SBC oil pump recommedation
 

I had the oil pump break off at the base in my SBC 350 Super stock engine at the Gators last week during a run. scored up the crank and some bearings. didn't actually spin the bearings luckily. I had a Melling oil pump in the engine. What are some of you using for oil pumps. I am thinking about some sort of billet pump to replace the cast iron one that failed. Thanks,

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

Go with a Schumman's Low Drag oil pump.

http://www.schumannsdynamicperforman...drag-pump.html

http://classracer.com/classforum/sho...t=39983&page=2

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

There was quite a story about this a few years ago. There is actually a "better/heavier" casting Melling pump than the old # we all used to use. Can't recall the new # off hand I think it is 10552. The old standby M55 is now made with a thinner casting. If you google it you can find pages of complaints/problems etc ...

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

Stewart oil pump, no worries, less H.P. to operate.

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

Schumann makes a nice pump. The next step up, what I'm switching to, is a Clay Valley Racing pump. They have a cover that has the pick up built in, just measure your pan. Their pump also has a wear plate between the gears and the cover, so if it gets scored, you can replace it, and not the whole pump.

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

^^^^^ There Ya go!!

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

Ed, I talked to Larry this morning about his pump. He said he uses a Melling unit that he modifies. Do you know what base pump model number that he used. I am assuming you have one of his pumps. I am a bit leery of the melling pump as that is what broke in my engine. Supposedly Melling makes a higher quality line for performance engine service with a heavier casting. I will probably go with one of Larry's pumps in the end. Thanks,

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

Mike, I'm sorry, but I don't know which casting Larry uses. Mine is in the engine, in the car, so I can't check. Larry would tell you. He is a good guy.

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

Thanks for the input Ed. I will give Larry a call. Good luck racing this year. We just finished up 5 races in 6 weeks here in Div 2. Now a couple of IHRA nitro jams next month. This is the busy time for us here in Fla.

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

melling M-55A is heavier casting, m55 and m55hv have lighter castings,some things that will break pump are cavitation most of time pickup too close or far away from pan,or oil getting away from pickup or lack of oil, out of balance or vibration from driveline, oil pump shaft rubbing block some blocks need hole opened up or shaft that is undercut, some dart blocks need drilling for clearance around oil pump shaft.
Mike Taylor 3601

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

I think mine was one of the lighter castings. It was in the engine when I bought it. Thanks for the tips I will check for clearance. I think the shaft is one of the undercut type. I will change that too.

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

I have both castings in my shop and the diff is very obvious. I believe mine is a Moroso version of the HV55 , which at the time of purchase was the heavier casting. That being said , I had a bypass spring break last year costing me a new block in the process as it threw a rod from no oil pressure and yours truly didnt have a low pressure warning light...I do now:D

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

I will have a warning light from now on. Right up front and center. Nothing is fail safe.

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

The base pump, the Melling M55, is a very weak casting, they will break just putting a stock Melling pick up in. This has been a problem for years, and has only gotten worse. I have a standing deal with the warehouse I buy my parts from that not even a stock rebuild gets an M55. Minimum is an M55A, which is a higher pressure pump.

The M55HV is also a different casting, although I have stopped using high volume pumps for most engines. It has seen changes over the years, it was pretty robust, then they took strength out several years ago, then, after failures and complaints, they went back to the old stronger casting.

At one point, even the high pressure and high volume Melling pumps were using cheaper powdered metal gears, and the gears failed. Now they say only the stock replacement budget pumps get those gears. Supposedly, the test for those gears is to mark them with a Sharpie, if the mark disappears, they are powdered metal gears, and should not be used in performance engines.

Melling has a Select line, those seem to do fairly well, they are held to tighter tolerances, use better castings, and better gears. They have several versions for small and big block Chevy applications.

Melling also has a new helical gear pump for the small block Chevy, it is supposed to have less drag, a smoother pressure curve, and less pulse variation. I have not tried one yet, I may. It looks good in testing.

I used the Moroso pumps for a while, as they were built to tighter tolerances than the Melling pumps, although Melling makes the base pump.

Schumann was making their pumps based on the old DynaGear castings, and using the nodular iron used for rear end housings. However, the last Schumann pump I got did not look as good as the older pumps. I have not bought one since, I switched to the cast steel Clay Valley Racing pump, and that is what all race engines now get.

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

Good info Alan. Have you tried a Moroso billet pump in any of the engines.

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

Mike, I have not. If I were going to buy a billet pump, I'd probably buy either a Clay Valley Racing pump or a Titan.

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

Mike check your PM's

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

Has anyone tried a Milodon 18750 pump on their SBC.

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

I thought the last Schumann I got from Jegs was a modified M55. Will look tonight, it's not in an engine yet.

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

We just put one in our new build this past winter. The Melling broke at the pickup support after 750 passes...no damage though.

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

Please post some pictures of the broken pump, showing the location of the break, and also the "fracture surface."

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

Was going to buy a Moroso 22101,but it looks like it is just a glorified m55 mellings???Has m 55 casting on it.Isnt the m55 the pump the one with housing breakage problems?

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

Yes. that is what broke in my engine. I went with the billet Moroso pump. I have been happy with it so far. One thing I did after that deal was to put an idiot light in the car. Its hard to watch the gauges as you are racing.

Re: SBC oil pump recommedation
 

Idiot light only, or a Hobbs switch as well? Bob