Bruce,
Not sure why you had to get the lecture out of your system for my regard... I understand all of those catastrophic failures and the need for additional pressure at higher RPM (not to mention WHY the need). But I'm glad you feel better, now!! And I'm so glad I could help!!
Anyhow...
1) Mobil1 15W-50. Have considered a straight-weight SAE40 or 50.
2) Melling M83 Std. Vol. pump. It is what the shortblock builder sent with the shortblock. I do not have ANY idea what their reputation was. They had no complaints with the Bureau, seemed fine, etc... won't get into all the reasons they were chosen. I don't understand why the SV pump came with the fairly loose clearances, but it did. Plan to change it.
3) No.
4) No, however I've never seen a loss of pressure when winding the motor up...ever. Also never seen a loss of pressure at sustained higher RPMs.
Now back to my questions one more time... I have some new ones.
Some people have claimed to get higher pressure with lower viscosity oils. I'm supposing that would NOT happen in my case because of my particular setup (loose).
I'm assuming the Viscosity Index of a straight weight SAE40 or 50 is such that I would not be thinning the
oil as much when it is running 200F. The flash point of dead dinosaur is lower, right, but...purely from a viscosity (and resulting pressure) standpoint, it should be better.
I understand the nomenclature of the
oil weights, but I want a little refresher... 15W-50 pours cold like a 15 but will pour hot like a 50 would pour hot? Is this entirely true, though? If so, why would I be gaining anything by going to the SAE40 or 50? I'd think my cold idle would jump up in the 65-75 range but my hot idle would remain the same (as well as my hot cruise PSI).
Just trying to get some more info. Thanks....