The Dodge Challenger Message Board

OK, here we go again, new problem I finally got the stubborn piece of broken off pick up tube out but now I installed the new pick up tube and I cannot get the oil pan on. The tube hits the front baffle in the pan preventing the pan from going up. The tube is identical to what came out but now i'm thinking maybe the wrong pick up tube was in there to begin with causing it to break because it was hitting/vibrating against the pan. Are there different tubes? Mine is straight and the oil pan has a front and rear baffle. Would it hurt anything to remove the front baffle so that the tube clears? It also has a windage tray. Please help, I feel everytime I take a step forward I go two steps back.

Here is the pick up tube.

Rick, why not carefully bend the baffle in the oil pan enough so it clears the pick up tube. You only need .030 clearance,( less for a crank scraper) This wont hurt anything at all as long as the tack welds on the baffle doesnt break, just be careful and bend it enough for clearance. Bending the oil pickup tube is asking for trouble, so I wouldnt do that unless you have to. Can you post a pic of the inside of the oil pan and that baffled area? At least you got the offending piece out of the block boss.

Eddie, I thought about that, but was afraid by bending the center section of the baffle it will pull at the sides where the tack welds are and I don't want them to break causing a hole. I do have a pic of the baffle, but will have to post it later when I'm out of work. It is the typical 440 oil pan, I think they are all the same. I am going to call someone at 440 source.com today to see what they have to say.

I don't think that pick-up is screwed in correctly. It looks like it should be another quarter turn anti-clockwise. Or 3/4 turn clockwise.

Scratch that. It must be right or it would not be level.

Here is mine for comparison.

Yeah I see what you mean Dave.(The pickup itself should be flat not tilted but I think it's the tube itself hitting part of the windage tray),couldn't he just bend a part of the windage tray away from the tube itself? BTW, I used the Milodon tray, it has much larger openings. Dave you see where the factory welded that tube section? I think his is hitting or rubbing right there. It wouldnt hurt anything by snipping off that area and giving the proper clearance. If it's hitting around the actual sump, then it can also be trimmed to clear the pickup.

Mine is not hitting the windage tray, the tube is hitting the front baffle in the oil pan. Dave you have the same windage tray and pick up tube as me. Does your oil pan have baffles or not? There may be a tube with a bend for the baffeled oil pans. That weld on your tube is not factory what up with that?

Here is a photo of one from 440source.

Shown above is our NEW curved type oil pickup. It is a necessity with most factory car type oil pans that have internal baffles welded in them, as the curve in the tube is engineered to allow the pickup to avoid hitting the baffle. Most 1973 and later 440's and 400's will use this pickup.
Part No: 101-1010 - Oil Pickup Tube Curved - NEW. Price: $39.95


This was the caption under this tube. Do I need this one with the curve?

Rick, here is my factory SixPack oil pan 6 Qt. is this the baffle area thats hitting the tube? If so how much is it hitting as far as you can tell? Can you install your pan on the block, without forcing anything? Does it hit really bad before you can line up the mounting holes to the block? If it's just a bit of clearancing thats all thats needed, I would take a high spped die grinder to it. I thought about bending it and that may work OK but if you "pop" a spotweld you could always get it fixed pretty easy.

Another

Rick, another thing I was thinking, are you sure the threads in the block are undamaged and the pickup is securely in place? Dave always has to have a larger longer pickup than anyone else! Seriously I think Dave is using a deep sump and had his pickup tube extended the necessay amount lest he suck air, and spew forth a frothy mixture into his main bearings,(not good).

Mine is just the stock HP 440 sump with the baffles. But now I come to think about it. I have a feeling that the baffle is cut to clear the tube. Not sure though. I can't trust my memory these days.

Not the rear baffle that your finger is pointing to, the front one is hitting alot not by a fraction. I cannot get the pan into place between the K frame and the underside of the pick up tube. Did you look at the picture of the curved tube from 440 Source?

here is the pan

So, it's hitting the rear baffle pretty bad huh? I would use the curved pickup from 440 source. I thought it was a slight rubbing/hitting going on there Rick. Did you speak with Brandon,(440source), and ask him if that curved pickup is engineered for the stock 6 qt. pan? If so, I would use it. As long as the pickup point is the same distance to the bottom of the sump, and of course they are both 3/8 I.D. with the same thread it would work just fine.

IT"S ALIVE AND KICKING!!!! Thanks for everyone help! The lifters took about 10 minutes to quite down but after that she was quite as a mouse! Runs great and awesome oil pressure Now she needs a basic tune up (plugs, wires, set timing, cap and rotor) easy stuff! Sure is a tough engine because she ran totally dry for about 2-3 minutes Thanks Again!!

Great news. Glad that it worked out for you Rick!