well i had this problem now 3 times
the first was with a stock lt1 with a lt4 hot cam being the only mod
2nd was after i went with a bigger cam high volume oil pump and deep sump pan which i replaced the oil pump drive gear bracket with the billet one from herron performance one but new stock gear do to i couldn't find a different aftermarket one but if i cant find it doesn't mean it don't exists so does anyone know of any that work
here is a list of things i have done to the oil and valve system

Vortec 1.6 ratio 3/8 roller rockers
Comp cam 280 XFI cam #07-467-8
Lift: .576"/.570" w/1.6 Rockers
Duration: 280°/288°
Isky push rods
Comp Cams #249-3307 timing chain
Canton deep sump Oil Pan
Melling M155 High Volume Pickup
Melling high volume pump
Heads are shaved .010 ported and polished
Comp Cam Valve Springs, Beehive, 1.075 in. Outside Diameter, 372 lbs./in. Rate, 1.100 in. Coil Bind
RETAINER 7 11/32
VALVE LOCKS 11/32 7°

 

alignment of cam may be off. has the cam bearings been replaced? are the lifters running on the center of the cam lobes? have you been able to get any kind of wear pattern on the cam or drive gears?

 

I am back with the same problem. This last time i replaced the oil pump drive gear with a bronze gear and it lasted a while but couple of weeks ago it happened again. I did check the pump the last time it went out and it turned nice. So i was wondering if there are any other gears for the lt1 out there.
Here's a picture

 

lifters look good

 

dang,,, still looks like something is not lining up right or is lose and allowing sideways movement.

 

The cam thrust retainer wasn't accidentally left off was it? It had to be asked!

 

Use lighter viscosity oil.
Pressure is resistance to flow.
It takes power to pump thick oil - think of your arm swinging in the air and then swing arm in water - quite the difference.
Also, if engine ran good before high volume pump installed, go back to stock.
If it isn't broke, don't fix it.

 

Id have agree w/others somethings not lining up. I was going to suggest a stock sbc distributor and drill the intake for one. But if u wasted a stock, billet and then bronze gear something else not right. I guess with the intake off u could put some machinist blue on the new gear and see if u can verify a good contact patch on the middle of the teeth - turning the cam/motor slowly by hand.

Good luck and give us feedback as it helps us all.

 

i was told not to use a high volume oil pump but a high pressure pump on the lt1. whats the oil pressure?

 

A high volume pump is not needed in an engine with stock bearing clearances, and it creates unnecessary drag and wastes power. It can also pump excessive oil to the top of the engine where it gets trapped because it cannot drain back fast enough. This can cause low oil level in the pan and starve the bearings.