Pan to pickup clearance?
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From: Lake Anna, VA/ Fairmont, WV
Pan to pickup clearance? Currently putting together my 385ci SBC marine engine.
Specs are
4 bolt 010 block, bored .040, 0 decked, line honed, stroker clearanced
ESP 4340 3.750 crank, ESP 6" H beams 7/16 ARP, Mahle forged 5cc flat tops, C77H bearings.
AFR 190cc heads 73cc, 2.02, 1.60, further worked by Carl McQuillen Racing
Custom billet 234/240 .570/.558 112+4 hyd roller ground to my headflow and combo.
Morel retrofit roller lifters
Edelbrock RPM Air Gap
Holley 750DP
Lunati 1.5 Widebody roller rockers
Full MSD ignition, 6AL, coil and dist
My question lies in the oil pan to pickup clearance.
Using a Hamburger 7qt kickout pan 8 1/4" deep sump, Melling Select #10555 HV and Melling #12559 pickup, full length windage tray. With cooler and remote filter lines and big oil filter it holds about 9qts.
Installed the pump and pickup the other day and clayed it and have 1/2" clearance between the pan and pickup. That's all I could get with the bolt on pickup. Sound ok or do I need another pickup? Lingenfelter's book stated 3/8-1/2" is optimium. I've also heard 1/4" thrown around but thats for a stock setup. In the past i've ran them 3/8" and a tad under and have had no problems.
Anyone have a power output guess? I'm thinking 450hp. Thanks
Specs are
4 bolt 010 block, bored .040, 0 decked, line honed, stroker clearanced
ESP 4340 3.750 crank, ESP 6" H beams 7/16 ARP, Mahle forged 5cc flat tops, C77H bearings.
AFR 190cc heads 73cc, 2.02, 1.60, further worked by Carl McQuillen Racing
Custom billet 234/240 .570/.558 112+4 hyd roller ground to my headflow and combo.
Morel retrofit roller lifters
Edelbrock RPM Air Gap
Holley 750DP
Lunati 1.5 Widebody roller rockers
Full MSD ignition, 6AL, coil and dist
My question lies in the oil pan to pickup clearance.
Using a Hamburger 7qt kickout pan 8 1/4" deep sump, Melling Select #10555 HV and Melling #12559 pickup, full length windage tray. With cooler and remote filter lines and big oil filter it holds about 9qts.
Installed the pump and pickup the other day and clayed it and have 1/2" clearance between the pan and pickup. That's all I could get with the bolt on pickup. Sound ok or do I need another pickup? Lingenfelter's book stated 3/8-1/2" is optimium. I've also heard 1/4" thrown around but thats for a stock setup. In the past i've ran them 3/8" and a tad under and have had no problems.
Anyone have a power output guess? I'm thinking 450hp. Thanks
the reason for the large clearance between the pickup and the bottom of the pan is in how much oil flow is required into the pickup. The lower or closer the pickup is to the pan then yes the less chance you have of sucking the pan dry theoretically, but there's increased turbulence in oil flow which I think might lead to oil pump cavitation. Key word there is I think, but i am pretty sure the closer the pickup is to the pan the more it will hinder maximum oil flow into and up the pickup to the pump.
How much clearance is enough I honestly don't know. I've read 1/4" minimum, 1/2" is probably probably the norm. More than that is probably better for flow provided the pan is deep and there's no chance of sucking air at that pickup height, and there is no forces moving oil away from the pickup. I think i have the merc service manual for the late model 6L, if it's more than 1/2" I'll post back and let you know.
i noticed you listed your cam, 234/240. are you running through hull exhaust? you visit idiotboats.com at all? what's your take on exhaust reversion?
How much clearance is enough I honestly don't know. I've read 1/4" minimum, 1/2" is probably probably the norm. More than that is probably better for flow provided the pan is deep and there's no chance of sucking air at that pickup height, and there is no forces moving oil away from the pickup. I think i have the merc service manual for the late model 6L, if it's more than 1/2" I'll post back and let you know.
i noticed you listed your cam, 234/240. are you running through hull exhaust? you visit idiotboats.com at all? what's your take on exhaust reversion?
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,795
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From: Lake Anna, VA/ Fairmont, WV
the reason for the large clearance between the pickup and the bottom of the pan is in how much oil flow is required into the pickup. The lower or closer the pickup is to the pan then yes the less chance you have of sucking the pan dry theoretically, but there's increased turbulence in oil flow which I think might lead to oil pump cavitation. Key word there is I think, but i am pretty sure the closer the pickup is to the pan the more it will hinder maximum oil flow into and up the pickup to the pump.
How much clearance is enough I honestly don't know. I've read 1/4" minimum, 1/2" is probably probably the norm. More than that is probably better for flow provided the pan is deep and there's no chance of sucking air at that pickup height, and there is no forces moving oil away from the pickup. I think i have the merc service manual for the late model 6L, if it's more than 1/2" I'll post back and let you know.
i noticed you listed your cam, 234/240. are you running through hull exhaust? you visit idiotboats.com at all? what's your take on exhaust reversion?
How much clearance is enough I honestly don't know. I've read 1/4" minimum, 1/2" is probably probably the norm. More than that is probably better for flow provided the pan is deep and there's no chance of sucking air at that pickup height, and there is no forces moving oil away from the pickup. I think i have the merc service manual for the late model 6L, if it's more than 1/2" I'll post back and let you know.
i noticed you listed your cam, 234/240. are you running through hull exhaust? you visit idiotboats.com at all? what's your take on exhaust reversion?
