I have an LT1 383 stroker motor with a Vortech 10lb Supercharger. I also have a what I thought was a 7qt Canton Oil pan, but I'm pretty sure it turned out to be a 6qt. I have a high volume/ high pressure anti-cavitation oil pump. I was told by someone after the fact, that you need 7qts to use that pump. So now I'm worried that at high RPMs I will run out of oil in the pan because the pump will be pumping too hard. Someone suggested that I just dump in an extra qt of oil, but I have always been told it was better to have too little oil in an engine than too much oil. So if someone could please shed some light on this subject it would be most helpful. Thanks in advance guys/girls.

Mike

 

get an oil accumulator.

 

Where is the pickup in relation to the pan bottom? You need to keep the level of oil about the same height above the pickup (engine not running) as it was stock. Maybe folks said the pump/pan combo needed 7 quarts in order to keep the same oil height above the pickup.

If you overfill a 6 qt. pan, and raise the level of the oil closer to the crank and rods, you risk having the rotating parts hit the oil in the sump and really stir it up. That's big time windage and just the oppostie of what you want.

If the extra capacity is due to a wider or longer, not deeper pan, the extra oil, if it's not closer to the crank will help prevent running out of oil when you need it most, and will run a little cooler.

IMO, I don't think your engine could accept a whole lot of extra volume of oil unless all the internal oil passages were enlarged a lot, and clearances were increased a lot to let the oil out. The pump relief spring limits the oil pressure at the pump output, so that limits the flow or volume.

 

If you are having problems keeping oil pressure with six quarts, I would think that you have some major drain back/clearance issues.
I run a maximum of 3.5 quarts in my race motors to reduce windage and do not have issues (light weight synthetic oils are a must if you are going to try this).

Best Regards,

Daren