Reply to "351C lubrication system & lubricants"

I will add a few points George didn't touch in his very comprehensive oil system summary. First, do NOT believe anything your stock Pantera oil pressure gauge shows! I've seen many examples of this Italian gauge/U.S sender give only 50% of true oil pressure. They nearly always read low; treat the gauge as an idiot light that tells you only if the engine is running. Add a cheap mechanical gauge in back of the block if you really want to know what oil pressures a Pantera 351C delivers. Note also - the stock water temp gauge is just as INaccurate.

Next, if you do bush the lifter bores for their oiling benfits, you will find the engine can now run solid or hydraulic roller cams with no oil leaks above or below the lifter boss. The only 'trick' is to install the bushings slightly taller than stock height. About 0.060" of bushing above stock boss height eliminates all need for special 'reduced-base- circle' roller cams. With link-bar roller lifters, the bushing tops may need small clearance notches.

IMHO, valve cover spray bars have a place in high rpm engines with aftermarket (read, 'stiff') valve springs. Not for lubrication but for cooling; a single drag race run up above 6500 with triple valve springs and a completely dried-up valve cover (from running oil restrictors) will give you BLUE valve springs from hysterisis and friction. That color happens around 600F and indicates ruined springs! So if the ORR race series or lots and lots of open track events is in your future and you use lots of rpms, use spray bar valve covers. If not, hang 'em up. I don't personally use them.

Agreeing with George's summary, I will mention that I've been running a stock Melling oil pump with a remote oil filter and a remote Ford/Laminova oil cooler using dash-8 Aeroquip lines. Theoretically, remote oil accessories need more oil volume; I've not found this to be necessary. Our 351-C today delivers 65 psi above 3000 rpms and 15 psi at 1000 rpm idle, with 10W30 oil. I built this street engine in 1990- 50,000 miles ago; not easy miles, either....