Hi BiB,
Funny you should ask
The engine went exactly 812 miles before the distributor and cam gears wore completely out.
Get rid of the bushing type distributor and go to ball bearings - it's a lot quicker than pulling the engine after 812 miles! Jegs sent me the MSD overnight.
Hi jdean,
I now have a Melling brand
oil pump - don't know which model. It cost $56 if that's any help. We sent the Ford crate motor
oil pump back to Ford - haven't heard anything from them yet. I will say the
oil pressure with the Melling pump is 5-10 psi lower than with the Ford pump, averaging about 50 psi hot and about 40psi at an idle of 600-700 rpm.
The real problem was the Ford-supplied crate motor distributor - at least that's what we all believe - since there was burned grease on the inside of the housing along with bits of burned bushing metal material.
Regards,
Tom