LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Rebuild time?

Old 01-19-2009, 02:17 AM
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Default Rebuild time?

So my car has great oil pressure... unless I drive long distances or really romp on it. As I got off the freeway from a meet tonight, I hit a light and my oil pressure was in the red zone with the check gauges light on. When I began to drive, my oil pressure returns to normal and the light goes away. My friend tells me that the bearings must be uber worn and we'll have to do a rebuild. What do you all think? Maybe someone has run into the same problem.

I welcome the thought of rebuilding my engine (with a few goodies, oh maybe make it a 450rwhp car?), but not while I still have payments on it. So if it's true that my bearings are that worn, will I be fine using it as a get around car until the time comes to rebuild?
Old 01-19-2009, 02:25 AM
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if your motor has been rebuilt before you could have some silacone. in your oil drainback holes or in some part of your oil pump. if it hasent been rebuilt i would say you just have something going wrong in the oil pump. put a little thicker oil in it or that lucas stuff untill you get around to getting it looked at.
Old 01-19-2009, 06:27 AM
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I had this same issue 5w40 Valvoline solved it for me. Check for shavings in the oil. That means death of the engine. As long as you don't have shavings, you likely can run a little thicker oil and be fine. I actually pulled the pan though and installed a Melling pump and GM white high pressure spring. I can get 65 WOT and about 18-20 hot idle on 10w30 after that swap.
Old 01-19-2009, 02:14 PM
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I currently have a Melling high volume oil pump in my garage, but I read a lot of things against it. There's no shavings in the oil... I check all the fluids routinely.

Maybe I should use a thick conventional then?
Old 01-19-2009, 02:23 PM
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I have small shavings on my drain plug and from what i've been told thats pretty normal. dont use the hv oil pump and maybe check your oil pressure sending unit bcs mine went bad but i got a new one and my oil pressure gauge now is fine and doesnt go to 0 like my old unit did
Old 01-19-2009, 02:23 PM
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Could be a bad pressure sensor unit too.
Old 01-20-2009, 02:12 PM
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Anyone know where I can get a good oil pressure sending unit?
Old 01-21-2009, 03:05 PM
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I'm running one from advance auto parts. Works fine, it matches the pressure on my mechanical autometer gauge almost exactly.
Old 01-21-2009, 05:39 PM
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Problem fixed...

Removed the old oil pressure sending unit and disconnected the ignition coil. I turned my car a few times and it blew out all the clogs. Once I put in the new sending unit the oil pressure was perfect.
Old 01-21-2009, 09:38 PM
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I read somewhere about a oil pressure sensor behind the intake manifold, is that right?


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