Oil Pumps
Oil Pumps Hey I was wondering what kind of oil pump to get for a lt1. Its being tore down and I am replacing the oil pump as insurance for later. Mine was working fine but has close to 157k on it. Should I get a high flow one or stay with a stock one. I know if you go high flow you have to change the drive shaft out which is no problem because I am buying an arp one. Should I just get on from napa or get a replacement from gm?
Oil pumps are the best lubed part in the engine. Long as they don't suck up debris they wear very little.
I would look at a new relief spring and the melling driveshaft and reuse what you have.
I would look at a new relief spring and the melling driveshaft and reuse what you have.
ugh...with a 157k on it, id change it! Get a melling M155 pump with the GM white spring and the Melling drive shaft. DO NOT get a high volume pump as it will suck the pan dry.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Apr 2008
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Likes: 112
first sentence is good advise...last is flat out false. A HV oil pump will not suck a pan dry.
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Verdad Gallardo Does anyone have any DATA to suggest these pumps are any upgrade over stock or that the stock pump wears any meaninful amount by 150K miles???
IMO long as the stock pump has not seen debris a $3 relief spring and $8 melling shaft are all the oiling system work you need.
My opinions differ drastically from most of the forum though. I like to use good parts where they make a meaningful performance/reliability difference and reuse stock stuff wherever it works well. A lot of guys around here like to blindly replace things JUST because they are stock. Many times they manage to find things that are weaker than stock too.
Another thig I find funny is how often welded pump pickup crack off yet you almost never hear of a STOCK pressed one falling out. I stress STOCK because many home pressed pickups get messed up and then when they fall out the "pressed" fit is blamed rather than the improper pressing.
IMO long as the stock pump has not seen debris a $3 relief spring and $8 melling shaft are all the oiling system work you need.
My opinions differ drastically from most of the forum though. I like to use good parts where they make a meaningful performance/reliability difference and reuse stock stuff wherever it works well. A lot of guys around here like to blindly replace things JUST because they are stock. Many times they manage to find things that are weaker than stock too.
Another thig I find funny is how often welded pump pickup crack off yet you almost never hear of a STOCK pressed one falling out. I stress STOCK because many home pressed pickups get messed up and then when they fall out the "pressed" fit is blamed rather than the improper pressing.
TECH Veteran
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Little Rock, AR
The pumps were still coming with the warning labels last I knew. Melling changed the pumps at GMs request. Did GM request they change them back or did Melling just change them? If they did change them again, there has got to be lots of old stock out there with the weaker castings.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Ohio
once again, not starting a flame war or calling you out on this, i would just like to see some concrete evidence of this problem. this is argued with builders quite often and i would like to see an answer for sure
HV is unnecessary unless the bearing clearances are LOOSE.
I think though that a lot of the "sucked the pan dry" is actually cavitation. A friend had big problems with that within the last month on his high rpm gen 1 build, had to pull the engine and put in a differnt pump. He had been told the HV pump would be a problem but he "knew" more and put a HV pump in anyway.
Why do you think they made the switch to gerotor pumps? Less prone to cavitate and smoother pressure.
I think though that a lot of the "sucked the pan dry" is actually cavitation. A friend had big problems with that within the last month on his high rpm gen 1 build, had to pull the engine and put in a differnt pump. He had been told the HV pump would be a problem but he "knew" more and put a HV pump in anyway.
Why do you think they made the switch to gerotor pumps? Less prone to cavitate and smoother pressure.
while i agree with you, i want to add. cavitation is a large problem, but from my research the BIGGEST problem is oil drainback. of the people that i have read about their problems, 80% did no work to the motor to help oil drainback faster. either way, my tolerances are correct and tight, just want to help lay this discussion to rest.
btw to the others... another problem i have read about with the "sucked pan dry" ordeal is the removal of the windage tray
which is the cause of bearing failure in this situation?... pump or lack of windage tray? you decide!
btw to the others... another problem i have read about with the "sucked pan dry" ordeal is the removal of the windage tray
which is the cause of bearing failure in this situation?... pump or lack of windage tray? you decide! There are lots of things done wrong. Ever see the mods guys had to make to the pre-Eliminator AFRs to get oil to dran away from the valve seals, I am talking cutting channels to get the oil out of there so it wouldn't get sucked through the seals.
I bet guys put HV pumps close to the pan too making the cavitation thing worse.
On the windage tray thing, I can think of one "reputable" builder who leaves out windage trays and advocates HV pumps and oil better suited to the rearend than the sump. Problem is people can't seperate advertising from quality, they think they are the same thing.
I bet guys put HV pumps close to the pan too making the cavitation thing worse.
On the windage tray thing, I can think of one "reputable" builder who leaves out windage trays and advocates HV pumps and oil better suited to the rearend than the sump. Problem is people can't seperate advertising from quality, they think they are the same thing.
I pulled the Windage Tray out of my current Engine.. I know it's a different setup..but jut something to throw out there. My reasoning was for Oil Drainback.
I also drilled out the Lifter Trays, another one of them Mods for the LS Engines.
I also drilled out the Lifter Trays, another one of them Mods for the LS Engines.
Does anyone have any DATA to suggest these pumps are any upgrade over stock or that the stock pump wears any meaninful amount by 150K miles???
IMO long as the stock pump has not seen debris a $3 relief spring and $8 melling shaft are all the oiling system work you need.
My opinions differ drastically from most of the forum though. I like to use good parts where they make a meaningful performance/reliability difference and reuse stock stuff wherever it works well. A lot of guys around here like to blindly replace things JUST because they are stock. Many times they manage to find things that are weaker than stock too.
Another thig I find funny is how often welded pump pickup crack off yet you almost never hear of a STOCK pressed one falling out. I stress STOCK because many home pressed pickups get messed up and then when they fall out the "pressed" fit is blamed rather than the improper pressing.
IMO long as the stock pump has not seen debris a $3 relief spring and $8 melling shaft are all the oiling system work you need.
My opinions differ drastically from most of the forum though. I like to use good parts where they make a meaningful performance/reliability difference and reuse stock stuff wherever it works well. A lot of guys around here like to blindly replace things JUST because they are stock. Many times they manage to find things that are weaker than stock too.
Another thig I find funny is how often welded pump pickup crack off yet you almost never hear of a STOCK pressed one falling out. I stress STOCK because many home pressed pickups get messed up and then when they fall out the "pressed" fit is blamed rather than the improper pressing.
Its just the simple fact that if somthing has 150k on it and you have the money to change it, why not? Just because something works still doesn't mean it working properly, and doesn't mean it will be working later on down the road. I put one in mine for reassurance. Any smart person would as well if they have the time, money, and engine out....