Engine is an Olds 350 using a Melling M22F std volume pump. I'm preparing to position the pickup tube and verify depth to pan clearance on a modified-depth oil pan.

1. The pickup has a sheetmetal piece covering part of the screen (see red arrow below). I assume this should be level w/ respect to the pan rails when the tube is installed correctly - is that correct?
2. I see 1/4" to 3/8" clearance generically called out as a target range for clearance online. What was a stock Olds clearance set at, and/or is there a different number I should be shooting for?

Thanks.

 

For more background, the engine I tore down had the sheetmetal "shroud" at the end of the pickup tube at a noticeable angle, which made the inlet area of the screen that was not covered around 5/8" from the stock pan floor. In the absence of advice from smarter/more experienced persons my plan will be to install level and with the screen itself (not the sheetmetal portion) 3/8" from the bottom of the pan.

 

Anything between 1/4" to 3/8" (level w/ screen installed) is buenísimo.

 

You have a pickup for a stock depth oil pan being used in a modified depth oil pan? Even in the stock depth pan these pickups do not set perfectly flat with the floor of the pan. You shall have to make some modifications to the pickup tube to arrive at your desired finished product which may (probably will) require some crafty cutting and welding and the addition of more tube borrowed from another pickup. Try to make the best of marrying two pickup tubes so that you will have only one weld joint. That's the old school way we did it. Another option would be to find a pickup with the same diameter tube but from a different motor that comes closer to fitting, perhaps a small block Chev. Good luck!

 

Aftermarket pickups for different depth pans are available from Summit, Jegs, etc.

 

I had some time last night and got it close to where I want it, but still have to get it another 1/16 of an inch closer to the pan and get the shroud/screen assembly leveled.

If I screw up the one I have I'll keep that in mind, but the only aftermarket deep-pan pickups I see are bolt-on style for the FHV pumps, although I might be missing something.

 

the factory Toronado pickup might work for you. It’s for the deeper pan

 

Thanks - Wish I would have thought of that. I've got the stock depth pickup adjusted to where I need it by heating and bending, but I ordered a Toronado pickup just to see how far off it is.