Oil pump pickup - tack weld or don't weld

[Glenn Briglio]

Originally Posted by 63corvette

i have been at this for 40 plus years and i can tell you i have had the spot welds brake and the tube come out.
I have had pumps with brackets on them bolted to the pump and i would spot weld them and the bracket would break at various points and the spot weld break also and the tube fall out.
The only true way to make sure the tube never comes out is to weld it fully all the way around the tube. I have used brass and tig to full weld it and can say one is just as good as the other. They both worked for me.
The full round weld is the only way to make sure you never have the tube coming out.
My 2 cents
rick cates

+10

[cad]

Good info for everyone. A friend had the same issue with his super class big block...pro built, but still fell out.
I can tell you that I will be visually inspecting the pickup during every oil change from now on. I can see it through the drain hole.

Clark

[Rich Biebel]

You can mig weld them and I have never had one break at that weld. All the way around.

You can also buy some with a flange that bolts on and also a screw on type.

Canton and Melling have a lot of options....

Dragsters have the reputation for doing great damage to oil pumps and pickups and they do break them. Tire shake on a burnout is what does it.

I broke a pump in half at the neck area on a BB from tire shake.
Seen it happen to others......At the very least a sheet metal brace from the pump body down to a main cap is whats needed. Or a billet pump....