oil pump replacement 63/327/300hp

[Joe T.]

This is probably a dumb question. My car is about to get the correct oil pan installed. it was recommended to me that since car has 70k miles might be good idea to change oil pump at same time. Can this be done? Should it be done? What pump? thank you Joe

[Joe L.]

Re: oil pump replacement 63/327/300hp

This is probably a dumb question. My car is about to get the correct oil pan installed. it was recommended to me that since car has 70k miles might be good idea to change oil pump at same time. Can this be done? Should it be done? What pump? thank you Joe

Joe------

While I usually replace pumps, it's probably not necessary, especially at this engine's mileage. The exception might be if that 70,000 miles was driven with few oil changes. Simply remove the oil pump cover and inspect the pump internals. If there's no scoring or obvious wear, the pump should be fine. Oil pumps are, by definition, well-lubricated and usually suffer little wear.

Depending upon what oil pan is installed now, though, you may have to change the oil pump pick-up screen. The 63-74 Corvette small block oil pans are unique to Corvettes and require a pick-up screen that's also unique to Corvettes.

Also, make sure that you don't have a high volume pump installed by some previous owner (maybe when the pan was changed). Some folks think this is "better". It's not. High volume pumps have gears that are 1.5" long; standard volume pumps have gears that are 1.3" long.

If you need to replace the pump I recommend using a Melling #10553.

[Joe T.]

Re: oil pump replacement 63/327/300hp

thank you. will pass all this on to my mechanic.

[Duke W.]

Re: oil pump replacement 63/327/300hp

If you want, remove and disassemble it for inspection. Oil pumps don't wear out, but if something in the engine disintegrates the pump will ingest debris and the gears get chewed up.

Unless the above happens an oil pump will last several hundred thousand miles and usually only need a little dressing to bring gear end play back in to spec.

With only 70K miles I suggest you just leave it alone. If your oil pressure behavior is normal, there's no problem. The problems always start when mechanics replace a perfectly good OE pump with an aftermarket hot rod pump that keeps the gage pegged at the limit most of the time.

The achives are full of these stories.

Duke