I ran my car the other night at the local 1/8 mi track. I was only able to get in one time trial before eliminations. During the first round , I oiled down the shut down. I had about 6500rpms thru the traps when I heard a pop and saw smoke in my rear view mirror. I shut the power off but the car remained in high gear. I don't know what the oil pressure was when it happened. I found out that the oil filter became loose. Out of 9 quarts, there were approx 3-4 quarts left. The oil appeared to be ok but I still need to cut open the filter.
What would be a reasonable to make sure the engine is not hurt.

Fire it up with full oil and see what the pressure is...
if its the same as before... run it

3-4 QTS LEFT IN THE PAN ON SHUT DOWN?? THAT SHOULD BE FINE.

FILL IT UP, CORRECT THE PROB WHY THE FILTER BLEW OFF/LEAK? AND ITS PROB FINE

Standard or high volume oil pump?

Muscle Motors high volume pump

I would suggest using a racing oil filter, not one made for street cars.

I bet also your engine should be OK. Did you applogize to the track operator?

Yeah, a standard volume pump, or if it's a BB one of the better adjustable pressure limit setups. Or both...

That "pop" you heard was probably oil blowing past the filter seal. Sounds like a small shotgun going off. As stated above, reinstall oil filter and check pressure at a rev.

Pretty much any pump I install I pull out the pressure valve and spring and "blueprint" it, making sure it slides easily, chamferring the passages, etc. Even if the pressure valve opens, the oil has to have somewhere to go, and sometimes the relief passages are poorly cast and restrictive, causing high oil pressure.

oil systems seem to cause a lot of confusion and they're not very complicated. i used to be of the "MORE OIL" mindset when in reality the smallest pump that will develop the desired pressure is the right pump.

personally i NEVER just take a pump out of the box and install it. you need to disassemble the pump, inspect, deburr and clean it paying close attention to the relief valve. these are a low tolerance fit and any small piece of debris can cause them to stick.

i wouldn't think any pumps are delivered from the manufacture with a discharge pressure higher than 80# especially the more common pumps. if you have a pump that's making over 100# either the relief valve is hanging or there's some issue with the relief spring.

Is checking the bottom of the bearings enough without removing the bearings on the top side of the rods?

Since it sounds like you were under decel, if the bottom half and the crank look alright, the top half should be also, although it wouldn't take that much longer to check them too.....

I just love these get the volume you want without over pressuring not sure if anything is available for small blocks but you could use a stock spring in a high volume pump i guess?


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