FYI on oil pumps.... Im no oil pump expert but have learned a thing or two from my own experience with the SBC/4.3 oiling system and reading car mags the last 18yrs. This is mostly my opinion too.. Other ppl may think Im a dufus (hell, I do) and may not agree. Sokay..
If youre using the stock type oiling system and a high volume pump you should keep an eye on the oil pressure if youre gonna spin the engine way up there in rpm (above 6k IMO). It can drain the pan at high RPM and suck air which kills the bearings (BTDT). Not a lot of capacity in the stock pan for NASCAR rpm levels.
Another thing is the filter bypass. This is the little disc thingy thats "swaged" into the hole in the block under the oil cooler adaptor. If you dont mod it with a stronger spring or shim the existing spring with a HV or high pressure pump youre causing more oil to bypass the filter.
Ive personally had the best results (IMO) by using a STOCK oil pump but retrofitting the LT1 (old LT1) spring into it and pulling the swaged bypass out of the block and shimming it with a ~1/16" thick washer. Reinstall the block bypass (its a PIA!!) and youre done. A word of caution if you mod the block bypass... Let the eng oil get a little warm before you beat on the eng as you will run the risk of blowing the oil filter apart or possibly blowing a oil line from the thick oil and pressure. Ya shouldnt be beating on a cold engine anyway :wink:
Opening up the oil passage in the rear main cap so its nice and smooth doesnt hurt either IMO.
This is all just my opinion so take it for what its worth. :wink:
