[455TA]

Finally getting around to getting a shortblock built for boost.
I have purchased a 400 with billet splayed mains and hardfilled to just below the water pump holes. Over .200 wall thickness on sonic test.
I have decided to go with a 4 inch Ohio forged crank, Molnar H Beam rods with arp2000 bolts, and a custom JE piston.
I will be using my current Edelbrock 89cc Round Port heads. These flow 305 cfm, but I am going to clean them up more. This will have a Howards Hyd Roller 4/7 swap custom turbo cam and a Sims timing set to help with cam end play and timing. It will have a NorthWind Intake, and FiTech fuel injection. I will more than likely swap the Fitech for Holley efi down the road. I am getting Work Turbochargers to build an s485 Billet turbo. The car will have a th400 and will more than likely get a rear end upgrade (9 inch?) with 3.08 gear set.

I need input on the best "off the shelf" oil pan and pump setup that will work in my 1980 Trans Am for street / strip duty. I prefer one with a built in oil dipstick so I don't have to run the factory one.
I've read that some people don't like the canton pans and others have no issues with them. It looks like Luhn performance has a good oil pump setup, but have heard that Butler has a great one as well.

Thanks in advance for your input!

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by 455TA

It looks like Luhn performance has a good oil pump setup, but have heard that Butler has a great one as well.

Thanks in advance for your input!

I would disagree with the Good vs Great comment above.
I have known the Butlers for 25 years and the family are good friends of mine, but,
I would rate the Luhn Pump (Latest Design) above the Butler pump.
Butler buys pumps, Luhn designs pump systems and sells very good Modified Pumps.

Tom V.

[455TA]

Originally Posted by Tom Vaught

I would disagree with the Good vs Great comment above.
I have known the Butlers for 25 years and the family are good friends of mine, but,
I would rate the Luhn Pump (Latest Design) above the Butler pump.
Butler buys pumps, Luhn designs pump systems and sells very good Modified Pumps.

Tom V.

Good info to know. Would you stick with a 60 psi or step up to an 80 psi?

[GTOGEORGE]

Originally Posted by 455TA

Good info to know. Would you stick with a 60 psi or step up to an 80 psi?

10 psi for every 1,000 rpm works......I have 60-70 psi with a max rpm of 7,000 rpm.
I have a Mellings pump.


GTO George

[455TA]

Originally Posted by GTOGEORGE

10 psi for every 1,000 rpm works......I have 60-70 psi with a max rpm of 7,000 rpm.
I have a Mellings pump.


GTO George

Okay, good deal. I don't foresee going over 6500 with it.

[Scott65]

Just a question... at what point does boost pressure/effective cylinder pressure come into play? It seems I've heard of in excess off 100 psi to maintain an oil wedge. (On here, Pontiac, Boss Bird maybe?)

[Tom Vaught]

Boss Bird is a whole different animal with their set-up.
Something sticks in my mind that they were at about .006 bearing clearance and over 200 psi to the engine.

THAT IS NOT THE SAME AS YOUR APPLICATION BY ANY MEANS.

The rule of thumb applies 10 psi per 1000 rpm applies in your application and with
mild increases in the bearing clearances. (higher end of the stock specs).

Boosted engine you let the increased density of the air (Mass Flow) make the power vs another 1000 rpm increase.

Luhn Performance made 862 HP at 5300 rpm for example. 13 psi of boost pressure.

Tom V.

[455TA]

Does anyone have input on an oil pan to use in the Trans Am?
I was thinking about running the shallow road race Canton pan, and the Luhn Performance oil pump.
Should I run a crank scraper or windage tray, or possibly both?

[Tom Vaught]

Unless you spend some quality time fitting the scraper to fit your crank & rod combination perfectly I would just run the short windage tray.

Tom V.

[charlie66]

Originally Posted by 455TA

Does anyone have input on an oil pan to use in the Trans Am?
I was thinking about running the shallow road race Canton pan, and the Luhn Performance oil pump.
Should I run a crank scraper or windage tray, or possibly both?

After talking to Butler about there dyno results on windage trays i took mine off. They said there not worth the trouble. I never noticed any power loss with it off. Id run it with out one .. Mine always cracked. I had the Canton screen one as well. It never cracked, but i feel it wasnt worth the time and effort needed to fit it on the engine..

[charlie66]

This would be a good pan for you .. I never liked the bumped out pan. It was always a pain when it came to working on the starter....

https://butlerperformance.com/i-2445...tegory:1234746