well the bearing clearance is being centered as the primary suspect now virtually every other option has been ruled out the filter surface is fine no RTV sealant was used plunger is fine. so the last option is to pull the engine out and or drop the pan and look at it from there. I guess we'll find out then it is the last of the options that I really wanted to explore. the oil pressure that we had wasnt at that RPM range that was just from the starter turning it over.

Every thing sounds like the bypass in the oil pump. Try a hole new pump. The one u got may be defective. Or try your old one if u still have it. (just for testing) I have seen oil pump bypass's stick or bind and blow oil filters apart. If the bearing clearance was to tight your eng. would crank over like the starter was dragging or not turn over at all.

Yes and there is another possibility, the main crank bearings, did you get them installed properly and made sure the oil holes lined up with the oil feed in the block.

Chucky MoMo <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

this is actually good to hear somone who has seen this happen so now we have a semi foundation to go off of

When you're getting you're oil pressure reading are you using the stock gauge or a aftermarket one? I just thought about this and I may be way off base because I have no experence with these blocks but.......

On my rig, the stock oil "idiot light" is behind the filter, towards the rear of the block, and there was, near as I can tell, some sort of threaded plug or something near the front of the block, in front of the filter, where my after market oil pressure gauge takes it's reading.......I wonder if there are pressure differences between the two places, or if you might have a blockage in one of the oil galleys there and somehow it's restricting the flow of the oil, and causing excessive pressure in the filter.

Kinda a long shot, and I'm not even sure that all made sense, I hiked 35 miles yesterday night and this morning so I might be a little <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> still <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

oil galley blockage is probable we will know soon enough we are placing the old oil pump back on it to see what happens, we'll keep you all posted on the results the reading is coming on top of the filter there is where the old idiot light sensor was, the gauge was not factory but one for mechanical use just to see where things we at.

To show that much pressure with just the starter motor spinning it tells me it's a serious blockage somewhere and I just can't see the relief valve causing that but I've learnt to never say never in automotive work. Hope you find it soon because it sure has got me wondering!! I would love to know what the exact pressure and RPM's were. I've seen many filters hold over the 100+ mark without leaking!!

Something doesn't add up here, I tend to agree with "smoke", even if you had tight bearing clearances or the bearings are in wrong and blocking oil flow to the mains, the relief valve would blow off, protecting the pump and everything else downstream of the pump.

Sounds like a major blockage somewhere preventing the oil from getting to the relief valve, for the starter to produce that kinda pressure.

I would be interested to hear what you find as well.

I let my dad read your post and he just raised his eyebrows in intrigue, said that is one hell of a efficient pump to produce that pressure at cranking RPM.

Chucky MoMo <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Mmmmmm blockage....drop that oil pan and see whatcha find...