car wont get hot
A general rule for adequate oil pressure is 10 psi for every 1000 RPMs. My stock pump used to see 40 psi at idle though, so maybe it's another year-specific thing?
edit: later today started it up and checked it and was idling around 35-45 psi stayed there except with some moderate throttle was getting around 60psi
Last edited by stefan256; Mar 14, 2008 at 11:04 PM.
Raising the operating temperature has more to do with emissions and oil life than "complete combustion". Oil temp generally parallels the water temp, so higher water temps help to boil off condensation and prevent sludge.
I'd try checking the water temp with a different gauge to see how close your gauge is, then check to see what temp the thermo is. Just putting a hotter thermostat in without changing the fan on/off temps is not ideal, so see if you can get someone to check your PCM out as well.
I'm betting on gauge. If you read the Difference Between the Years sticky, you'll see that 1998 has an actual temp gauge, while 1999+ cars had a redesigned unit that basically reads in the middle of the gauge as long as it is in a certain range. This was to reduce complaints of cold/hot running cars from cheap gauge & sending units that read off a fair amount.
1. Had differnet casting heads which had perimeter bolts and valve covers.
2. Ignition coils were mounted to the valve covers one at a time.
3. The water temp gauge actually works.
4.
11. Company wide change added black boxes to record up to 5 seconds of data before a crash
12. Rear hatch release was redesigned with stiffer spring that released the hatch better
13. Water temp gauge was redesigned to work basically as a dummy gauge and only show an overheat condition.
14.

AS for the oil pressure, early LS1's are known for oil pump failures. While your hot idle pressure is more than enough, it sounds like maybe the previous owner hasn't kept up on maintenance, and a replacement oil pump could be cheap insurance to save your high mileage long block.
Keep listening to PSU 98, sounds like he knows what he's talking about...

stefan256, if you're going to swap out the oil pump you may as well change out the cam while you're in there
i dont know but this car feels alot stronger stock with the paper filter and catback exhaust, than my 00 z28 that had lt's and boltons etc so idk. The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time


