360 low oil pressure when idling

[Redcrew71]

took run to the dump today while sitting in line to pay after couple minutes the oil pressure almost bottoms out. when back on road oil pressure goes up to safe zone. start of it what gives?

[Jacksdad]

Factory gauge? If it's stock, maybe fit an aftermarket one to better determine if you have an issue before you spend any money trying to fix it. I know mine is really sluggish, and I'm not sure how accurate it is after 46 years.

[Redcrew71]

all original...

[DuckRyder]

I would install a mechanical gauge at least temporarily to determine if it actually has low oil pressure.

If it does actually have low pressure you could try a HV/HP pump but....

If it is the gauge, IPVR and/or sender...

[Ohiotinkerer]

I put a T fitting where the stock sending unit comes off the filter housing and installed a mechanical S/W gage to check mine when I got it..........best way there is to check against the stock gage......found out my stock gage was reading low by doing that.......

[basketcase0302]

My old original 71' 360 ran with 0-5 PSI oil pressure, (at idle-would also increase as RPM's increased) for the last two years of it's life without failing me.
I'd say it's time for that mechanical gauge like suggested above and probably need to be planning on an engine swap or rebuild in the near future.

[Ranchero50]

took run to the dump today while sitting in line to pay after couple minutes the oil pressure almost bottoms out. when back on road oil pressure goes up to safe zone. start of it what gives?

Pretty normal for the FE when the motor is warmed up. As long as the lifters aren't tapping you have enough pressure for idle. Add a high volume pump if you really want to, otherwise not a big deal.