I have been dealing with low oil pressure issues with my 383 stroker motor lately and I ended up going with a single timing chain instead of a double which is what the motor originally came with on my latest build up of checking things over. The oil pressure is low at idle and upon start up but I was wondering if going with a single instead of the double timing chain may have affected the oil pressure in some way. I appreciate anyone’s 2 cents before replacing the motor.

 

that wont have any effect, unless when you changed the chain you didnt get the oil pump sealed up real good. how low are you talkin?

 

Upon start up it will hang around 30 35psi with a melling's oil pump installed. I'm positive the oil pump was installed correctly. Upon warm up at idle it will hang around 10-15 psi. I have been dealing with these issues for about 4-5 months now so I’m pretty much out of options and will prob replace the motor and find out what's up with the 383.

 

when they installed the double chain, did they install the driver side oil pump spacer shim the right way? You can install it wrong, and still have oil pressure, but low oil pressure, like your having.

 

I'll pull the timing cover and check. It's worth a shot. How can you tell if the spacer shim is installed the correct way?

 

theres a large hole in the shim, and it has to match the large hole in the block exactly! if it is installed wrong, the large hole in the shim is only matching up to the large hole in the block about by 35%. trust me, you will know when you see it. good luck man, hope thats the issue. make sure the oil pick up tube o-ring is still in good condition and is not pinched in anyway either.

 

I'll post up the results. Appericate the info

 

for sure, i lost my shims because i got a new slp oil pump with the required clearance.... then it was shot and the new pump needed the shims and i had to make my own

 

I thought you couldn't run a Melling pump with a double roller chain and still clear the front cover?? Do I have bad info?

 

you can.

 

i pulled down my lq4 to do a build up, and the chain had a fair amount of play-is a single chain ok, or if i go to something else, how does it affect the oip pump mtg-thanks

 

DOUBLE ROW CHAINS, REQUIRE A SPACER TO PUSH THE OIL PUMP OUT A LITTLE, SO IT CLEARS THE ADDED WITDH OF TIMING DOUBLE ROW TIMING CHAIN. IF NOT, CHAIN RUBS INTO PUMP, AND THATS SPELLS DISASTER.