attach the pickup to my new oil pump? can i reuse the old one? any tricks to getting the height set properly?

thanks

 

Don't hold the pump body in a vice, whatever you do. I don't have any science to back that up but that's how I learned.

Anyhow the trick I use is to find an open end wrench that will fit around the pickup tube but still butt against the little rolled hump in it that sets the depth. Then it's a little gentle tapping on the wrench with a hammer until it starts. There are tools you can buy, but why?

Anyhow, once you get it started it will go in pretty easy. Once it's seated just mount it, put a gasket on the block and a pillar of modeling clay about 1" long on the bottom of the pickup. Put the oil pan in place, remove it, and measure how much the modeling clay has smooshed. If you have it in the 1/4" to 5/8" neighborhood, I believe, you are good to go. (Somebody correct my clearance here, OK?)

Most guys will tack weld the pickup--once it's properly adjusted--to the pump body. Drive out the roll pin and remove the spring. Usually I buy pumps with the pickups already tack welded in place (Summit, et. al.) because I cannot for the life of me do that job. The thin sheet metal of the pickup tube and the denser material of the pump body don't melt at the same rate. I dunno how guys do that successfully.

I have brazed a bead around the pickup tube or two before. Use lots of flux. I never really had a lot of confidence in that technique, although I've never dropped a pickup tube with it.

Another option is to twist some safety wire tightly around the pickup tube and the pump body once it's pressed in place and adjusted.

Name yer poison. Good luck.



[Modified by Jack Sweet, 10:17 PM 11/16/2001]

 

thanks Jack. i don't understand why I have to do this when tack welding.

also, i don't have a gasket. between pump and block, correct?


[Modified by Turbo-Jet, 7:38 AM 11/17/2001]

 

because the heat on the spring will lose its tension no good.

 

Here's another method that works for me.

Partially install the pickup in the pump, (so you can still adjust it).
Mount the pump in the enging with the pickup "too low".
Push the oil pan into it's proper place.
This will rotate the pickup so that the pickup is now just touching the
oil pan.
Remove the oil pan and "add" whatever clearance you want to the pickup.
I like a 1/4" to 3/8". ( I like it low )
Measure the completed/desired height against the block.

Remove the pump and complete the final securing process that
Jack described above.

Re-check measurement to the block before final assembly.

This method is just another way of doing the same job.
Good luck.
Barry

 

OOps I didnt secure the pickup with any of the above methods just tapped (more like beat) it in it was so tight that I didnt think it neede welding or restraining. Should I take it apart and redo?? :eek: :eek:

 

Micks69
I don't think there is a correct yes or no to your question.
GM made hundreds of thousands of engines and only pressed them in.
Yes, a few did fall off, why, we don't know.
Perhaps they were never on correctly in the first place.

Only you know how securely yours is pressed (beat) on.

If you are confident it is a very secure fit, I would leave it alone.

Only my opinion.
Barry