Shopping Question: OMP vs. Oil Pump
 

Hey everyone,

Is an OMP the same thing as an Oil Pump? Also, how much does one cost, where can I get one, and how big of a bitch is it to replace one? I'm shopping right now, and one of my choices is a running '86, has a little over 100k miles, and just needs a new "oil pump". I know that I should try to buy one in good condition...but the problem is that I can't spare shit tons of money. The body looks pretty straight. Anyway...I just wanted to know if there was a difference.
In addition, I suppose, if anyone knows of a cheap, running RX7 that's for sale in the southeast, I'd really appreciate a heads up.

Thanks In Advance,
Collin

No.

OMP (should as I understand it actually be MOP: Metering Oil Pump, but both get used a lot) delivers oil to the engine to provide lubrication to the apex seals. Not too uncommonly ditched by people around here in favor of premixing (i.e., putting a specialized oil in the gas instead of relying on the MOP). Can be found here. Cost: $250+. Difficulty to replace: not too difficult, though likely messy.

Oil Pump: Pumps, well, oil. And far, far more of it than the MOP. Used to circulate the oil the lubricates (and to an extent cools) the moving internal parts of the engine. Like the water pump, extraordinarily critical to the safe operation of the engine. Can be found here. Cost: ~$150, though if there's something wrong with it you may need parts beyond just the pump itself. Difficulty to replace: More difficult than the MOP I'd say, but if you have and use the FSM it's definitely doable. Requires taking a lot of stuff off the block though.

I'd probably be at least wary of a car that needs a new oil pump- if it's been run without one or with it not functioning properly, there could be other problems that you can't see or that have started to develop due to the lack of proper lubrication- though it would likely help to find out more to determine whether the seller really means the Oil Pump or the MOP. The MOP is less critical than the Oil Pump (though still important if you're not premixing), but I'd definitely consider it less of a worry than the actual oil pump.