High volume Oil pump/front cover issues.

R.I.P.92Rolla

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Joined
Aug 23, 2009
Does the front cover have to be ported to fit a melling high volume oil pump? The shop that my motor is being worked on at said that they could not get the oil pump gears to turn with the front cover on. Do I just tell them to port the passages or what? I'm just a little confused on how they are explaining it to me. They told me that these cars usually have low oil pressure at idle and I was hoping a high volume pump would help.. if there is any other ways to help please let me know!
 
Not sure what they intend to port, but be SURE it is not the pump cavity, or "walls.

Since they have no experience with the high volume set up, best they do nothing.

it is beyond my understanding why anyone uses a high volume pump when a properly prepared cover/pump will perform better in the long run than a high volume set up. :confused:

If there is low oil pressure at idle on a fresh built block, something is not right. We have 25 to 50 PSI at idle depending on the engine build, and even our low 9 sec. builds use a modded front cover w/stock gears. :)

The premier oil pump specialists at TA Performance have done Buick oil pump/covers for over 30 years and can supply you with the info and/or parts you need.
 
said that they could not get the oil pump gears to turn with the front cover on. ????????

I'd be very skeptical of that shop. Just buy one DONE from TA.
 
Since they have no experience with the high volume set up, best they do nothing.

it is beyond my understanding why anyone uses a high volume pump when a properly prepared cover/pump will perform better in the long run than a high volume set up. :confused:

If there is low oil pressure at idle on a fresh built block, something is not right. We have 25 to 50 PSI at idle depending on the engine build, and even our low 9 sec. builds use a modded front cover w/stock gears. :)

The premier oil pump specialists at TA Performance have done Buick oil pump/covers for over 30 years and can supply you with the info and/or parts you need.
+1. If they cant figure out something as simple as an oil pump id take my engine elsewhere. HV pumps are not needed.
 
It's a very well known shop.. I bought the car from a friend who's buddy works at that shop.. He did the work to the car like a week or 2 prior to me buying the car.. The seller is a very good friend of mine and he intends to help me out and make the car right.. There are a couple issues that have to get fixed.

The main one that I have is that I don't believe the lifters were installed correctly... After the car warms up they are super loud (they are comp cam lifters). If you give it gas the noise goes away, which makes me think it has low oil pressure. The motor was a rebuilt shortblock that he had. My buddy is willing to have it fixed and also give me a roller cam setup, I just need to buy a set of lifters, he has the rest, all new in a box. I am assuming that I will just have to buy a new TA cover/pump combo.. I just ordered a gauge pod for the console so when that arrives I will be putting my oil gauge in to see what's up..

If the car has low oil pressure with the new pump and cover, what are the issues that I should be looking at to fix that. Right now it's has a little over 300 miles since startup, otherwise the car runs great.
 
I will also add I am very new to this car so I am learning as I go along.

So I shouldn't even bother with a new cover and high volume pump?

They told me that since the high volume wasn't working right with the new cover that he just reused the oil pump on it.
 
If the oil psi is so low you have to raise the idle to make them quiet down, I'd be looking at the bearings B4 I just put a T/A ft cover on it...
The reason the pump won't turn is it's not shimmed correctly....
 
Are they saying gears wont mesh? The China covers will be off sometimes. Use a GM Cover & port per Earl Brown writeup. I have done 5 & all have Great pressure!
Search Earl Brown Pump Mods or PM me for the link.
 
If the oil psi is so low you have to raise the idle to make them quiet down, I'd be looking at the bearings B4 I just put a T/A ft cover on it...
The reason the pump won't turn is it's not shimmed correctly....

What bearings would you be talking about then?

Right now the car has the stock pump and a new front cover on it..

Going to hook up the oil gauge and see what idle pressure is then.
 
It's a very well known shop.. I bought the car from a friend who's buddy works at that shop.. He did the work to the car like a week or 2 prior to me buying the car.. The seller is a very good friend of mine and he intends to help me out and make the car right.. There are a couple issues that have to get fixed.

The main one that I have is that I don't believe the lifters were installed correctly... After the car warms up they are super loud (they are comp cam lifters). If you give it gas the noise goes away, which makes me think it has low oil pressure. The motor was a rebuilt shortblock that he had. My buddy is willing to have it fixed and also give me a roller cam setup, I just need to buy a set of lifters, he has the rest, all new in a box. I am assuming that I will just have to buy a new TA cover/pump combo.. I just ordered a gauge pod for the console so when that arrives I will be putting my oil gauge in to see what's up..

