Oil pump pickup - tack weld or don't weld

cad · 02-06-2012, 11:33 AM

We've just finished a complete refresh on my small block chevy.
Late last summer, we began having a few oil pressure anomalies. When we tore it down, we discovered the Milodon screen/box broke off of the end of the tube.
I froze and then installed the new Milodon pick up tube assm in the M55HV. I got it "seated" completely into the pump, put it back together, and then had to rotate it slightly to get the pan clearance.
Milodon said do not weld the tube to the pump and they also recommended their "extreme duty" pick up 18316.
What is the concensus?
Should the pick up be tack welded to the pump?

Thanks,
Clark Doukas

richie 2 · 02-06-2012, 11:53 AM

a touch of weld is extra insurance...remove the relief spring first as not to weakin it due to the heat. better yet, mellings sells their performance pump w/adjustable relief tension and a bolt on pickup. various pickup lengths for different depth pans.

ron mattson · 02-06-2012, 04:56 PM

Just make a sheetmetal tab to weld on the pickup tube that has a 1/4 inch hole
in it to go to one of the bolts that hold on the pumps bottom plate and bolt it there.

cad · 02-06-2012, 05:58 PM

It has a strap built on, but I think the pickup could still rotate down a little.
Im thinking the previous Milodon pickup rotated down, contacted the pan, and then the vibration/contact broke it off.

This is the "extreme duty" pickup that was recommended:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Milodon/697/18316/10001/-1

I had a 18314 on prior. Identical except for the gussett that they added.

ron mattson · 02-06-2012, 06:03 PM

That pickup has the strap i was talking about right on it, if your having issues with it
still rotating i would put a little Permatex sleeve retaining compound on before putting
the pickup into the pump, between that and the strap it will not move.

Glenn Briglio · 02-06-2012, 06:28 PM

Full weld it and forget it if it has bracket bolted to pump.

02-06-2012, 11:33 AM	#1
cad Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 702 Likes: 202 Liked 91 Times in 51 Posts	Oil pump pickup - tack weld or don't weld We've just finished a complete refresh on my small block chevy. Late last summer, we began having a few oil pressure anomalies. When we tore it down, we discovered the Milodon screen/box broke off of the end of the tube. I froze and then installed the new Milodon pick up tube assm in the M55HV. I got it "seated" completely into the pump, put it back together, and then had to rotate it slightly to get the pan clearance. Milodon said do not weld the tube to the pump and they also recommended their "extreme duty" pick up 18316. What is the concensus? Should the pick up be tack welded to the pump? Thanks, Clark Doukas Last edited by cad; 02-06-2012 at 11:35 AM.

02-06-2012, 11:53 AM	#2
richie 2 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 971 Likes: 426 Liked 205 Times in 93 Posts	Re: Oil pump pickup - tack weld or don't weld a touch of weld is extra insurance...remove the relief spring first as not to weakin it due to the heat. better yet, mellings sells their performance pump w/adjustable relief tension and a bolt on pickup. various pickup lengths for different depth pans.

02-06-2012, 04:56 PM	#3
ron mattson Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: cloquet mn Posts: 466 Likes: 17 Liked 67 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Oil pump pickup - tack weld or don't weld Just make a sheetmetal tab to weld on the pickup tube that has a 1/4 inch hole in it to go to one of the bolts that hold on the pumps bottom plate and bolt it there. __________________ Ron Mattson 5015 STK

02-06-2012, 05:58 PM	#4
cad Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 702 Likes: 202 Liked 91 Times in 51 Posts	Re: Oil pump pickup - tack weld or don't weld It has a strap built on, but I think the pickup could still rotate down a little. Im thinking the previous Milodon pickup rotated down, contacted the pan, and then the vibration/contact broke it off. This is the "extreme duty" pickup that was recommended: http://www.jegs.com/i/Milodon/697/18316/10001/-1 I had a 18314 on prior. Identical except for the gussett that they added.

02-06-2012, 06:03 PM	#5
ron mattson Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: cloquet mn Posts: 466 Likes: 17 Liked 67 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Oil pump pickup - tack weld or don't weld That pickup has the strap i was talking about right on it, if your having issues with it still rotating i would put a little Permatex sleeve retaining compound on before putting the pickup into the pump, between that and the strap it will not move. __________________ Ron Mattson 5015 STK

02-06-2012, 06:28 PM	#6
Glenn Briglio VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Massapequa Park,NY Posts: 1,283 Likes: 1,902 Liked 972 Times in 309 Posts	Re: Oil pump pickup - tack weld or don't weld Full weld it and forget it if it has bracket bolted to pump.