Oil pump modification

[mowerman]

After suffering a catastrophic oil pump failure, which has resulted in a complete engine rebuild, has anyone on here, particularly the racers, ever modified the oil pump pick up pipe to improve the potential surface area of the filter over the standard version? If you have modified, what did you do and, more importantly, did it work?

[valencia1]

look up chris witor, he does/did blue printed oil pumps and corresponding filters etc

regards,  bryan

[Smallfry]

I am by no means an expert, but this is what I have done to mine........

Late type pump with the steel pickup.......which I think is plenty big enough, and a baffled sump with windage tray.

I also bored out the 5/8 threaded hole where the filter fits, and fitted a 3/4 one intead. This gives a much larger (40%) internal bore for the oil to pass into the main gallery. You can then fit a better filter that has a tube up the centre, as well as the "non drain" flap. This then gives you more or less instant oil pressure when you start as the filter stays filled.

Closed up the clearances on the pump.

[99176]

Unscrew the pick up untill the sump compresses the gauze when fitted.
Consider small baffles in sump to keep oil around pick up in all conditions (I've not bothered)
Use grinding paste to lap pump body to block.
Grind pump / block to align ports.
Machine pump body so that end clearance is minimal.
CLEAN thoroughly especially if you have lapped surfaces.