It's another 50 degree day and after taking the Spitfire on a 10 mile drive I returned home to find the engine idling at 900-1000 RPM, 160 degree coolant, and an oil pressure between 30 and 35 PSI. That's pretty much where I was before.
What's different is the off-idle oil pressure. Raise the engine speed to 1200 RPM and the pressure is at 40 PSI. At 1500 it's over 50 PSI. Somewhere between 2000 and 2500 RPM the pressure reaches 60 to 65 PSI... where the relief valve opens. So I am building good pressure off idle. At idle I'm just not getting what I want. (Sometimes you just can't get what you want). I have no choice but to go with what I have and wait to see what spring and summer bring. Hopefully no drops below 20 PSI.
The picture below is the finished pump just before being installed.
Doug L.
--Previous Message--
: The pump on the engine may have an
: internal leak. Since it's metal-on
: metal, it doesn't take much of an
: imperfection for it not to seal
: perfectly.
: FWIW I flatten the housing & end
: cover, and seal with a VERY LIGHT wipe
: of loctite threadlocker on the sealing
: surfaces.
: I'm thinking that the stock pump should
: make better pressure than it is, even
: if it is bleeding off a bit more by the
: cam bores...
: Glen
:
:
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