Randall,
For the most part you're correct in your assumptions. At the time we were
talking about race engines in general, all race engines (this conversation was
a while back and I was under pressure at the time so take what I say with a
grain of salt!).
I'm by no means advocating people should increase their oil pressure to a high
number especially on their street cars. The point I was trying to make is
that high oil pressure is not necessarily a bad thing for an engine, even a
street engine.
As for the spit 1300, it is the large journal 1300 (and all 1500) engines that
had oiling problems. There is a fix for the oiling problems outlined in one
of Kas's later books. Don't remember what it is as right now we still race
the small journal engines.
To me the biggest worry is when you have a long history on an engine of having
certain oil pressure readings at certain speeds. Its when those numbers start
to vary (low or high) that you need to start worrying. Just my opinion of
course, ymmv.
Brad
On Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 12:53 PM, Randall <tr3driver@ca.rr.com> wrote:
I think we may be mixing general "rule of thumb" with specific application
here.
If I recall past discussions correctly, the Spit 1300 in particular had a
problem with spinning a rod bearing (#3 ?) for no obvious reason at high rpm
(way above original redline). Running extra-high oil pressure was the
workaround Kas found for that problem, on that particular engine. Even if
it led to other problems, like rapid wear or power wasted in the pump; the
most important thing when racing is to finish the race (not be "Beaten by
Equipment").
Or maybe I've got that tangled, as the 1500 also had oiling problems.
Anyway, my point is that it is a mistake to take advice given for a specific
engine and assume it applies to all engines.
Also, racing modifications frequently don't translate well to the street.
You can get away with a lot in an engine that gets torn down every 100 miles
or less; but that gets kind of tedious on the street.
Randall
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