Choice of oil pumps

[DWester]

I'm getting ready for reassembly and was reading in Frank Oddo's Flathead Book that it's better to use the short shaft/later pump. He says it creates more oil pressure. The short pump in the picture does have the angled/helical gears in it. It also says that I'll have to buy a short bodied pickup in addition to a full-flow oil filter kit for it. I'd like to hear some of your thoughts on this whether it's necessary for this engine.

These are what I have and the long one was in the engine I'm rebuilding. It's just a stock rebuild. No hot rodding going on.

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

I use the short in all my engines. You have to use a truck pick up tube unless you are using an 8ba engine with a center sump. Walt

[DWester]

Mine is a 59 block with the 8ba rotating system in it. No idea when that was done. Does that look like a truck pickup in the photo Walt? The one on the long shaft pump. If not, what does one look like?

[JM 35 Sedan]

You didn't say which type of flathead engine you are building. I have used the short body, 8ba M19 oil pump in two of my early 21 stud engines ('35 & '36LB) and also in a '46-'48, 59 series performance engine and I personally think that is the best oil pump to use. As Walt mentioned you will most likely need the truck pu tube. Many suppliers sell that pump and pu tube as a combo package. Frank Oddo was probably using a Mark Kirby, MCF full flow oil filter system in the engine build featured in his book. There is nothing saying you would need to do a full flow oil filter system, or any oil filter for that matter, in your build but I do prefer to have some type of oil filter system on my flathead engines.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by DWester

Mine is a 59 block with the 8ba rotating system in it. No idea when that was done. Does that look like a truck pickup in the photo Walt? The one on the long shaft pump. If not, what does one look like?

I'm not Walt by any means , but no that is not the truck pickup tube on the short pump in your picture. There is a post on engine builds that recently came to top here. If you look at the engine I have pictured in that post it will show you the short pump with the truck pu tube.

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

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Originally Posted by DWester

Mine is a 59 block with the 8ba rotating system in it. No idea when that was done. Does that look like a truck pickup in the photo Walt? The one on the long shaft pump. If not, what does one look like?

Neither one of those pick up tube are what you need with a 59AB block and pan. Most flathead parts places have the tube, Job Lot--Speedway--Patrick's. Just ask for an 8BA truck pick up tube. I think there is a pic of one in Speedway cat. Walt

[DWester]

Thanks you guys! That's what I was wanting to know. Out of curiosity, what is the benefit to using the truck pickup? Does it set deeper in the pan?

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by DWester

Thanks you guys! That's what I was wanting to know. Out of curiosity, what is the benefit to using the truck pickup? Does it set deeper in the pan?

The truck pickup tube fits the majority of the early oil pans used on pre 8ba blocks, when using the short type pumps, which many folks now prefer using rather than the older/longer pumps. Keep in mind though, in many cases you will need to remove the center section of an oil baffle to clear the pick up tube & screen. You may also need to set the depth of the screen relative to the bottom of the oil pan by very carefully bending the pick up tube.

[DWester]

Got it. Thanks John.

[36tbird]

Just to be on the safe side, make sure you check the fit of the pickup basket in relation to the bottom of the pan before you bolt everything up. Sometimes the basket will hang down too far and be forced against the pan causing the pickup tube to break. The result would be no oil pressure. From what I've read, you want about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch clearance with the pan.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 36tbird

Just to be on the safe side, make sure you check the fit of the pickup basket in relation to the bottom of the pan before you bolt everything up. Sometimes the basket will hang down too far and be forced against the pan causing the pickup tube to break. The result would be no oil pressure. From what I've read, you want about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch clearance with the pan.

The above is great advice. I might also add, be certain to maintain as much of the oil pan baffle as possible. Many folks have removed the entire baffle only to find they needed to go "back in there" and reinstall as much as possible.

[DWester]

There are no baffles or any sign that one was there. Is that normal?

[Russ/40]

Unless your going circle track racing, I wouldn't worry about having any baffles in place.

[flatjack9]

Originally Posted by DWester

There are no baffles or any sign that one was there. Is that normal?

Yes that is normal. Not all pans had

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by DWester

There are no baffles or any sign that one was there. Is that normal?

As mentioned in my previous post......

"Keep in mind though, "in many cases" (but not all) you will need to remove the center section of an oil baffle to clear the pick up tube & screen"

The reason I don't like to remove the complete baffle (if it's there at all), in addition to what Kube said, some will try to remove these baffles by peeling/pulling them from the sides of the oil pan. In many cases this will create a hole in the side of the oil pan at the spot welds. Just ask me how I know this from doing one this way when I was young and foolish .

[DWester]

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

When I was young and foolish .

Foolish, at least in my case, isn't always exclusive to being young. Though I have improved with age.


Thanks for the info guys!

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Russ/40

Unless your going circle track racing, I wouldn't worry about having any baffles in place.

I have repaired cars with the baffles removed. Symptom? Low oil pressure upon acceleration and traveling up hills. Cure? Reinstall baffles.
Those baffles were installed for a specific purpose. Ol' Henry would not have spent the money if they were not necessary.

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

They did away with that baffle in 46 with the 59AB oil pan. Walt