I have a 1971 pro-street Camaro with a 454 bored 60 over. Engine is a highly modified 1972 motor with a 176 supercharger. Saturday I took the car out for a drive and the oil filter gasket failed and dumped 5 quarts of 8 on the ground before I noticed it. Luckily the engine wasn't warm yet and
I was only a block from the house. I changed the filter and added
oil, started the engine, same thing happened. I am using HP4 Fram filters. I am using a Melling high volume oil pump. The engine is rev limited to 5600. Should I be using a regular oil pump? I know that all oil pumps have a pressure relief valve, but does the 454 block have a pressure relief valve in the oil filter adapter. If it does, is this a replaceable part? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

First thing popped into my head is there could be a second oil filter gasket stuck to the bottom of the motor. Having 2 gaskets will for sure blow it out.

Fram filters are considered suspect around here, most don't think much of them. Our preferred filter is WIX, which is also sold at Napa with thier label.

All Chevy oil pumps have a bypass pressure relief built in, small blocks are at 45-50 psi, not sure about big blocks. I generally run standard oil pumps. The high volume is probably a good choice for a blown big block.

All chevy engine have a bypass valve in the oil filter adapter. This valve senses the pressure difference across the filter, and is intended to bypass filtration and feed the engine dirty oil (rather than no oil at all) if the filter becomes clogged completely. Common wqisdom around here is "we're always gonna change the oil & filter before things clog up and we don't EVER want unfiltered oil fed to our bearings" so we generally plug that bypass.

The first thing I thought of was exactly that, a gasket stuck up inside, of course when I changed the filter I checked on that. I also did a chalk test to ensure the oil filter gasket was sealing, which it was, cleaned off the chaulk and installed a K & N 2002 high performance oil filter and the same thing happened. The oil pressure gage read 70psi cold and 45 warm. Car will idle without blowing the gasket however under load and 70-75 psi it blows the gasket. I am thinking that the oill filter adapted is bad.

What kind of crankcase ventilation are you using?

The reason I ask is I did a blown BB that would blow out the front of the 1-piece oil pan gasket until I installed a PCV valve.

I've also seen rear main seals leak because of crankcase pressure too.

I istalled a HP4 oil filter and continue to have the same problem. Completely stumped here. I have had oil leaks come from everywhere imaginable but not one this severe. I have ordered a Melling M77 standard oil pressure pump and a oil filter relocation kit for the car, seems like a pain though for a unexplained severe oil leak. Anyone have any other ideas. I made a inquiry on the trouble shooting side and can't delete it sorry.

I istalled a HP4 oil filter and continue to have the same problem. Completely stumped here. I have had oil leaks come from everywhere imaginable but not one this severe. I have ordered a Melling M77 standard oil pressure pump and a oil filter relocation kit for the car, seems like a pain though for a unexplained severe oil leak. Anyone have any other ideas. I made a inquiry on the trouble shooting side and can't delete it sorry.

Found the problem, the oil filter adapter was broke in half. Couldn't tell unitl I removed it. First time for everything.