How do you replace an oil pump? Is it just a bolt on thing? Any certain thing I have to worry about?

 

If the motor is still in the car, you will have to take out the motor mount bolts, disconnect the tranny and jack the motor up to get enough clearance to get the oil pan off. If it's out of the car, then it's a piece of cake.

 

Make sure your pump is dead 1st. you should have 35 psi @2500 rpm, car at operating temp. Yea the oil pump is a bolt on but a pain in the @ss. If you have a hoist you can lift the engine.Loosen mounts, drop the starter, oil pan and the trans inspection cover and it can be changed in car.
A pain!!! Its easyer to pull the engine, that way you can change the rod and main berings to keep good oil pressure.
SSC

 

Oil pumps almost never go bad.

High volume oil pumps are not required in a motor with the stock oiling system, and in fact do more harm than good.

What is it you would like to change about your car's behavior?

 

To be honest with you, this is for my 79 LTD II. The oil light comes on at low idle and oil pressure is down really low and there is starting to be a little valve tick as a result. Is each car this hard to change the oil pump? The HIGH VOLUME pump however I want to do to my Bird. Does it really do more damage than good? How is that?

 

There are two HV pumps really. The M55HV type (which is a standard smallblock pump with 4bolts on the cover) that has been modified internally to flow more oil. It ususally has a 3/4 inch bigblock pickup tube as the first mod. Then there are the big block pumps (with 5bolts on the cover) that are used on smallblocks. If your not carefull, even the 55HV can run a stock pan dry. You need to make sure you have really worked on oil drain back and have a larger than stock pan.

I would not use a bigblock pump now days. Dynagear makes a good HV pump but its about 60bucks.

The 302fords normally have a oil pan that has 2 sumps. With 2 drain plugs and everything. These motors are always getting garbage and sludge around the oil pickups and causing oil flow problems in the later years. You might start with one of those new oil system flush jobs and see if that helps.

 

According to melling www.melling.com/ that is a myth. Although Im sure it can happen under extreem rpm and with a windage tray I beleive it could be a possibility.
Anyone try a federal speed pro? Im thinking of going that route as soon as the camaro needs a overhaul.
SSC