I am in the process of installing a stock 73 455 in my GS until my origional engine is freshened up. I have the intake and timing cover and was going to install a booster kit on the timing cover. I disassembled the oil pump and am extremely lucky, very little wear inside the cover where the top of the gears ride, and the bottom stock plate has no wear. The gears have a couple nicks on them. If the bottom plate has no wear on it would the booster plate really provide any boost if the stock gears are set up with the correct clearance? Am I heading in the right direction if I purchase a new oilpump gear set, set the clearance, and save the booster plate for my real engine?
I would have to think if the filter housing has no scores in it, there would be no reason to use the booster plate. If the cover is THAT GOOD, it may be worth looking at the one on your real engine and see if you would be better off using the other one on it? Ken
The booster plate adds pressure at idle and high rpm, the different passages in the plate boost the pressure, i run a booster plate on a slightly worn houseing and gears and get 25 psi hot idle, i shaved down a high presure spring to adjust my hot presure to 70 psi at 6000 rpm to be safe. If i were you just put it together and see what you get, unless your crank clearences are shot you should be fine, but running the booster plate on the 73 till you get your moter done wouldent hurt.
This is why I like this site so much! I had no idea that the booster plate was anything more than a wear plate to patch up a worn filter housing. This is one area where the v-6 and 350 guys really have it good with new parts available and cheap! Ken
Well....that's just one use. If you order a fully assembled new TA timing cover, it also comes with a booster plate and adjustable oil pressure regulator.
U can do that, but those things aint cheep :eek2: . I run the booster,adjustable oil pressure regulator($45 total from TA)along with the corect bearing clearances(.002)and do not have a problem with the oil pressure from my old original timing cover. I get 23 psi at idle and 62 psi at 5500 RPMs :TU: .
Thanks you for your input. I plan on scavenging my low mileage gears, and stage 1 spring from the other timing cover. I am tring to get my GS running by this weekend. I will order new gears for the engine being freshend,and install the booster plate and adj pressure relief vavle on that timing cover. Thanks AL
I don't think the Stage-1 spring is recommend for use with the adjustable oil pump regulator. Might coil bind and not let the by-pass valve open all the way.
Was just pointing out that the booster pump plate is not just a band-aid for worn-out timing covers, but something you would also add to new rebuilt engine.
