oil pump question

I know that I will get dunned for this one, but here goes. I brazed a pickup tube onto an oil pump. When the engine is hot, anywhere below 1000rpm (idling)it has like 7-8lbs. When it is above 1000rpm it has 30+ and at 3000 it has 50+. Did I hurt something in it when I brazed it? It was hotter than a well-diggers ass in July and of course I didn't take it apart like I should have.

 

Excessive heat could have expanded the case and increased the internal clearances some...

...that would cause a drop in pressure.

Is this a fresh motor or did you drop a new pump into one with some miles on it??

 

i think you already know you fucked up, so replace the pressure spring in the pump. all you need to do is tack the pickup tube in place, even then you should have pulled the spring

 

yes it is fresh, late model vortec

 

Instead of brazing or tack welding the oil pump pickup in place - once you're sure that's where you want it - what do you think about using JB Weld to epoxy it into place?

JB is good for 600 degrees F. so it should 'live' in oil running well under 300 degrees F.

One thing I've found that helps with JB or any epoxy for that matter although JB is what I use on metal & iron, dimple the inside and cut light, very light grooves in the outside of the piece that gets inserted and once it's JB'd you have an internal lock of sorts. Aside from the surface gripping capabilities of the JB you have to overcome the physical presence of the JB that protrudes into the dimples and grooves to disassemble things.

If disassembly is necessary moderate heat from a torch will allow separation of just about anything that's epoxied together.

 

her's something i saw in the JEG'S catalog.. a bracket to bolt on the stockoil pump screen. i haven't tried one yet,but it looks like a good idea

 

so set your idle at 1000+

what in the jheller you thinkin? brazing it like that?

I just run a 1/4" tack at the bottom of the tube with the wire feed, it's relatively cool, keeps it in place and easy to separate later.

I would not JB or epoxy though, I'd be too worried about that coming apart.

Paul

 

If you got the spring above 500 degrees F,
it's time for a new spring.