Referencing a later V8, I’m going through the timing cover/oil pump assembly. There is one pressure relief spring (bottom right facing the engine) that’s a no-brainer. It recirculates oil around the pump if pressure exceeds the factory spring. On the left hand side is another spring that by all appearances is the same rate as the relief spring for the oil pump. Some housings have the plunger of the left hand side if used with a oil cooler ( it opens under pressure to allow oil to flow should the oil cooler become blocked). Moving on…I’m not using an oil cooler. This timing cover only had the o-ringed plug and spring but no plunger. The spring will sit loosely in the bore such that there is no pressure holding the o-ringed plug in place against the retaining circlip. I presume there’s no need for the spring anyhow as oil pressure should keep the plug up against the circlip. The other options are placing plunger in there which means the oil pressure (as if the oil cooler were blocked) must be high enough to open that port or machine a small spacer that locates the plunger higher so oil flow freely and spring pressure holds the plug in place. Questions arise, if both springs are the same how can the oil pump overcome the left hand pressure without causing the oil pump relief to open equally stopping adequate oil flow to the engine? Secondly, Am I overthinking this whole damn thing?
Picture is not mine but only for reference.
Picture is not mine but only for reference.
