I sent a letter to DSS Racing asking why they thought the oil pump broke. I told them everything I could think of about the car and what is on/in it. Here is his response. I'm posting this incase anyone else is running the Shit Steeda underdrive set-up.

Jerry,
The only time we've seen pump gear failures here has been with the Steeda
under drive kit and with others that move the balancer out from its stock
location. Because the pump is driven directly from the crankshaft,
vibration or harmonics created gets directly transmitted to it. You can not
move the balancer out with a spacer or use an inferior quality balancer on
the 4.6 style engines or you run the risk of a failure like what you had.
If we use an under drive style balancer we prefer to use Innovators West
(about a $425 piece). They make a high quality item, Ford Racing has used
them for some of their high end applications as well. I don't think a
billet oil pump fixes your problem but it would not break in the same
fashion as this one did. Thanks
Eric
DSS Racing


Also I want to say I'm sorry for Marshall and Rob for taking their beds away for Sat. night. After the engine broke (and I pretty much knew what it was) I was not really in the mood to stay at the track.

DL has a great deal on a motor and a guy in S. Austin says he has a Brand New crate engine from Ford that he only wants $1800.00 for and he already told me he would take $1500.00. I really doubt this is brand new but I have ask for pictures and we will see. Either way it looks like we will go back to the iron block and the extra 70-75 lbs. on the nose. I will build another Aluminum engine in the off season and try it again. I had almost 3 grand on the one that just blew up so I'm not in a hurry to spend that kind of money right now. Even if these Mod motors are the bomb (and I have my doubts right now) the parts are high as hell. Just the gaskets are a fortune.


JJ