HV oil pump / Ebok heads ???

[thundercat]

SPF #1287 due soon!! Assembling 428 . Was reading on another site and they were talking about NOT using HV oil pump because oil will build up in valve covers with Edelbrock aluminium heads .They are saying the drains are too small.. I've used HV pumps before and had no problems.. I've not used with these heads though....Anybody experienced this??? Should I restrict oil??? Are there any other negatives with HV pumps?? THANKS Steve McD

[Jeff Frigo]

Talk to your engine builder. FE's are not know for their lubrication systems. Mine used restricters.

[Joe Prochazka]

The way that my engine builder explained it to me is.......you got to use a HV oil pump because all FE's (except side oilers) route to oil to the cam bearings first and then to the main bearings so the higher volumn of oil that you can pump, the better off your mains will be.

To keep from filling the top end of the engine with oil, 90 thousandths restrictors should be installed in the edelbrock heads.....still provides ample lubrication for the valve train while keeping the oil in the pan.

Someone correct me if I screwed this up.

[edwhite7]

I have a Shelby block with Dove heads and a HV pump. If I run much above 4000 RPM I start to push oil out the breathers. I have restricted the oil with a 70 thousandth restrictor. I have also noticed that if I have 5 quarts in the pan which is correct for the dip stick that the pump starts to cavitate. To solve this I run 9-10 quarts in the pan (the level is below the windage tray) but this means to me that a lot of oil is up in the engine. I am thinking of switching to a stock pump. The Dove heads do have small drainback holes and I will probably open them up the next time the heads are off but the restrictors should be all I need.Has anyone else had similar problems?

[Toivo]

I believe there are actually two different types of oil pumps (3 if you count the stock version): HV and HP (there may be a HVandHP pump as well). The high pressure pump may cause oil to build up in the valve covers, if you just go with a high volume pump, AND locate the pickup correctly (it may need to be extended for certain pans in order to prevent early cavitatation).
Using a HV pump with an extended pickup and edelbrock heads, I have no problems, without restrictors.

[Coloradocobra]

If you rely only on the valve covers for breathers, you may have problems blowing oil out the valve covers at higher RPM's due to blow-by. Pressure in the crankcase will limit the amount of oil that can drain back even when restrictors are used. I use a breather on the oil fill tube and the goose neck on the back to allow the block to breathe and both my valve covers are sealed up. With a high-volume pump I have no excessive oil problems with my Dove heads. If you run a PCV valve, the style that fits in the breather hole in the back of the intake will probably help scavenge the block better than a valve in the valve cover.

I have heard that excessive rocker arm clearances can also lead to too much oil in the heads. Apparently, some brands of rockers come from the factory slightly oversized. Not sure if this is true but it kinda makes sense.

[ERA535]

I echo what Toivo stated.....