The last 3 new std. volume Melling pumps that I have used have the pink low pressure relief valve spring installed. Hot idle on the break in stand was in the low 20 psi. range. Replaced the spring with a black spring from older used pump and idle pressure was in the mid 40 psi range.

HTH
Randy

here is the oil flow pathoil flow pic

Being very fed up with folklore, on my next project I'm marking levels in my pan, installing a temporary sight tube on the side of it
and will physically watch the fluid level at 7000 rpm with a camera. If it "sucks the pan dry" or if "there are two quarts of oil in each valve
cover at high rpm" I will physically see it.

original poster, pls let us know how it's going and what you find in there.

I'd be very interested to see your results. As you know, I run 7.5 quarts of oil in my hemi and have been routinely turning 7500 rpm w/ it and no issues. Some people need a bathtub for an oil pan and 15 quarts of oil to be comfortable.

My dad's 540" mild street hemi (not built yet) will have a stock style "six pack/hemi" 6 quart oil pan on it. I'm undecided about what pump to use w/ it, but leaning towards a HV Melling. I have the same setup on his current 440-6 engine and it's been fine for 10+ years.

I agree 100% about the folklore. There's so much bad info out there it's ridiculous. Really shows up on the FB groups, lol.