56 Corvette oil pump pickup

[Allen W.]

I am assembling parts to complete an engine to install in my 56 Corvette. Melling list an M-46 pump as correct but I believe no pickup/screen comes with the pump. Sealed Power Vintage lists a pump but no indication that a pickup/screen comes with the pump. I am going to use the correct Corvette deep pan. I have access to a used 56 Bel Air engine and the pickup/screen looks rather short. ST 12 gives no guidance. I could take the pan off my the engine currently in the car with a deep pan to see what is installed but I know this is a replacement engine and would be skeptical on what I would see. Can anyone give some assistance on where I could get a correct pickup/screen or what the correct screen looks like?

Allen Wiles (34834)

[Joe L.]

Re: 56 Corvette oil pump pickup

I am assembling parts to complete an engine to install in my 56 Corvette. Melling list an M-46 pump as correct but I believe no pickup/screen comes with the pump. Sealed Power Vintage lists a pump but no indication that a pickup/screen comes with the pump. I am going to use the correct Corvette deep pan. I have access to a used 56 Bel Air engine and the pickup/screen looks rather short. ST 12 gives no guidance. I could take the pan off my the engine currently in the car with a deep pan to see what is installed but I know this is a replacement engine and would be skeptical on what I would see. Can anyone give some assistance on where I could get a correct pickup/screen or what the correct screen looks like?

Allen Wiles (34834)

Allen------


The original oil pickup screen for your application was discontinued 50 years ago. You'll NEVER find one. However, there was a GM replacement which was available for many years but is also now discontinued. It was GM #3754942. In any event, you can obtain a replacement for the 3754942 under Sealed Power #224-1146.


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[Joe L.]

Re: 56 Corvette oil pump pickup

By the way, I should also have mentioned that the Melling M-46 is the correct oil pump for your 1956 application. Also, neither the Melling M-46, the original/later replacement GM oil pumps, or any other oil pumps were ever supplied with an installed correct pickup screen.

[David B.]

Re: 56 Corvette oil pump pickup

Pick up screen for '56 # 3836982 was used for all V8s, including Corv. (8 cyl.) If you really want one find any original '56 V8 engine and pull it off. The question is do you want it or something better.

[John C.]

Re: 56 Corvette oil pump pickup

Here is the original pickup......was just laying on the shed floor...may be missing a shield? I found the pump in another shed.

IMG_0512.jpgIMG_0513.jpgIMG_0514.jpg

There is also a pickup listed on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-1955-1956-1957-Corvette-8-Cyl-Oil-Pump-Screen-3754942-1-656-/370656892591?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

1. M46 oil pump (Melling)


2. IS46 pump shaft (Melling)


3. 55-S Pickup screen (Melling)

[Joe L.]

Re: 56 Corvette oil pump pickup

[QUOTE=John Coupens (53567)

...may be missing a shield?




[/QUOTE]

John------



These very early pick-up screens did not have the shield I think you are referring to (i.e. the stamped steel piece seen on the bottom of the NOS GM #3754942).

[John C.]

Re: 56 Corvette oil pump pickup

John------



These very early pick-up screens did not have the shield I think you are referring to (i.e. the stamped steel piece seen on the bottom of the NOS GM #3754942).

Hi Joe,


Oh, ok...cool!


Thanks!


John

[Joe L.]

Re: 56 Corvette oil pump pickup

Hi Joe,


Oh, ok...cool!


Thanks!


John

John------


By the way, are you absolutely certain that the oil pick-up you pictured is an original from a 1956-57 Corvette engine? The reason I ask is because I am a bit uncertain as to the configuration of this pick-up. I have been looking for an NOS example so that I can confirm the exact configuration. However, I've been looking for well over 20 years and I have not found one yet. I have NOS examples of every Corvette pick-up screen ever used on every Corvette from 1958 to 1996. However, I've never been able to find an NOS 55-57.

[John C.]

Re: 56 Corvette oil pump pickup

Hi Joe,


The oil pickup came off of the pump pictured and it was inside the '56 FG motor when I got it. The oil pan didn't look like it had ever been off the motor and all of the date codes (block, heads, etc.) were within 30 days and the cam had the correct part number....it does not appear that the long block was ever opened up.


