Need some help - loosing oil pressure at high rpm's

[Rick Parker]

I use a HV H/P Melling pump on my 289, the later improved design with the shaft through the base plate (much improved). The volume for the 289/302 HV pump is the same as Std Volume for 351. That being said I use a size 10 Hose, a Sertab 21 row cooler about 4" tall and filter about 5' tall mounted on frame rail (due to physical room). It carries 70 lbs while at speed and about 30 lbs at idle. The shortblock has been together 20 years with the same bearings throughout. The HP pumps bypass at about 70-75 lbs as they come out of the box. I fit this pump when it became available instead of the original HV pump with a shimed spring. Try to keep the pump pickup 3/8" from and parallel to the pan floor. A HV pump will require a larger capacity (than std) pan. The difference between your application and mine would be the bearing sizes if you are running 351W, otherwise 289/302 are identical. My engine is Solid lifter flat tappet. With performance bearing clearances.