oil pickups on a new pump, weld or not?
 

Should the oil pickups on a new Melling pump be tack welded once in place or is it ok to just stuff the pickup in the hole and leave it?

tack weld it

Another article that I am doing for FAMILY AND PERFORMANCE BOATING MAGAZINE (March 2003) is on oil pumps.
Take the oil pump apart, remove the spring and bypass valve and have a welder use a tig machine with nickle rod (stainless also works but not as nice) to weld the pickup tube to the pump.

There are many different styles of inexpensive tools available for driving in the pickup tube. Lightly start the tube into the pump holding the pump in your hands while you tap on the tool with a hammer. Now tap the pump onto the pickup. In other words, tap the tool on the workbench using the pump weight for the hammer. Don't put the pump on the bench and hit the tool with a hammer!
There are many other things in the March issue of F+PB magazine that you will find interesting about oil pumps, oil pans and marine dipstick tubes.
Sincerely
Dennis Moore
FAMILY AND PERFORMANCE BOATING MAGAZINE

Tack weld it and add a brace never hurts. I have heard of pickup tubes breaking. Cheap insurance. Did I say tack weld it. :D

I have built countless engines for cars/trucks over the past 20 years. I never bothered with welding the p/u tube until a few years ago when I lost oil pressure in a 454 that had only about 2500 miles on it. I pulled the pan and the pickup tube had almost fallen off. I drove it back on and tack welded into place. Problem solved! I have welded EVERY pickup tube since! Just follow the procedure described by Dennis Moore and all will work great.
GOOD LUCK!
Donnie