Oil Pressure Issues and Looking for Oil Pan Recommendations

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Michael Bennett

Greasemonkey
Jun 7, 2018
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I'm running an '80 Malibu with a 400 small block. When I am accelerating and get to 3500-4000 rpm, the oil pressure drops from 50 ish to back down around 40 and stays there until let off the gas. If I'm sitting still in neutral or accelerating slowly it steadily climbs to 60 at 6000 rpm. I'm thinking it has to be the oil climbing the back of the pan. I'm running a Milodon 30700 stock replacement pan with a Melling MV55 standard volume pump and melling pickup.

Definitely looking to go with a more high performace pan with more capacity and probably a windage tray. I also think a Milodon 32500 pan baffle should help.

Looking for ideas from anyone who has faced this issue and suggestions on a pan that works good on a G body. I've been considering either Milodon 30908 which has it's own windage try(but I'm worried if it will fit) or the 30900 which would I would need to add a windage try. If not Milodon I was thinking 13-100 from Canton. It has a built in windage tray and scraper combo, just concerned that it says you have to run a short oil filter. I don't like short oil filters.

Appreciate the feedback!
 

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bracketchev1221

Royal Smart Person
Jan 18, 2018
1,386
1,599
113
I would run whatever pan has a built in scraper and tray and a short filter. Oil control is more important than filter capacity. If it’s that big a deal run a remote filter. Moroso makes pumps with baffles welded to them to prevent oil climbing up around the pump.
 
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455'ed80Regal

Master Mechanic
Nov 3, 2010
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Lincoln, MO
With the 400 I ran in one of my cars, I used a stock pan with the same pump as you. I was also using that plate that bolts between the oil pump and the rear main cap and never had any issues at the drag strip shifting at 6k.
 
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Michael Bennett

Greasemonkey
Jun 7, 2018
121
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Did you check your pan to pickup distance?

I should have mentioned that I did check my pickup to pan clearance and did tack weld the pickup to the pump when I built the motor.
 
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64nailhead

Goat Herder
Dec 1, 2014
5,659
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12,059
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Upstate NY
Add another qt and see if the issue improves or stays the same. You could be running it out of oil.
 

spicercars

Greasemonkey
Jan 7, 2019
142
114
43
Saginaw MN
What are you running for a oil pressure gauge? Does it have an electric sending unit? I have run into this problem before with a bad sending unit.
 

Michael Bennett

Greasemonkey
Jun 7, 2018
121
41
28
What are you running for a oil pressure gauge? Does it have an electric sending unit? I have run into this problem before with a bad sending unit.

Running a manual gauge with the small pipe that goes to the top of the block by the distributor. I have tried two different brands of gauges with the same results.
 

spicercars

Greasemonkey
Jan 7, 2019
142
114
43
Saginaw MN
Running a manual gauge with the small pipe that goes to the top of the block by the distributor. I have tried two different brands of gauges with the same results.

So that's not the problem. Its hard to image that with a stock pump you would have that problem.
 
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