Pickup Comes Welded to the Pump
One of the biggest advantages of the Moroso 22185 is that the oil-pump pickup comes welded to the pump.
That’s more significant than it sounds.
On a conventional BBC oil-pump installation, the pickup tube needs to be installed into the pump and positioned at the correct height and angle relative to the oil pan.
If the pickup rotates or isn’t secured properly, pickup-to-pan clearance can change.
In a worst-case scenario, a poorly secured press-in pickup can move or separate from the pump.
Moroso removes much of that uncertainty by supplying the 22185 as a preassembled pump-and-pickup package.
Designed for 8-Inch-Deep Moroso Oil Pans
The Moroso 22185 is designed around compatible 8-inch-deep Big Block Chevy oil pans.
Moroso specifically lists the 22185 as a high-volume pump-and-pickup option across numerous 8-inch BBC pans.
That includes both Mark IV and Gen V/VI Big Block Chevy pan applications, provided the specific Moroso pan lists the 22185 as a compatible option.
This is an important distinction.
The pump package shouldn’t be selected simply because the engine is a Big Block Chevy.
The oil pan and pickup need to be compatible as a system.
Natural Match for the Moroso 20412 Oil Pan
The Moroso 20412 Mark IV Big Block Chevy oil pan is a particularly natural companion to the 22185.
Moroso lists the 22185 directly among the compatible pump-and-pickup packages for the 20412.
That pan uses an 8-inch-deep T-sump, making the pickup geometry of the 22185 appropriate for the application.
For someone building a Mark IV BBC with the 20412, this creates a straightforward combination:
Moroso 20412 8-inch oil pan → Moroso 22185 high-volume pump/pickup
Rather than choosing a pump and then trying to determine which pickup needs to be installed and where it needs to sit, the 22185 provides the matched assembly.
Pickup Orientation Is Already Established
Moroso specifically states that the pickup orientation is designed to provide proper clearance between the pickup and the bottom of compatible Moroso oil pans.
That’s critical.
The pickup needs enough clearance to allow oil to enter freely.
If the pickup is positioned too close to the bottom of the pan, oil flow into the pickup can become restricted.
If it is positioned too far away, the pickup may become uncovered more easily as oil moves around inside the sump.
A properly designed wet-sump system needs the pickup positioned where it can maintain access to the oil supply without restricting inlet flow.
About the .250-Inch Clearance Specification
The supplied product information lists .250-inch clearance, or 1/4 inch.
That is consistent with the general concept of maintaining controlled pickup-to-pan clearance, but don’t treat a catalog number as permission to skip verification during engine assembly.
Always check the actual clearance with the oil pan and gasket combination being installed.
Manufacturing tolerances, gasket thickness and component differences can affect the final measurement.
A matched pump-and-pickup assembly makes the job considerably easier.
It doesn’t eliminate the need to measure.
Why Pickup-to-Pan Clearance Matters
The oil pump can’t move oil that can’t reach its inlet.
If the pickup sits almost directly against the pan floor, the opening can become restricted.
Move it excessively far away and oil slosh becomes a greater concern.
During hard acceleration, braking and cornering, oil moves through the sump. Baffles, trap doors, windage trays and pickup placement all work together to maintain a reliable oil supply.
This is why a performance oiling system should be viewed as a system rather than a collection of individually impressive parts.
Compatible With Multiple Moroso BBC Oil Pans
Moroso lists the 22185 as an available high-volume pump package for numerous BBC oil pans.
Examples include compatible:
- Mark IV BBC pans
- Gen V/VI BBC pans
- GM A-body pans
- Stroker pans
- T-sump pans
- Road-race baffled pans
- Double-kick-out racing pans
For example, Moroso lists the 22185 for its 20412 Mark IV GM A-body pan as well as its 20421 Gen V/VI road-race baffled pan.
That broad compatibility makes the 22185 useful across a variety of BBC combinations, but always check the exact Moroso oil-pan part number before ordering.
High-Volume vs Standard-Volume BBC Oil Pump
Moroso offers both standard-volume and high-volume pump packages.
The comparable standard-volume package is the Moroso 22175.
Which one is correct depends on the engine.
A relatively mild street BBC with factory-style clearances and a straightforward lubrication system may not need increased pump volume.
A performance engine may benefit from the 22185 when additional oil demand comes from greater bearing clearances, higher RPM or additional oil-system components.
Don’t choose a high-volume pump simply because “high volume” sounds better.
Engine oiling isn’t an amplifier where turning the knob to 11 automatically improves the song.
Optional Lower-Pressure Springs Included
Moroso includes optional lower-pressure springs with the 22185 package.
This allows the builder to tailor the pump’s pressure-control characteristics to the engine combination rather than being locked into a single configuration.
That’s useful because maximum possible oil pressure isn’t necessarily desirable.
Excessive pressure can:
- Increase load on the pump drive
- Consume unnecessary power
- Stress filters and other components
- Indicate that the pressure-control configuration doesn’t match the engine
The goal is adequate oil pressure and volume throughout the engine’s operating range.
More isn’t automatically better.
High Volume Doesn’t Repair Excessive Bearing Clearance
A common mistake is installing a high-volume pump to compensate for an engine with excessively low oil pressure.
That may mask some symptoms, but it doesn’t repair the underlying mechanical problem.
Low oil pressure can result from:
- Excessive main-bearing clearance
- Excessive rod-bearing clearance
- Worn cam bearings
- Internal oil leaks
- Incorrect pickup clearance
- Pickup leakage
- Worn oil pump
- Excessive oil temperature
- Incorrect oil viscosity
- Low oil level
If you’re diagnosing an existing engine rather than assembling a new one, the oil-pressure troubleshooting articles on My Pro Street are a useful next step before assuming that a larger pump is the cure.
A high-volume pump can supply additional oil.
It cannot make worn bearings become smaller.
Important for Stroker Big Block Chevy Builds
The 22185 is especially relevant to performance BBC stroker combinations using compatible deep Moroso oil pans.
A 496, 540 or larger BBC may incorporate:
- Increased bearing clearances
- Higher engine speed
- Aftermarket crankshaft
- Aftermarket connecting rods
- Increased oil-pan capacity
- Windage-control components
- Oil cooler
- Remote filter
All of those factors should be considered when designing the oiling system.
For a common 496-style Mark IV combination using the Moroso 20412 pan, Moroso lists the 22185 directly as its high-volume pump-and-pickup package.
The 20412 also provides clearance for up to a 4.250-inch stroke with most steel connecting rods, making the combination particularly relevant to popular stroker BBC builds.
High-Volume Pumps and Oil-Pan Capacity
A high-volume pump doesn’t automatically require a gigantic oil pan, but the entire system needs to be able to supply the pump under operating conditions.
If oil is being pumped into the upper engine faster than it can return to the sump, the effective oil level around the pickup can fall.
That’s one reason performance oil pans use features such as:
- Increased capacity
- Baffles
- Trap doors
- Windage trays
- Crank scrapers
- Carefully positioned pickups
Oil return is just as important as pump output.
The pump can only circulate what’s available at the pickup.
Oil Pressure Should Be Verified After Installation
Once the engine is running, verify actual oil pressure with a reliable gauge.
Pay attention to pressure:
- At cold startup
- At hot idle
- During normal cruise
- At elevated RPM
- Under acceleration
- During braking
- During cornering on track vehicles
If pressure drops dramatically under vehicle movement, investigate oil control inside the pan.
Moroso even offers an alternate 22186 high-volume package with a front-style offset pickup, positioning the pickup more toward the middle of the sump for improved pressure consistency under braking on compatible applications.
That distinction is useful for cars seeing road-course use or aggressive braking.
22185 vs Moroso 22186
The 22185 is Moroso’s conventional high-volume BBC pump-and-pickup package.
The 22186 is a high-volume version using a front-style offset pickup.
Moroso notes that the offset configuration places the pickup closer to the middle of the sump to provide more consistent oil pressure under braking.
For a traditional street/strip application, the 22185 may be the straightforward choice.
For a compatible car experiencing significant longitudinal oil movement under braking, the 22186 deserves consideration.
Always confirm that the specific oil pan supports the offset pickup.
22185 vs Moroso 22187
Moroso also offers the 22187 High-Volume Oil Pump and Pickup Package with Windage Shield.
The 22187 incorporates an integrated windage shield intended to protect the pickup from crankshaft windage and promote steadier oil pressure across the RPM range.
It is designed for specific Moroso BBC oil pans, so it isn’t simply a more expensive universal replacement for the 22185.
Choose among the 22185, 22186 and 22187 according to the oil pan and intended use.
Windage Control Matters
At high RPM, the crankshaft and connecting rods create considerable airflow inside the crankcase.
Oil suspended in that airflow can become wrapped around the rotating assembly, increasing drag and interfering with oil return.
Performance BBC oiling systems may therefore incorporate:
- Windage trays
- Crank scrapers
- Baffles
- Kick-outs
- Windage screens
The goal is to separate oil from the rotating assembly and return it to the sump efficiently.
That keeps more oil available to the pickup while reducing parasitic losses.
Useful for Turbocharged Big Block Builds
Oil-system health becomes even more important when forced induction enters the picture.
A turbocharged engine may use engine oil not only for the crankshaft, rods, camshaft and valvetrain but also for the turbocharger bearings.
Before adding boost, verify oil pressure, compression, leak-down results, cooling-system condition and crankcase ventilation.
The turbo build technical articles on My Pro Street cover those foundational checks and help explain why simply bolting a larger pump onto an unhealthy engine isn’t a substitute for proper diagnosis.
A high-volume oil pump belongs in an engineered combination.
Not on a list of parts installed because the engine already has an oil-pressure problem.
Prime the Oil System Before Initial Startup
A freshly assembled BBC should have its lubrication system primed before the engine is started.
The goal is to fill the pump, filter and oil galleries and establish oil pressure before the rotating assembly is subjected to startup loads.
For distributor-driven BBC oil pumps, this is normally accomplished with the appropriate priming tool and drill after filling the engine with oil.
During priming, monitor oil pressure and verify that oil reaches the valvetrain as appropriate for the engine configuration.
Don’t treat the starter motor as an oil-pump priming tool if the engine can be properly pre-lubricated beforehand.
Don’t Forget the Oil Filter
A high-volume oil pump places additional emphasis on using a quality oil filter appropriate for the engine and operating conditions.
Consider:
- Filter flow capacity
- Bypass configuration
- Burst strength
- Micron rating
- Oil viscosity
- Cold-start pressure
A restrictive or inappropriate filter can become a bottleneck in an otherwise well-designed lubrication system.
The oil pump, pickup, pan, filter and engine passages all operate together.
Moroso 22185 Specifications
Part Number: 22185
Product: High-Volume Oil Pump and Pickup Package
Engine Family: Big Block Chevy
Pump: Moroso 22159
Pump Type: High volume
Pickup: Included
Pickup Attachment: Welded to pump
Oil Pan Depth: 8 inches on compatible Moroso applications
Pickup-to-Pan Clearance: Designed by Moroso for proper clearance with compatible pans; verify during assembly
Optional Lower-Pressure Springs: Included
Oil System: Wet sump
Fitment: Application-specific
Package Height: 19.05 cm
Package Length: 20.32 cm
Package Width: 19.558 cm
Package Weight: Approximately 6.45 lb
Country of Origin: United States
Application-Specific Rather Than Simply Vehicle-Specific
The supplied marketplace data calls the Moroso 22185 vehicle specific.
That’s not the most useful way to describe this product.
Compatibility is primarily determined by:
- Big Block Chevy engine
- Moroso oil-pan design
- 8-inch sump depth
- Required pump volume
- Pickup configuration
- Intended engine use
The 22185 appears as a compatible high-volume pump package across both Mark IV and Gen V/VI Moroso BBC pans.
For ecommerce fitment, I would use:
Engine: Big Block Chevrolet
Pump Type: High Volume
Pan Requirement: Compatible 8-inch-deep Moroso BBC oil pan
Fitment Type: Application-specific
That gives the customer much more useful information than a generic vehicle-fitment label.
Who Should Buy the Moroso 22185?
The Moroso 22185 is best suited to performance Big Block Chevy builds using a compatible 8-inch-deep Moroso wet-sump oil pan and requiring a high-volume oil pump.
Good applications include:
- Performance 454 BBC engines
- 427 builds
- 496 strokers
- Street/strip engines
- Drag cars
- Pro Street builds
- High-RPM BBC combinations
- Performance GM A-body builds
- Engines with increased oil-system demand
The pre-welded pickup makes the package particularly attractive for builders who want a matched pump and pickup rather than assembling the two components separately.
Final Verdict
The Moroso 22185 High-Volume Oil Pump and Pickup Package takes two critical Big Block Chevy oiling components and combines them into a matched assembly.
Moroso pairs its 22159 high-volume pump with a welded pickup positioned for compatible 8-inch-deep Moroso oil pans, while optional lower-pressure springs provide additional flexibility when configuring the engine’s lubrication system.
For a performance BBC using a compatible Moroso pan—especially a stroker or street/strip combination—the 22185 eliminates much of the uncertainty involved in selecting and installing the pickup separately.
You should still verify pickup clearance, prime the system and confirm hot oil pressure after installation.
Because “it came welded together” is reassuring.
“It has 60 psi and the bearings are still inside the engine” is considerably more reassuring.
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