Hardin Marine "XS" oil pan install
 

I am installing a Hardin Marine xtreme series oil pan on my 496 stroker. It came with a bolt on pickup tube but there are directions with the pan stating to braze the pickup tube. The pickup tube I have on the motor now is a bolt on but its not brazed. Can I get by without having it brazed? I really dont want to pull the oil pump off.

Mine was a real loose fit in the pump. I welded it so it couldn't suck air.

I have heard that this is one reason to braze the pickups 360*. What about using some type of oil-resistant sealant, like The Right Stuff?

Lost my last motor to silicone on the pickup tube. Po put way too much silicone on the pan and it came off inside. Guess I'll just braze it.

Yeah I wouldn't use silicone near the pickup tube.

Good catch on that. What was I thinking?

On a related note, you have to be careful about welding slag if you weld it on. I found out first hand how much that can tear up a pump with my last motor. Piece of slag got sucked up and galled up the gears. Apparently it's a good idea to bang your pickup against a hard surface to knock loose any potential slag from where they welded on the screen. Don't know how common it is, but I can see where it could happen. This article mentions it, and has some other good info about pumps and pickups:

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/2009...mp-technology/

Thanks for the info.

If you weld it I would take it apart and TIG weld it with a high nickel filler wire and use a back up gas inside the tube. That will not produce any slag.. When you are done make sure the surface is flat.