Installing adjustable oil pressure regulator

[lochenjons]

I have a 383 in my 70 charger. It’s a little ratty but hey it runs! Cold idle is about 85 PSI on a brand new mechanical gauge. Once it gets warm, idle is about 40psi which I’m fine with. Anything over 2000 rpm it jumps back to 80. I bought a oil pressure regulator from the 440 source. Does anyone have a picture of where the oil pressure regulator goes on the pump? For some reason having a mental block looking at the pump and the manual. Any help would be great thanks !

 

[Ray70Chrg]

Never heard of using a separate oil pressure regulator on a normal mopar v8. Sounds like you may have a hi-pressure oil pump ( Melling ) instead of a normal pressure unit. The only difference is the internal spring which can be changed without removing it from the block. Hope this helps.

 

[lochenjons]

My understanding was it fits on the stock oil pump. Which I have. This is the adjustable part that replaces the spring: http://store.440source.com/Adjustable-Oil-Pressure-Regulator/productinfo/200-1093/

maybe I’m just looking at the oil pump wrong I just can’t figure out where the spring goes

 

[Cranky]

See the flat looking nut.....? But not sure why you would want to use one as your pressure is fine with hot oil at idle and 80 running.

 

[lochenjons]

Got it, thanks. Just the help I needed. I just want to bring it down a little bit. When it’s cold and I’m under throttle it bounces off 100 psi. I don’t like that

 

[Cranky]

What weight oil are you using?

 

[Fran Blacker]

80 psi warm with hyd lifters is a bit much. MO. Friend worked a dealer in 69 and a few 6 pack cars popped lifters apart. They tested oil pressure and it was 100psi at least, gauges max psi reading.

 

[oldbee]

In my mind the regulation will either raise hot& cold OR lower pressure. You can't "pick your poison" between hot or just cold.

 

[wagonman]

80 psi warm with hyd lifters is a bit much. MO. Friend worked a dealer in 69 and a few 6 pack cars popped lifters apart. They tested oil pressure and it was 100psi at least, gauges max psi reading.

Fran is correct you don’t need that much pressure,especially for a street car. Here is my fix. I have 2 BB cars the 68 RR street 440 has a standard pump with a High pressure black spring. 60 psi cold 50 warm at cruise. 20 psi at idle warm. 10-30 Vr1. The 470 Duster has a High volume pump and is 80 cold and 70 warm holds 45 at idle warm. I like the higher pressures on the 470 as it is more for race and has solid lifters and all the valve train parts to go with. Gives me more peace of mind.

 

[lochenjons]

Good info. I’ll be bringing it down a bit and seeing if that changes anything. I don’t like it bouncing off the high end of the gauge. I’m using 10w30. I thought about going to a 5w30

 

[Darter6]

I'm with Fran on this one.My Hemi car with a fresh engine, the oil pressure was way too high at 70 hot idle and way over 80 at RPM. I just drive it on the street so I installed a stock pressure spring out of a old 361 2BBL engine pump that I had .Now 35 hot idle and 50-55 at rpm.Guess what ? rear main quit leaking too!

 

[Cranky]

I'm with Fran on this one.My Hemi car with a fresh engine, the oil pressure was way too high at 70 hot idle and way over 80 at RPM. I just drive it on the street so I installed a stock pressure spring out of a old 361 2BBL engine pump that I had .Now 35 hot idle and 50-55 at rpm.Guess what ? rear main quit leaking too!

Never had a problem with 80 at speed but don't like it higher but less won't hurt either. Most of my street junk was usually around 60 at operating temps but the race cars were higher. Rule of thumb used to be considered 10 psi for every 1000 rpm but would rather have good volume vs high pressure.

 

[khryslerkid]

Too much pressure can twist off the stock distributor shaft also. So I've heard.

 

[Cranky]

Too much pressure can twist off the stock distributor shaft also. So I've heard.

Does put more load on it....and so does heavy oils.

 

[Bladeruner69]

Never could get mine to adjust right. Pressure was way high and I ended up blowing up 3 oil filters. I kept adjusting it and it dropped. Got it so low that I was not comfortable. It was either all open or stopped down. I gave up.

 

[bm02tj]

Order a softer spring then shim
If spring is to stiff it will be hard to adjust

 

[dvw]

Mine stayed to high as well after backing it all the way off. Easy fix. Trim 1/2 coil at a time off the spring. I used a dremmel with a small cutoff wheel. Use a piece of scrap material jammed between the coils so you don't nick the other side of the coil when cutting. I actually cut mine 3 times. It's so loose now the spring rattles in the pump. It now runs 65-70 psi @7000 hot. 5w30 or 10w30 won't make a difference. I've even run it on 5w20 without much change.
Doug

 

[Moparnocar]

Mine stayed to high as well after backing it all the way off. Easy fix. Trim 1/2 coil at a time off the spring. I used a dremmel with a small cutoff wheel. Use a piece of scrap material jammed between the coils so you don't nick the other side of the coil when cutting. I actually cut mine 3 times. It's so loose now the spring rattles in the pump. It now runs 65-70 psi @7000 hot. 5w30 or 10w30 won't make a difference. I've even run it on 5w20 without much change.
Doug

What's it run at hot idle? My 383 was approaching 5-7 psi with 10w30. 15-40 got me up to 10-15. I was gonna put in this spring kit.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

I don't get happy with the go pedal till everything is up to op temp!!

 

[bearman]

Thanks guys great info had to bookmark this so when I get going I can refer to it. Great post