Well Saturday did not go well. I was in the points chase for the Division 7 Race Of Champions and excited about my new MT ET Drags. I staged the car mashe the peddle and on the third amber let go of the button. The car left like I have never felt it! Sadly Famoso does not have photographers on bracket races. My friend said it was 2-3 feet in the air, carried for a long ways and genty set down. The car drove stait as an arrow. Right after the finishe line I did a quick scan of the gauges and saw no oil pressure. Once back in the pits I cranked the engine and heard no bad noises, but still no oil pressure. I pulled the distributor to check for broken oil pump drive shaft and when I pulled it out I heard something fall into the pan. The engine is coming out tomorrow and I will update.

60' 1.372 330' 3.991 660' 6.205 110.82 1000' 8.130 1320' 9.772 136.88

Good luck, hopefully it's not too serious.

You might have lost the oil pickup tube. It sounds like you might have caught it in time to prevent damage though. My son suffered the same fate Saturday at the shootout race. Didn't totally lose pressure but it was real low, he was wanting to look at it anyhow. He also found a couple of broken valve springs. Now you'll have time to get everything done that the car needs at one time. It shouldn't be to hard to pick up 2-3 tenths and a few MPH.

Had that happen to me. Pick-up tube screen welds broke.

I now sport a billet Moroso oil pump. nothing to fall off that thing. A little pricey but after two oil pump pick-up tube failures I've had enough.

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10002_389476_-1

I am hopeful it is not hurt bad. Because it is out, if it is not hurt, I will put in a new set of bearings, lifters, valve springs, jessel belt, oil pump, and have a valve job done. this engine has several hundred runs on it and was due to freshen.

Now I am thinking since the engine is fresh and out, maby I should put the 582 in the Brogie roadster and swap the iron headed 540 back into the Chevelle. Hmm, decisions decisions.

The good new was Sunday. I took the new roadster out because the Chevelle was broke. It was the second time I have raced the roadster and went to the 4th round where I was tardy (.041) on the tree and got beat by a the track champ. I can see the Chevelle will get some rest in the future because the Brogie is so consistant and easy to cut good lighte. My lights were .005, .013, .010, and then .041 to get beat. Lots of fun. The 582 makes about a 100 hp than the 540 and weighs 60 pounds less with aluminum heads, so should make the Brogie pretty quick. Right now it will run mid to low 8's so hopefully the 6582 could get us into the 7's and run top comp.

You guys were correct. It was th oil pump pickup laying in the pan. I am going to get a Titan or Moroso pump this time. This is the third pickup I have had break in big blocks. No other damage, so I got lucky.

Well that's certainly good news...