My 95 z28 is leaking oil from the pan. Plan on dropping the pan. But the pan was either jacked up or it hit the ground cause it's indented from previous owner. The drain plug was replaced by some weird plug. I'm going to be place the gasket, pan, and probably gonna replace the oil pump and screen. What else should I do and any tips would help. (It's a lt1)

 

after taking motor mount bolts out, your gona have to lift the front of the engine up as high as you can. it will go up against the firewall. then gotta turn crank till things line up to get it out. gotta pull the dip stick tube, lots of other steps. have you downloaded the service manual yet, be a good idea.

 

I not only downloaded it but I bought one. Is there anything else I should do/ replace while I do it

 

i had low oil pressure with my old 93 so i changed oil pump. i used a high pressure pump but cant remember if it was high volume. went from 5 to 20 lbs pressure at idle an operating temp.

 

The oil pump high pressure is regulated with a spring type valve. All oil pumps are capable of higher pressure then they output. You just need to increase the spring pressure in the regulator to increase the pressure. This is an old hot rod trick for controlling pressure. Changing the spring or putting a nickel behind the spring to increase possible pressure. So to recap you can take a stock pump put a nickel behind the regulator spring and its a high pressure pump.

When you are working on a worn engine the high pressure regulator is never a factor. If you do not increase the volume the oil pump outputs you will never build enough pressure to open the regulator valve.

Think of it this way, You have a monster pressure washing that was 10hp, it had a one inch hose and it pumps 32 gallons per minute at 2000 PSI. You decided you wanted more pressure and you bought a 1hp electric pump capable of 3200 PSI. With your one inch hose it wont have any more pressure then garden hose. In this scenario the engine is the hose and the engine is now a bigger hose then when it was new. The only way to increase pressure on a worn engine is with more volume. BUT if the original oil pump is shot then a new stock oil pump could give you an increase of flow vs the worn one.

On the other side of it, too much pressure and hurt seals and steals hp. It takes more HP to make 90 psi then it takes to make 60 PSI. So in racing we try to balance pressure to keep the engine protected and use as little HP as needed.

Nothing else comes to mind that would not require a bunch more work while you are doing the pan. I mean if you need a new compressor or you where thinking of headers now would be the time.