I have a fresh .060 396 now with a high volume pump and would like to get some input or confirmation about what I already believe to be true. At startup and idle pressure is pegged with a 70 psi sender with factory guages in my 69. The problem I am experiencing is stopping and any kind of a right turn. The pressure zeroes out with the aforementioned and pegs again making left hand turns and acceleration. The sender is new as is the elbow and the guages are new also. I know the guage is not faulty as the lifters start screaming when the pressure drops, which confirms lack of pressure. I have a factory pan and the stick shows full with 5 quarts of fresh oil. I did not assemble the short block (although I'm thinking now I should have). Any input would be appreciated, but I'm thinking yanking the block again and pulling the pan is where I'm going. Thanks in advance. Jason.

pickup not in correct position or has too much clearance to bottom of pan??

are you sure the dipstick is right? maybe you need more oil than you think you do? if it was me, i would toy around with the idea of adding another quart of oil.

just throwing ideas out..id hate to have to yank it out because of this problem.

Before I went to the trouble of dismantling the engine, I would purchase a mechanical gauge and verify the oil pressure. You may just have a loose wire or someshing very simple like that.

Before I went to the trouble of dismantling the engine, I would purchase a mechanical gauge and verify the oil pressure. You may just have a loose wire or someshing very simple like that.
I've got a mechanical guage, and would usually agree with your suggestion, but the lifters are going nuts when the pressure bottoms out, and quiet down when the pressure stabilizes, so I know the electric guage has got to be somewhat accurate. I have gone through every wire in the circuit at least ten times start to finish, no breaks, no cuts every end firmly in place. thankyou for your input. JN

pickup not in correct position or has too much clearance to bottom of pan??

are you sure the dipstick is right? maybe you need more oil than you think you do? if it was me, i would toy around with the idea of adding another quart of oil.

just throwing ideas out..id hate to have to yank it out because of this problem.
the tube is installed to the lip on the tube at the tip of the recepticle on the pan, so I don't think that would be the problem, I am pretty confident stock pans hold 5 quarts, although as you suggest to get some drive time this summer I will probably just add the additional quart and then deal with the leaks. My thoughts are the same as your first impression, but my machinist said he welded the tube, so the clearance thing is what's got me peaved.

possible the pickup tube has fallen off. if you have to pull the engine it might be a good time to consider dumping that HV oil pump. the cold pressure might be well over the 70. there's a chance of collapsing the filter element, cutting off oil flow to the bearings. if you're going to retain the un-needed HV pump you might consider running a very light oil, 5w-30 or similar.

I sure wouldn't be driving the car anymore until you find the exact cause. Your engine is crying out for help. My gut feel is that you are a hairsbreadth away from your crank kissing some bearings.

Welp, I sure didn't like the idea of driving around turns or stops with no oil pressure so out comes the engine, and low and behold the damn pickup tube dropped. Crappola weld job by the machinist, I won't bitch though, He's done right by me several times in the past. I look at it this way, I was working on the car all damn day, so I couldn't blow my hands off with fireworks. Happy 4th. JN