Once the car is warmed up, my oil pressure drops to zero when braking, not just hard braking then it bounces right up to around 15-20 psi at idle. holds 50-60 cruising. Its a autometer sport comp. I changed the gauge for mounting purposes a few years back but I can't remember the old one doing this. My thought is the pickup is coming uncovered on braking? I've made sure the oil level is topped off.

Yep, you're right on! The pickup is getting uncovered. Even though your dipstick reads full, you could either have a bigger oil pan than you thought you had, or your dipstick is wrong. OR the pump pickup is too high.

ugh. thats what I was afraid of. I'm guessing bearings would be wiped. What are the signs of an injured engine? It runs pretty dang good, just thought the oil pressure drop while braking was odd.
The pan appears stock and I checked the dipstick reading when changing the oil so...this doesn't look fun.

[This message has been edited by ErikNORCAL (edited August 07, 2005).]

Was the pickup tube justed pressed in with no spot weld? Sounds similar to what happened to a buddy of mine.

I'm not sure, the engine had already been built. I guess there is no choice but to pull the motor? The motor runs strong so I hope this is cheap!

well, I wouldn't say that the bearings are wiped. Ther still is some oil in the bearing at all times, they don't go dry after a few seconds; like when you start an engine that has been sitting a few days, you crank it over a few times before the pump has a chance to build pressure, and nothing bad happens. I'd say drop your oil pan and see what's going on in there, maybe your pickup fell out of the pump. Repair the problem and keep going. No sense in pulling the engine, wait and see if you start hearing noise.

Small blocks are more durable than some may think. I had an 84 Firebird with 305. When I dumped the car, I cut the oil pressure gauge line while the engine was running and left it. My friend left his keys on the roof of the car so we had to go back for them. 45 minutes later the engine was still idling fine with no knocking and I'm sure all the oil was shot out of the pan through the cut gauge line.

Hey, I found that car! LOL