Blew the Oil Pump, What's Salvageable?
 

Gentlemen,

I believe I grenaded the oil pump in my '99 HPDE car, but I have not had the time yet to survey the damage. For sake of discussion, let's assume I'm right. The oil pressure went to zero, but there are no holes in the block or pan, and there was no vibration like from a bent rod. Just a horrible grinding noise.

I'm just asking in general terms. I know I can't be sure till I take it apart. Can the MSM intake camshaft be salvaged, or would it generally be considered done for? What about lifter shims? I already have a good, used replacement engine. That BP5A cam is the only thing I really want out of the blown motor.

Thanks,

How quickly did you turn off the engine once you lost pressure? I have seen heads still good after oil loss, I have seen them trashed. Ultimately you can't tell until you start pulling it apart.

Was it a stock oil pump? What was red line?

Any thoughts on the supercharger pulley loading being a contributor?

Mind sharing what you're revving the car to and at what power?

I've got no personal experience with this, but I'd be inclined to swap the oil pump, put some fresh oil in, and see what happens.

Stock oil pump. 80k+ miles on the used, JDM import engine bottom end. She made 213/175 on a warm day with ~10 psi boost. I routinely get above 6900. The tach reads about 150 high near redline, but I try to keep the rpms below 7000 on the tach as a buffer.

Interesting question about the supercharger loading. I just upgraded to a six rib belt and crank pulley from TDR.

Pics of the MSM intake cam
 

Gentlemen,

I pulled the MSM intake cam and took some pics. The cam doesn't look any different than the cams in the replacement engine, but I can only see those cam lobes. I collected the oil in a new clear plastic container. It did have some sparklies when I swirled my finger around in it, but it wasn't obvious by just looking at it.

Is the cam salvageable?

Thanks much,

Generally if you can run your finger nail against the surface and not feel anything catch, its good.

also the caps will discolor from the heat if there was no oil and lots of friction heat was building up. They get darker.
I've had a cam seize in an engine and once I pulled the caps it was all molten metal, cam would not spin with a breaker bar on the nut.