Feel dumb asking this... I've installed oil pump pickups before, basically a crescent wrench over the shoulder on the pickup tube and whack it in- but the one for my 455 isn't budging- and the wrench is starting to dig into the shoulder on the pipe...

I even tried sticking it in the freezer for an hour first- can't get it more than a 1/4" in

Any tips?

This is a melling standard volume pump & pickup.

thanks

 

There may be a burr in either the casting of the pump or on the pick up. I had the same issue on my last 403 build. I had to use a little emery paper on the pickup, and some 3 in 1 oil on the tube before I tapped it in. Then I used the wrench, just like you did to tap it in place. Come to find out, the way the pump was cast, the pickup did have a little space between the pump and the knurl on the pickup.

I'm sure you have done it a dozen or more times, but make sure the pickup is going in perfectly straight, and rotate the wrench as you tap it into place.

hope that helps a little.

John

 

De burr the inlet of the pump housing with some sand paper and clean it . The sand the pipe that goes in. Then apply some grease or cam break in lube and work it in. I had this happen to me as well.