampage.