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Re: Oil Pressure Questions

To: "Brashear, Jack, N" <JNBrashear@garverengineers.com>,
Subject: Re: Oil Pressure Questions
From: Blue One Hundred <international_investor@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 18:27:10 -0700 (PDT)
Jack -

Your car should have the rotary vane pump on it,
correct (i.e. not the gear pump used on BJ8s)?  That's
good, the Rotary Vane is a better pump.

I would suggest that the pump should be replaced even
if it is within "specs".... replace it with the rotary
vane type... it provides a better, more even, higher
pressure level than the gear one used in BJ8s.  The
BJ8 pump was used because it is cheaper to make, and
works better in racing... but the rotary vane type is
much better for a road car.  It should be a standard
procedure to replace your oil pump on a rebuild.  It's
pointless to spend all that money on a rebuild then
cheap out on good lubrication.

I would also replace the oil pump relief valve plunger
and spring (located on the right side of the block),
they are very cheap to replace and should always be
replaced on a rebuild.  This can have a significant
affect on your oil pressure... particularly if the car
is warm... a new plunger & spring can have a
significant affect on increasing pressure on the
freeway.

Also, did you replace your rocker shaft on top of the
motor?  If this is not rebuilt, you can have low
pressure once the oil gets warm.  If it wasn't
rebuilt, it should be.

Regards,

Alan

'53 BN1 '64 BJ8



--- "Brashear, Jack, N"
<JNBrashear@garverengineers.com> wrote:
> Hi All, I've owned the same Healey since new for
> almost 42 years but
> there's always something you don't understand about
> your own car.  It's
> a BT7 Mk2 with the 29E engine and less than 400
> miles since rebuild and
> with oil pressure that's too low for my comfort
> zone.  The rebuild
> includes new rocker shaft and new bushings and
> literally everything else
> new.  Crank checked to specs on rods and mains, cam
> journal bearings,
> etc. all check to specs.  I have a Smittys spin-on
> oil filter adapter.
> I have tried oil viscosity extremes from GTX 20-50
> to Valvoline racing
> straight 60 wt.  I have a 1/4" nut behind the relief
> spring.  The oil
> pressure is pretty good at about 65 psi at startup
> but drops to just
> under 30 psi at about 3000 rpm on he freeway at
> about 180-185 degrees
> temp.  The oil pump also checked to specs so I DID
> NOT replace it.  Is
> there a HIGH PRESSURE oil pump available??  Do I
> need such a thing??
> Does HEAVY DUTY mean the same as HIGH PRESSURE?? 
> I'd appreciate some
> feedback from this awesome list.  Thanks Much!!
> Jack





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