[bdonally]

Thanks for all the input.
I've owned the car for 15 years and have put on about 100K kms, currently at about 180K.
Did a top end rebuild about 40K ago due to broken rings. All seemed OK with the bottom end so I didn't split the case.
Car gets a quite a bit of track use and is run pretty hard.
Gets a steady diet of Brad Penn 20W50.
Oil pressure hasn't changed much over time although once hot it peaks at about 3.75.
I recently replaced the chain ramps, the chains looked fine and there was no evidence of them hitting the case.
I cut open the filter just out of curiosity. The magnetic plug was clean except for a little bit of fuzz. Opening the filter was a mess involving a chisel and snips.
The bottom end was rebuilt before I bought the car. ARP bolts and studs, Ti retainers , balancing , valve guides etc in anticipation of racing although it has only done DR.

Still.sounds like.its got to come out.
Oh well needed a winter project.