SBC Oil Pump Bolt Torque

[Dave Gantz]

Looks to be a bad casting. Two shots of each the new and old pump. The shot looking down through the bolt hole of the old pump (sort of) shows the casting to be thinner on one side of the bolt hole. (Core shift?) That's were the casting crushed. The block, heads and the pump all say, "Mexico" on them, so I guess the pump is original to this crate motor. http://s978.photobucket.com/user/Pic...%20Pump?sort=3 I couldn't upload to the site. Said they were too big, and I don't have a clue how to compress them.
Thanks for that info, Bill. I, of course, just put it back together today. I used 55#.
Thanks, everyone, for the help.

[Ed Wright]

Not many threads in the main cap for the oil pump bolt. I have had to helicoil a couple of caps for guys. I'm not comfortable with 65lbs on that bolt. I'm not a professional engine builder, just been screwing my own junk together for 55 years, and helped a few other guys with theirs. Easily over 100 engines. Have seen guys kill the rear main using too long bolts. Might want to watch that if your new at this.

[Rich Biebel]

Junk casting...

If you don't use a hardened washer under the bolt or nut if it's a stud the casting can do exactly what you have shown in your picture.

Old Small block Chevy heads used to do the same thing.

Poor casting material.....head bolts with no washers...

Short head bolt bosses on 461 heads often split and had broken sections just like that pump...

The factory used to even weld repair some heads and blocks with minor imperfections like that.

[Ed Wright]

I agree with Rich, a hardened washer should be the normal thing to do.