Extremely low oil pressure! HELP

brazil.. check your PM...  

Wix filters is a well known filter in my area and I'm in the united states.  
professional hi-performance engine builder

Horsepower sells engines and torque wins races

Should be able to get a Wix at any autoparts store. I have heard horror stories about fram and continues to use them until the last rebuld when the internals came apart. That was about $1000. I use Wix now. Might go to a K&N eventually.  

Wow.  I had no idea Fram was a junk filter.  I have been using Fram oil filters for years.  I know that oil filters are the most counter fitted auto product.  I have always been on the fence about Fram, or any other filter for that matter because of that fact.  Fram always looked good.  They have a nice bright orange casing, and a textured grip, who knew they were internally junk?

Maybe the Fram filter is the cause of the oil pressure condition.  I have been using the Fram oil filter on this engine ever since I got it running again in the spring.  And this problem has been existent the entire time.  I'll try a Wix or K&N.

Also, maybe my engine does not like the new Rotella-T 15W-40 diesel oil.  The engine has had regular 10W-30 its whole life until I got it running again in the spring.  I wouldn't think the oil is the cause since the diesel is much thicker.  You'd think that would increase oil pressure.  We'll see.

For the record, the oil level has always been at the correct level on the dipstick.  
1969 GTO, YS code 400, 350hp/445 ft lbs of torque (stock specs), LT headers, H-pipe, 750 Holley 4160, Ignitor II ignition.  Complete Painless wiring.

Yeah, the Fram deal is freaky - I always assumed they were the common choice.
I have actually noticed a slight oil pressure drop since putting on the Fram this week. It had a Mobil on it before. I like the black thing on the Frams too that makes it easier to tighten by hand. I guess it's one of those "judging the book by the cover" deals.

Also, on the subject of oil, I've always used Pennzoil HD 30. Every single "guru" in Houston has said that anything with a 5W or 10W in front of it is unnecessary, and is only needed in really cold climates.

Brazil  

Addendum: I'm speaking only from the experience of working with old Pontiac engines.
40 weight in the summer and 30 in the winter. I understand that many new cars have to run on extremely thin oil due to design and close aluminum cylinder wall specs.  

GTOby i would make sure that the dipstick is marked correctly. if not you could have too much oil in the pan and its hitting the crank. that makes the oil foamy and it wont hold pressure.  

The oil level is correct according to the dipstick, but I suppose the reading could be inaccurate for some reason.  I'll try running the engine with the oil level at the minimum line as indicated on the dipstick.

I'm not sure what to do now.  I'll definitely try a new oil filter.  I'll change the oil too, but what oil should I use?  I'm running Rotella 15W-40 now.  Should I switch back to 10W-30 since that's what the engine was used to until I changed to Rotella, or should I try a different oil like 30W or what?  Should I try to change the oil pump while I have the oil drained out?  
1969 GTO, YS code 400, 350hp/445 ft lbs of torque (stock specs), LT headers, H-pipe, 750 Holley 4160, Ignitor II ignition.  Complete Painless wiring.

get the specs for the pan capacity then drain the oil. put what it says exactly back in and check the level on the dipstick. it should be right at the full mark.  

oh and i would stay with rotella but thats just me. diesel oils still have zink in them as far as i know  

Hey guys, I've been offline a couple of days so I'm just catching up. Anytime I'm not sure about dipstick calibration I just drain and refill with the right amount of oil as mentioned above. Brazil's point about multiviscosity oil is true, you really don't need it in a warm weather engine but it is generally easier to find than staight vis oil. The Rotella oil won't cause low oil pressure, if anything it should raise your pressure over a 10w30 oil.
I got a laugh over Brazil's post about finding his wedding ring while changing his floor pans, I'll bet your wife thinks it was time well spent now! Reminds me of being at the track the first or second year I was married. I was setting valves for a buddy and wiped my hands with a rag, about 15 minutes later his girl friend found my ring in the grass by his car, lucky my wife was at the snack bar! That's the last time I ever worked on anything without putting the ring in my wallet first!
Steve  
Trying to help... 'cause we don't all have to learn the hard way!

Kind of ironic too - the cars going to be her Christmas present.  

Suck up!  
Trying to help... 'cause we don't all have to learn the hard way!

Oh don't worry - there's a 4 speed '79 Bandit covered up sitting next to it with a 455HO. This one's just the Bride of Frankenstein.  

Brazil, I HATE YOU. I think you should trade me one of those for my 94 v-6 Bird, haha. It's only got 250,000 miles on it and still gets 26 on the highway.