The oil pressure relief is a very simple piston that is spring loaded to control oil pressure. If the piston is stuck or jammed from debris it could hang either open or closed. Obviously if it's stuck at a point before it uncovers the relief port the pressure will be to high. Than what happens is the oil in the pump will not circulate out the relief port. This makes high heat in the pump as oil now has to fight massive pressure and leak back past the gears and shafts instead of relieving out the relief port. I would investigate.
This will put lots of strain on the dist drive and cam.
Yes they are adjustable by changing springs or shimming, but I don't believe that to be your issue.
I didn't see if this is a full flow filter conversion or an origonal system? A full flow filter I think will have an internal bypass that will open and bypass the filter when pressure is too high. And this isn't good either. It was meant as a bypass when oil is cold and close under normal conditions.
Frank