If the car has low oil pressure with the new pump and cover, what are the issues that I should be looking at to fix that. Right now it's has a little over 300 miles since startup, otherwise the car runs great.

it might be a well known shop that builds space shuttles, moon rovers, fromula one cars, indy cars and top fuel dragsters but they obviously don't know much about the lowly buick V-6---------a buick oil pump is one of the simplest things designed since the pet rock---------you better find a rollback and get that car somewhere else or you are going to regret it.............RC
 
Does the front cover have to be ported to fit a melling high volume oil pump? The shop that my motor is being worked on at said that they could not get the oil pump gears to turn with the front cover on. Do I just tell them to port the passages or what? I'm just a little confused on how they are explaining it to me. They told me that these cars usually have low oil pressure at idle and I was hoping a high volume pump would help.. if there is any other ways to help please let me know!

Who did the motor?
 
Does the front cover have to be ported to fit a melling high volume oil pump? The shop that my motor is being worked on at said that they could not get the oil pump gears to turn with the front cover on. Do I just tell them to port the passages or what? I'm just a little confused on how they are explaining it to me. They told me that these cars usually have low oil pressure at idle and I was hoping a high volume pump would help.. if there is any other ways to help please let me know!

You may have misuderstood them. They may be talking about the pump cover. That's just a matter of selecting the correct thickness gasket or lapping the gears to get the proper clearance. :)
 
oil pump gears don't turn.

Your pump gears do not turn with the cover installed on the engine because the pump gears are turned by the camshaft. They will not turn unless you are cranking the engine. They won't be able to turn them by hand when it is installed on the block. Get that car away from them. I used the high volume front cover from TA Performance along with the double grooved cam bearings that they sell. Oil pressure is great at idle all the way through the rpm range of my engine. Get that oil pressure situation fixed, even if you have to pull the block back out. You want to save it now, not later.
 
oil pump

Your pump gears do not turn with the cover installed on the engine because the pump gears are turned by the camshaft. They will not turn unless you are cranking the engine. They won't be able to turn them by hand when it is installed on the block. Get that car away from them. I used the high volume front cover from TA Performance along with the double grooved cam bearings that they sell. Oil pressure is great at idle all the way through the rpm range of my engine. Get that oil pressure situation fixed, even if you have to pull the block back out. You want to save it now, not later.

the oil pump gears are turned by the cam sensor shaft with it removed they should turn freely a high volume pump takes a high volume timing chain cover because the the size of the oil pump gears are longer a stock cover would need to be machined to work (if at all posible) maybe why they they won't work.
 
the oil pump gears are turned by the cam sensor shaft with it removed they should turn freely a high volume pump takes a high volume timing chain cover because the the size of the oil pump gears are longer a stock cover would need to be machined to work (if at all posible) maybe why they they won't work.

You can turn any reg cover into a HV with longer gears by adding the TA spacer kit but not worth it IMO. I have an old one here & have never used it. Gears, spacer, dowel pins etc.
The original question was a bit vague after hearing all the responses.
 
i have had atleast owned 20 turbo buicks and not 1 has ever had 25 to 50psi at idle,maybe when its -20 i might have seen 25psi.after its warm 9 to 15psi just my $.02
 
Only thing I can think as why my lifters make noise after the oil is warmed up is low oil pressure, and it's only at idle when they chatter..car is sitting for now until I wire up my oil gauge when I have free time..I have a feeling that the front cover I got from auto zone is what's causing the problems.. I'm not comfortable doing a port job myself even with the how-to, I might just go with the TA setup and all the right gaskets. The car does not have the oil cooler anymore. I have read it is not really required, but correct me if I am wrong.. Also.. Is it wise to get a new oil filter adapter? Are those ever known to cause problems?
 
i have had atleast owned 20 turbo buicks and not 1 has ever had 25 to 50psi at idle,maybe when its -20 i might have seen 25psi.after its warm 9 to 15psi just my $.02

I have ported 5 covers & sold 2 to friends. Done with Earl brown mods on stock covers. I get 20 lbs hot idle after a pass with 15-40 oil & closer to 25 when hot but not right after a track pass. 20 lbs is not asking for too much on a tight engine & good cover.
 
I have ported 5 covers & sold 2 to friends. Done with Earl brown mods on stock covers. I get 20 lbs hot idle after a pass with 15-40 oil & closer to 25 when hot but not right after a track pass. 20 lbs is not asking for too much on a tight engine & good cover.

And that's with a stock oil pump? Not a high flow?
 
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