Oil Pump Problem

What happened with the Melling pump I had an issue with was it cracked and I think it bled off pressure through the crack. You could easily see the crack had been present for a long time. It wasn't real crisp but rather real dull and worn down.

I think any performance BBF w/wet sump deserves a Kaase pump. One unnecessary teardown will make it pay for itself.JMO of course.

1fatcat wrote:i have also had a oil pump mouting tab failure and was niether a rear sump pan or miss alingned distrib. or oil pump . i think it is a wieght of the oil pump and a stress or vibration issue (over time) .

When it comes to front sump Melling pumps, I am of the opinion that in performance applications they should be secured to the block with a support bracket (just as the rear sump pickups act as a support bracket on the rear sump pumps). Otherwise the front sump pump is just hanging there. Set it up for the intended performance application and you are far less likely to have the experience you did.

Paul

bbf-falcon wrote:I think any performance BBF w/wet sump deserves a Kaase pump. One unnecessary teardown will make it pay for itself.JMO of course.

I generally disagree with blanket statements and I certainly disagree with the one quoted above. There is no magic oil pump that fits all applications, just as there is no magic cam, nor is there a magic cylinder head, etc. Pick an oil pump that is well suited for the intended application--just as one might select a piston design, etc--and set it up for the job as you would an other engine component.

Paul

I never said there was anything magic about it.imo what makes it superbly better than a standard Melling is the extra beefy housing. I've yet to hear of one snapping at the base or anywhere else for that matter.

bbf-falcon wrote:I never said there was anything magic about it.imo what makes it superbly better than a standard Melling is the extra beefy housing. I've yet to hear of one snapping at the base or anywhere else for that matter.

Oh I agree with you that it won't break.

What I disagree with is where you said,

bbf-falcon wrote:I think any performance BBF w/wet sump deserves a Kaase pump.

Absolutely not true. I am personally aware of engines where the Kasse pump was used and was found to simply not be up to the task asked of it and could not maintain oil pressure for the engine builds and their applications. Not every build is a "1000-ft & shut it down scenario," for example, and will need oil pump characterisitcs suitable an engine's specific need.

And there's nothing wrong with that; I'm just emphasizing that we need to have several pump options as we have other component options, which is why I replied,

Paul Kane wrote:There is no magic oil pump that fits all applications

By the way, I am aware of two differnt aftermarket parts manufacturers working on altogether new design oil pumps for the 385 Series.

Paul

[quote="Paul Kane"] By the way, I am aware of two differnt aftermarket parts manufacturers working on altogether new design oil pumps for the 385 Series.

Any word on when these new pumps will be available, I would guess one is a Melling billet.

bigblockpat wrote:

Paul Kane wrote: By the way, I am aware of two differnt aftermarket parts manufacturers working on altogether new design oil pumps for the 385 Series.

Any word on when these new pumps will be available, I would guess one is a Melling billet.

Neither of the two different companies are Melling. And although Melling has developed their billet oil pump bodies for their Melling Select line of parts, at the time of this writing (I asked them about 4 months ago) there is no intention by Melling to come out with a new oil pump for the 385 Series Ford.

I can tell you this much: The new pump offerings will be released when they are released; I am not at liberty to say anything more.

Paul