Question is in regards to oil pickup depth and oil pump volume.
Street performance 455 with .060 bore. Edelbrock heads. Howard’s roller cam. Holley Street Dominator intake. No oil restrictors installed. Bypass blocked in oil filter housing.
The oil pan is a Thornton 6 quart, 1/2” deeper. Two oil pumps of choice.
First is standard volume with weld on sump used with a deeper Toronado oil pan.
Second is HV Melling with bolt on sump used with standard pan.
Doing the Play-Doh depth check with the pan and gaskets, the standard pump measures .14 from the bottom of the pan lowest point of pickup.
The HV pump measures .50 from the bottom of the pan lowest point of pickup.
Other posts mention that 1/2”-3/8” is good.
Depth vs. Volume? Does it even make a difference?

 

.14 is too close in my opinion. I like to see between 3/8 and 1/2 like you said. I am not a big fan of HV pumps and rarely use them. I prefer standard volume with a high pressure spring.

The pickups will bend a lot easier than you think

Off topic ..... how old are your Edelbrock heads ?

 

Hey Bill thanks for your response. The Edelbrock heads are #6051. Don’t know the age I got second hand about seven years ago.

 

Ok. The reason I asked about the heads is I am having a fit with rocker arms on a set that are about 3 years old. I have tried several different ones and just did not feel happy with any of them. I boxed one of the heads up and sent it to Harland Sharp for them to see if they can figure something out.

By the way, and I know I will get flamed for this but ....... I simply will not block a filter bypass valve. I have seen two engines ruined because of a blocked bypass but I have never seen one ruined from it not being blocked. If there is that much crap in the oil the engine is already ruined and a blocked bypass will not help it.

 

Those are Gen I’s. I just made 450/540 on a mild 455 with that same head.
What are your bearing clearances? That will have a lot to do with the right oil pump choice.