When driving the oil pump pickup into it's hole in the pump, is it a good idea to do that while the pump is mounted onto the block?

If not, where is a good place to clamp the pump in a vise?

Q #2 Does anyone use sealant where the pump mounts against the bearing saddle?
How about sealant on the stock oil filter adapter, where it fits to the block?

Thanks

 

I lightly clamp the pick up in the vise just below the ring. I then take a dead blow hammer and tap on the pump to drive it on the pick up. I also use a little blue locktite on the pick up where it enters the pump. This is good insurance. Sounds like the wrong way to do it but it goes in smooth and easy this way. Regarding sealer where the pump bolts to the cap. I use none.

 

I do it very similar to the above responce. But I put a pair of channel locks on the inlet tube, then hammer on the channel locks..tap tap tap till she goes in. Then I braize the pick up tube.

 

iron:

when i installed the pickup on my pump, i placed it (pump) in a vise and tapped the pickup in place with a hammer and wooden block. i set the pump so that the vise was pressed onto the body of the pump itself, where i figured it would be the strongest.

then i installed the pump onto the block and adjusted the pickup/pan clearance.

once i had that set, i took the pump to a friend's house where he welded the pickup in place.

the pump is installed WITHOUT sealant, and WITHOUT a gasket of ANY type. make sure the mounting surfaces are clean, that's all you need to do. obviously, don't forget to torque the bolt to proper spec. according to my 1984 camaro shop manual, spec is 65 ft lbs.

i've seen a big block chevy marine engine that failed (ate the crank) due to someone thinking that the oil pump needed a gasket. they modified an egr gasket to fit. however, it stuck out just enough that it left a gap large enough to prevent the oil from being pumped into the bearing cap. the oil merely recycled itself from the pump into the oil pan, and failed to provide lubrication to the bottom end at all.

as far as the oil filter plate needing sealant or not, i don't believe it requires any. i believe that the oil filter itself and the L98 oil cooler's sealing rings (if applicable) are ultimately responsible for sealing the oil filter adapter to the block. spec on the adapter bolts is listed as 80 inch lbs in my 1984 camaro shop manual.

 

lot of time (if i think of it) i freeze the pick up. clamp pump in vise and use hammer and open end wrench. weld a brace from pick up to pump and bolt to pump

 

None of you guys have one of those special pump pickup installer tools... ?
I just broke down and bought one of those. I used to do it the backyard way, but I decided to move up.
So if I'm using a tool like that, is it okay to drive the pickup on while the pump is on the motor? Or will it tweak something, like maybe the bearing cap?

 

You will probably be ok to gently tap the pick up on with the pump mounted. If you decide to weld the pick up on you will have to do it off the car.Off the car is the way I have always done it though. Also if you weld it you should remove the relief spring and valve as not to damage it from welding heat .