tryin to get the right clearance. i put a lot of RTV in one area then a small dab in another area. the big section is not making contact with the pickup. im guessin i have at least .5" of clearance but that's from the center of the pickup screen, not the tip. the tip hits the oil pan where the small dab of RTV is. does this mean i have to move it up a lil more so it doesnt hit the pan? before i tightened the pickup retainer i put it as close to the original as i could get it.

 

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Interesting method. Maybe try using some clay on the end of the pickup so then you can cut it in half after you have test fit the pan.
Try to get around 1/4" to 3/8" clearance between the pan and pickup.

 

One trick is to set the pickup screen low, tape a spacer of the right thickness (like a block of wood, or the shank of a drill bit) to the pickup screen, install the pan to force the pickup into place, then remove it and secure the pickup.

 

yea i dont have any clay so i had to resort to this. im guessin i have to go lower with the pickup. the thing is since its at an angle, im confused as to where i have to measure from. the middle of the screen appears to be too high, and the part that is lowest appears to make contact with the pan. think ima try and stop being a cheapass and get some clay tomorrow.

 

Measure from the pan rail on the block to the lowest point of the pickup. Then measure from the lip of the pan to the part of the sump where the pickup sits. Find the difference in the two measurements and that's your clearance. I shoot for 3/8". If its less, twist the pickup tube up. If it's more than 3/8" twist it down before you tack it to the pump

 

But don't forget the gasket!!!

 

thanx guys. pretty sure got it right. i did the measuring and came out to about 3/8" clearance. reason why the pickup was hittin the pan early was b/c there was a dent right there and i didnt realize it.

another question about the pump. before i bolted it to the block the shaft would spin easily with my fingers. now its been bolted up for about 2 weeks and today i tried to turn it from the bottom but couldnt do it. had to get a big flathead screwdriver and turn it from the distributor hole. but even then its still somewhat hard to turn. is this somethin to be concerned about? or will it be fine once there is oil circulating? thx.

 

if you could reach it from the bottom that means it wasn't attatched to the pump so yes, it would spin easer that way. The only way to turn it with the pump installed is from the top and you'll be spinning the pump so it'll be harder. Did you take the pump apart and lube everything real well before you installed it?