FE oil pump ????

[Michael C Henry]

I had a cam go flat on two lobes. When I rebuilt my engine I replaced the oil pump with a Mellimg HV pump from Perscision Oil Pumps. When I called, I was asked if I wanted the truck version. I asked what the differences were. The truck version has a 5/16" hex rather than the 1/4 " hex of the car. I also ordered a drive shaft from Persision / 5/16" hex most of the length and a 1/4" hex end for distributor. I asked why and was asked to inspect my distributor and oil pump sockets. Seems the oil pump socket is the first to show sign of the hex wearing and rounding out. Sure enough my distributor socket was just fine but the old pumps 1/4" hex socket appeard to be about to round out. I installed the shim to the releif spring and run about 75 psi most of the time. I was instructed to let the oil warm untill at least
140° is showing on the oil temp gauge before getting carried away with the throttle. I didn't once and sheard the 1/8" by 3/4" sprimg pin in the distributor gear. Its a built in weak point. When it shears, everything stops, no harm no foul . It takes about an hour to repair if it happens in your backyard. I did beef it up a little by ordering a true "roll pin" By MSD from Summit. If you do a search there are stories about foreign objects locking up the oil pumpand twisting the hex drive shaft and stories and pictuers of extreme pressures and high volume wearing out the teeth on the distributor and cam gears. The picture I remember, the distributor gear had the teeth worn down to virtual flaps and several teeth were allready chipped away.
Currently the wish list would to have a dual oil filters connected parrallel to increase volume and or decrease flow resistance . I have the dual filter unit but don't know where I'd mount it though.