My LT1 has the stock oil pump with a pink spring. On a chassis dyno it sits at a solid 65psi for the whole pull. On the drag strip (the next day, no other changes) it bobbles between 65 and around 45 throughout the pass. The oil level is full according to the dip stick. It has the stock pan with the stock windage tray intact.

Is this caused by oil sloshing away from the pickup? Or oil piling up in the rear of the pan and getting aerated by the crank?

Does it help to run the oil level a little higher or lower? Is there a better windage tray to swap in? Do I have to get a Canton pan?

Thanks

 

I use a Moroso oil pump baffle on all my small blocks. Helps prevent oil from sloshing up the rear of the pan and into the rotating assembly. As a secondary function the somewhat soft stamped steel functions as an oil pump gasket.

 

The one that sandwiches between the rear main cap and the pump?

 

That is correct.

 

When the same thing happened to me it turned out to be windage due to the oil level being too high. The engine (383) did not like the Canton oil pan being completely full. I took about 3/4 of a quart out and the problem went away. Drain the pan 1/4 quart at a time and see what happens.