[95ImpySS]

Hello. First time, long time. I just purchased a 1979 Small Block Chevy out of a Corvette. The seller said that the engine has mild cam and ran real good. I decided to drop the oil pan and take a look. Everything looks ok except the oil pump pick up screen is collapsed and broken (parts of the mesh is missing). Which is somewhat odd to me. There was a strip of sludge about 1/2"x1.5" on the screen. I wiped it off and it broke down to a more liquid state almost instantly. Rest of the bottom end is spotless clean. I have never seen sludge like that cause this pickup problem. In other poorly maintained engines I have rebuilt I have seen the pickup screen blocked up. With a hole where the tube is. Never the entire screen collapsed with a large hole. I did notice that they installed a high volume pump with a stock oil pan and pick up. Every build I have done with a HV pump, a larger capacity pan and pan specific pickup was required. Do I need to upgrade the oil pan and pick up, or should I just install a new stock style pickup? The engine is mild. Its going into a 74 Nova that will see the drag strip only. Thanks in advance Brad

[vinniekq2]

The original engine is meek at best.If its in a race car,then freshen it according to use required

[ap72]

a 79 corvette engine is a pretty damn "mild" engine, I'd just replace the pickup, though since the pan is off check your bearings. Also pop the oil pump open and check for any wear of the housing or gears.

[hpete]

I'd replace the HV pump with either a stock or z28 pump and a good quality pickup if it was mine.

[cdminter59]

The oil pans for F-bodies have the rear sump. I would skip all the worry and purchase a Moroso 20191 oil pan. You have a choice of Moroso 22124 standard volume pump & matched pickup. Or Moroso 22146 High Volume pump with matched pickup and has a 3/4 inlet to stop cavitation.

[ap72]

Originally Posted by cdminter59

The oil pans for F-bodies have the rear sump. I would skip all the worry and purchase a Moroso 20191 oil pan. You have a choice of Moroso 22124 standard volume pump & matched pickup. Or Moroso 22146 High Volume pump with matched pickup and has a 3/4 inlet to stop cavitation.

The cavitation was a recognized problem by gm, starting with the LT1 engines and some gen 1 sbc's they switched to a 3/4" pick up. If you want a bulletproof cheap sbc oiling system for a street car get a HV pump with a 3/4" pick up, port the pump and main saddle it bolts to, and weld the pick up to the pump. You'll need a aftermarket oil pump drive too, they're cheap though. Its really that simple.

You should probably make sure your drainback holes are clean and smooth too.

here's the link to the summit site with the part, M155HV. you can pick whatever spring you want for max pressure too and swap it out pretty easily, though 60psi should be more than enough for any street use.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mel-m155hv

[95ImpySS]

Originally Posted by vinniekq2

The original engine is meek at best.If its in a race car,then freshen it according to use required

That's what I was afraid of. After checking the block casting I'm pretty sure its the L48. Engines purchase was mainly to put something in the car to get me going. I have owned it for 2 years and its just been sitting. Cars pretty hard to push around the shop with a spool in the rear LOL.

Originally Posted by ap72

a 79 corvette engine is a pretty damn "mild" engine, I'd just replace the pickup, though since the pan is off check your bearings. Also pop the oil pump open and check for any wear of the housing or gears.

The engine has been rebuilt. There are scribe marks and numbers stamped in the rods. Pistons look brand new on the bottoms. Rod bolts are some no names (slightly worrisome) I am going to pull the pump off to remove the old pick up. Its tack welded in place. Once I get the pump on I will do a compression check. ( I have this feeling that it would be better to spin the engine over with oil in the pan, rather than dry I can also prime it.) What are the torque specs for the mains and rods? Thanks a bunch. Thanks for all the reply's. This is a BS motor for the time being. I do plan to rebuild or swap it out before I get serious racing it. I plan to let my younger brother get some track time in it before I drop in a powerful engine. FWIW, I have a plate system laying around. Whats a good shot of n2o on this engine? Thanks again!!

[ap72]

If its been rebuilt then its anyone's guess. sounds like you have new pistons, rings, bearings, cam, etc. you may not even have the original heads or intake. Since all that's changed it being from a '79 vette is essentially meaningless. I'd check to see what cam you have, what head castings you have, what pistons you have, do all the research and investigating you can now and it'll save you a LOT of work and headaches later.


Since you're stuck with what seems to be a weaker engine I would keep an eye out for a high stall and some gears. You'd be surprised how fast you can go with little power given enough stall and gear.

[vinniekq2]

AP72,read his first post

dont bother with a plate if the engine is stock.You will run out of RPM before you finish the track

[ap72]

Originally Posted by vinniekq2

AP72,read his first post

dont bother with a plate if the engine is stock.You will run out of RPM before you finish the track

read the post above mine, its been rebuilt. What is in it is anyone's guess untill the parts are checked.