SBC oil pump question

[NorthWestFloridaBoy]

Can someone recomend a good oil pump to use when I rebuild my DD SBC? I've heard to use a high pressure rather than a high volume, Can any one substantiate that? What about brands? I've heard both good and bad about Melling which seems to be the predominant brand available. I know the mains on a DD take a beating so I really don't want to skimp on the oil pump, know what I mean....

 

[Anonymous]

Get a pump for an old 302 Z28 it is a high pressure, std volume. Uses stock size pickup. Mine gives me around 50 psi when cold and about 40 when hot and on the throttle, and I have a little extra rod side clearance (more than I'd like, with the Eagle rods)

The only real difference is the bypass spring. You can use a regular pump and either shim the spring or get a Z28 spring

601-1046 is NAPA part number for the Z28 pump

 

[crowhater]

Can someone recomend a good oil pump to use when I rebuild my DD SBC? I've heard to use a high pressure rather than a high volume, Can any one substantiate that? What about brands? I've heard both good and bad about Melling which seems to be the predominant brand available. I know the mains on a DD take a beating so I really don't want to skimp on the oil pump, know what I mean....

A stock pump will do the job just fine unless you just feel like spending money. You are not going to spin that motor over 3K so why do you need a high performance pump?

 

[Anonymous]

The NAPA Z28 pump is 12 dollars more than the regular pump for the other V8s

cheap insurance for your thrust bearing

 

[Waterthunder]

Your bearing clearances and the viscosity of your oil should dictate what pump you run! Is your crank and rods stock GM parts with no journal radius!

 

[darrell]

waterthunder what clearences would you recommend for the lower end of a dd350,i am going to be building one very shortly
stock crank,stock rods w/arp bolts.

 

[NorthWestFloridaBoy]

Crowhater- I was asking for recomendations because DD automotive engines as used in an airboat is a subject I have no experience with, I anticipated recieving advice from people with experience in this field. It's not that I just want to spend more cash, I just figured that if there was a certain kind or style of pump that would make a better choice for my application then that's the one I want. If a stock oem style pump will work fine then so be it.

WaterThunder- I will probably buy a scat crank, I believe it has a .092 or .093 radius or something like that. as far as rods I thought about staying with the stock ones unless there is a good reason to switch to aftermarket. I didn't think rods would be a big deal due to the relative low rpm nature of the engine, If I need to use aftermarket rods with the scat crank please let me know.

Red Dwarf- As always thanks for the info.

 

[Waterthunder]

Unless you have inside micrometers and a ball micrometer with the ability to measure down to a 1/10 of a thousands I recommend .0015 to .002 on the rods with .002 on the mains with .003 to .0035 on the rear main and keep the crank end play under .012. I don't like to recommend tight tolerances unless you can measure everything such as rod roundness main cap roundness and bearing clearance! Tight tolerances leave less room for error! So on most rebuilds unless you have the right tools or a reputable machine shop (which you should still double check their work) the .002 main and rod clearance with .003 on the rear main works well! P.S make sure you journal radius clears the bearing, some after market cranks have a large radius and will interfere with a standard bearing!!

 

[crowhater]

Crowhater- I was asking for recomendations because DD automotive engines as used in an airboat is a subject I have no experience with, I anticipated recieving advice from people with experience in this field. It's not that I just want to spend more cash, I just figured that if there was a certain kind or style of pump that would make a better choice for my application then that's the one I want. If a stock oem style pump will work fine then so be it.

WaterThunder- I will probably buy a scat crank, I believe it has a .092 or .093 radius or something like that. as far as rods I thought about staying with the stock ones unless there is a good reason to switch to aftermarket. I didn't think rods would be a big deal due to the relative low rpm nature of the engine, If I need to use aftermarket rods with the scat crank please let me know.

Red Dwarf- As always thanks for the info.

I had three SBC motor DD boats and one 500 Caddy direct drive boat. I cut my teeth on DD boats that is why I said I did not see a need for a performance pump.