This is an engine I put together around 1985 it had a Milidon system. I never had an issue with losing oil pressure on startup. The engine was a turd and broke a 6 pack rod after about 120 passes but the bearings still looked good when it came apart.

seems a lot of people have had problems losing prime so i can't say it's a myth but it's a problem i've never encountered. this is a home brew pump cover, i never cared for the milodon.

I take it with the dual pick ups, most people are using a swinging pick up?

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I take it with the dual pick ups, most people are using a swinging pick up?

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yes, there are static pick ups available but i would steer clear of them. though i never personally used one a reputable engine builder had told me they were damaging bearings in the shutdown with a static pick up, a swinging pick up solved the problem. i guess pan design has a lot to do with it as well.

Personally, on anything that would be considered a race engine i'd run a properly baffled and trap doored pan. It amazes me as to how many engines I see where oil control isn't emphasized, where more capacity and a windage tray tends to be all that is used. Most of the BB pans I have come across don't have all the bells and whistles, I have often wondered why.

i use the milodon pans which have trap doors, windage tray and swinging pick up. i've never experienced any oil pressure problems.

Hey Here is a picture of my 496 with a Charlies race pan

Here is mine:

Ok what is your pump cover? Who made it? Can you get another?

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seems a lot of people have had problems losing prime so i can't say it's a myth but it's a problem i've never encountered. this is a home brew pump cover, i never cared for the milodon.

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it's a modified stock cover, i got the idea from a very old mopar performance tip publication. if you look at the fluid flow of the pump you'll see that the cavity where any oil released from the relief valve spills back into the suction. if you're careful you can drill into this cavity and use that for your second pickup. the performance tip said to use 1" but i used a piece of 3/4" 4130 and brazed it into the cover. on the end of that i silver soldered a steel AN fitting that can be obtained from a hydraulics supplier. it does require some careful whittling to do it but imho it works out better than most of what is out there. i was never really fond of aluminum oil pumps and really don't care for an aluminum cover at all. muscle motors was/is making a cover that will help most guys but i don't know if they're still available. there was another machine shop making a really trick cover but afaik they ceased production which is a shame cause it was a slick setup.

Your cover lokks exactly what I remember seeing on a old Petty Engr. prepared NASCAR motor I had the opportunity to work on Can you say I had the opportunity to do some reverse Engr. after that