Who has done this? I am 99% sure a friend of mine has lost the pickup tube and is laying at the bottom of the pan. Car loses pressure after a couple seconds above 4k. You can hear something rattle when you hit the pan with your fist.

I always thought that YOU COULDN'T WELD ON CAST. So how are we supposed to weld the pickup tube onto the pump? It's a Melling, not sure if its a HP or HV pump.

 

IMO never weld on a oil pump. By the bolt on tube keeper form summitt for around $8.

 

I wouldn't weld cast iron either. Another alternative would
be to drill/tap the pump/tube and screw in a self-tapping
screw.

Here is a link to welding cast iron.

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/knowl...ronpreheat.asp


Emil DUsek:93Z,383

 

I just tie it on with wire.

 

I tack'd mine on. it isnt the prettiest weld, but it has worked on other eng.s Ive done this for. as I said, it doesnt look pretty, but it will hold enough to help the pressfit pipe in there.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/irocss...&.dnm=fb6f.jpg

the pic is kinda hard to see, cause of the glare. I didnt realize this till the eng. was already together. just make sure to remove the rollpin and press. spring so you dont weaken the spring. the rollpin press's out through the machined side, not the exposed side of the pump cover.
chris

 

Thanks for the quick replys fellas

What is the part # for the tube keeper, or what is the exact name for it? I can't seem to find it. That seems like it would be the easiest solution. I'm curious to see how this piece works and where it bolts to.

Some say any welding on the pump/tube is bad. Iroc, you said you did it and its all good right? What kind of welder would need to be used in this situation if we were to do it?

Thanks!

 

a lot of people tack weld the pick tube to the pump. hot rod even recommends it.
http://www.hotrod.com/howto/51578/index.html

"With the cam properly installed, you can now install the oil pump. The best bet is to have a welding shop tack-weld the pickup to the pump cover. This will prevent the pickup from falling out. Short of that, use some Loctite Stud and Bearing Mount. Make sure the pickup is 3/8 to 1/2 inch off the bottom of the oil pan floor. Place a small chunk of clay between the pickup and the oil pan with the gasket in place to check the clearance. Make sure to install the oil pump driveshaft before bolting on the oil pump."

 

I have a basic small sears 110V welder. its nothing fancy. mostly its good for small things like this or sheetmetal. it can weld exh. pipes together, but isnt strong enough to make pretty welds for something like that. dont know if that helps, but basically any mig welder will do the trick for this. I didnt know there was a bolt on device for that, I wold have bought it too. cause burning through the pipe would be bad too. def. cant have any pinholes arond the weld if you know what I mean. another idea would be to weld a small metal bracket to the tube that would have a hole that one of the small bolts would bolt through.

 

Oil Pump Pickup Retainer

http://www.jegs.com//cgi-bin/ncommer...68&prmenbr=361

 

just check the diam. of the pickup tube and that will be it if thats right. I'll get that next time too.
chris

 

The pump on LT1 engines use a 3/4" pickup tube, unless you've installed an older 5/8" style pump/pickup. I welded my pickup on after I had one work its way out of the oil pump!

 

Its just a clamp so you can expand it / mod it to fit a 3/4. Works like a champ I have uses those several times.

 

or just tack weld that bracket clamp to the pickup tube.

 

I just tack welded mine in place with a 70 year old stick welder.