My L98 keeps very low oil pressure even with 10w-40 in it. About 10psi hot idle maybe a little less if you run it hard just prior. It sits right at the top of the red. I've all ready changed the sender. The engine runs perfect. It doesnt' knock, smoke, tick, peck anything. I'd rather not mess with the rings since they're sealing perfect. Is it possible to pull the engine and not have to remove the TPI and heads and just swap main and rod bearings and the pump and put it back together. The low oil pressure is the only issue. Also the weight of oil didn't effect the pressure at all. Is it possible a half clogged pick up screen? Cold start is 45 to 50 ish and if you bump the throttle she'll peg the gauge but after hot even if you run it hard it won't go over 35.

 

Could be the gauge acting funny, but the first thing to do hook up a mechanical oil pressure gauge up to it, its very acurate, retest the engine from hot to cold.
I think minimum oil pressure on a typical sbc is 5-7psi at hot idle.

 

I would say thats the bare min. You can pull it and flip it and just install rods and mains but if your cam bearings are gone this isnt going to help.

Why dont you just throw a re-ring kit in it? They are like 150 bones at summit and the machine shop wont charge but like $20 to throw some cam bearings in it.

 

I just don't want to fight with taking the TPI and everything off. All the work will have to be done in gravels outside.If possible I'd like to just lift it up enough to get the oil pan off and not have to pull the engine out. More than likely it'll end up out and a hole kit in it though.

 

ur not goin to get the pan off without taking the egine completely out trust me i just had mine out and back in the crossmember is to close to get it down and around the oil pump - however u mite not need to do any of that how is your cooling system? this may sound strange but mine did the exact same thing start it cold and it would have regularish pressure , but once you ran it and the car heated up the pressure would steadily drop - these l98s are very sensitive to heat and if the motor runs even a little hot mayb even slightly mor than normal somehting you wouldnt care to pay attension to it will thin the oil and couse pressure in the mains to drop - make sure all your coolant passages and your radiator are in good working order before you start tearing it all apart

 

Oil pan will come out from underneath without pulling the motor. I've had mine out a couple times. Just have to jack the motor up far enough to get it out. Its a little tricky but it will come out. You will have to remove the distributor to do this.

 

Why not just pull it out? I have only been able to pull a motor on pavement 2 times out of 50 and all the others have been in soft grass and gravel.

You can have it out and back in in one day.

Again tho if the cam bearings are bad you are waisting your time.

 

I think that's what I'm going to do. Just pull it out and do a re-ring kit and beef it up a little while its apart. I've got another question. I ordered the melling high volume pump autozone sells. Some people tell me they'll suck the oil pan dry. Is this true?