Big Block Oil Pickup Tube
 

I'm in the process of building a 505 inch stroker motor. I'm using a Callies Compstar crank and rods. Bottom end has a Hughes girdle (1/4" th), a windage tray, and a 7" deep pan. My oil pickup is a 1/2" inlet, but it's about 25 yrs old and I don't know the specific make (I would guess it is an old Milidon piece). I have two problems:

1. The #1 rod is hitting the pickup tube just above the threaded portion. The threaded end of the tube has a bigger OD than the tube itself and is welded to the tube so possibly a newer version might have a smaller OD in that area.

2. With the girdle in place, the pickup tube can't be screwed the whole way in. It hits the windage tray two turns before being completely seated preventing it from being fully screwed in.

So, I need a pickup tube with a smaller OD just above the threads and the bend occurring further down the tube to allow it to clear the windage tray when being installed.

Anyone run into this and have found a pickup tube that will work without doing surgery on it?

If all else fails... 440 Source has new pickup's you can check out..... I think one of them is made to clear the gerttle... But i do believe you still have to clearance the rod to tube interference by grinding the tube and or casting for clearance... Also, Before you go through all that... Make sure the oil Pan you have with the pick up tube has about 1/4-3/8" clearance between the pick up screen and the oil pan bottom.. If you don't have that, then i would recommend getting a newer oil pan and pick up tube that make for a better fit... Just my 2 cents... Hope this helps some?

P.S. As for the pick up you have not screwing down all the way.... I believe that's because the pickup is not long enough.... But even in some of the more stock applications... I in the past have had to use a Permatex #2 black or Black Pipe Dope to correct the proper angle for a loose pickup tube...

Keep us post on what you fix it with.... Mopar on !!!!

Thanks RacerHog, I'll check out 440Scource.

I think I've figured out what I'm going to do. I'm going to get a long 1/2' sch 40 pipe nipple and screw it into the block and check for clearance with the #1 rod (should clear but if not there is enough wall thickness to grind it down where the interference occurs), Then with some careful measuring, I'll cut the threaded end off the exiting pickup tube, cut the nipple to the correct length, be sure they are indexed properly and weld the two together. Should cost about $6 for the nipple (a lot cheaper than a new pickup tube that might not fit right anyhow).

I'll post when I get it done.

Sounds Good..... Just stay away from grinding the Rod bolt... Thats bad, no matter what folks say... lol
Not sure if you have ARP rod bolts or if your using nut style rod bolt? Ether way, We know you will get it...
And if all else fails, you can get a new pick... Keep us posted... Cheers ad Happy St. Patrick's Day !!!!!

Use an external oil pickup line. It goes from the back of the oil pump to the lower side of the oil pan. Milton makes the part.

Update
 

Finally got it fixed.

Cut the bottom off the pickup tube and welded on a piece of schedule 40 pipe (has more wall thickness to work with). Ground away and have plenty of clearance now. During fit up I discovered through my careful measurements and the magic of trigonometry that I screwed up and made it a little too short (had 5/8" clearance from pickup to bottom of pan). I didn't want to hack anymore on the pickup tube so I fabed up a little false bottom to put inside the pan to bring the clearance down to 3/8". All is well. Note how I had to beat the snot out of the windage tray to allow install of the pickup tube and to clear #3 rod.

Excited to find out what I can screw up next.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/moparfo...b6ea6f2600.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/moparfo...9208532095.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/moparfo...fc80abeaa3.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/moparfo...948d278f2b.jpg

Sometimes you just have to do what you got to do with what you have…

been there and done that!!!
cheers