John

IMG0185.jpgIMG0186.jpgNew Engine 001n.jpgNew Engine 004n.jpg

[Lynn L.]

Re: 56 Corvette oil pump pickup

Also assembling a 265 (1955), original camshaft # is? Recommendation on replacement? Tanks for help!

[David B.]

Re: 56 Corvette oil pump pickup

John,
Your '56 oil pump and pick up looks correct to me. Chevrolet must have made a million since they were used on all 265 (8 cyl) in 1956. There was a slight change to the '57 pick up so both years would probably not look the same. I might have the blueprint somewhere.

Lynn,
Call Crain cam 866-388-5120 and tell them you are building a '55 and they will point you in the right direction. As you are probably aware the '55 engine requires special attention to the cam configuration. Good Luck

[Joe L.]

Re: 56 Corvette oil pump pickup

Hi Joe,


The oil pickup came off of the pump pictured and it was inside the '56 FG motor when I got it. The oil pan didn't look like it had ever been off the motor and all of the date codes (block, heads, etc.) were within 30 days and the cam had the correct part number....it does not appear that the long block was ever opened up.


John

[ATTACH=CONFIG]60462[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]60463[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]60464[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]60465[/ATTACH]

John------


I'm very confident now the pick-up is original. Years ago I was led to believe that the 1955-57 pick-ups were "articulating" (i.e. some sort of "flexible joint" between the tube and screen sections). However, that's obviously not the case. There were actually two pick-ups used over the 1955-57 period. The first was GM #3836982 which was used from 1955 through some or all of 1957. The second was GM #3837159 which was probably used for later 1957. The 3836982 was discontinued from SERVICE in August, 1957 and replaced by the 3837159. The 3837159 was discontinued in August, 1960 and replaced by GM #3754942 which was finally discontinued without supercession in the last few years. However, an identical pick-up is available from Melling and Sealed Power as described above. While the pick-up I pictured above is a Sealed Power version, I have NOS examples of the 3754942 and I have compared them carefully. They are absolutely identical.

[John C.]

Re: 56 Corvette oil pump pickup

Also assembling a 265 (1955), original camshaft # is? Recommendation on replacement? Tanks for help!

Hi Lynn,


I sent my original '56 225hp cam, GM# 3711354, Casting# 3711355 to Dimitri "Dema" Elgin of Elgin Cams where he performed a profile analysis, generated an exact duplicate and reground the original. I would have used the original, but it had a small chip missing off of the trailing edge of the distributor drive gear. It was rounded off and smooth, so it had run without incident and there was no evidence of distress on the distributor gear. I decided to use the new cam and sold the original.


Elgin says he has aquired many original GM/Chevy cam masters, so he may have a '55 cam/part#.

http://elgincams.com

CAM1.jpgCAM2.jpgCAM3.jpgCAM4.jpgCAM5.jpg

John

[Joe L.]

Re: 56 Corvette oil pump pickup

John,
Your '56 oil pump and pick up looks correct to me. Chevrolet must have made a million since they were used on all 265 (8 cyl) in 1956. There was a slight change to the '57 pick up so both years would probably not look the same. I might have the blueprint somewhere.

Lynn,
Call Crain cam 866-388-5120 and tell them you are building a '55 and they will point you in the right direction. As you are probably aware the '55 engine requires special attention to the cam configuration. Good Luck

David------


If you have blueprints of either the 3836982 and/or the 3837159 I'd be very interested in seeing them.

[Joe L.]

Re: 56 Corvette oil pump pickup

Hi Lynn,


I sent my original '56 225hp cam, GM# 3711354, Casting# 3711355 to Dimitri "Dema" Elgin of Elgin Cams where he performed a profile analysis, generated an exact duplicate and reground the original. I would have used the original, but it had a small chip missing off of the trailing edge of the distributor drive gear. It was rounded off and smooth, so it had run without incident and there was no evidence of distress on the distributor gear. I decided to use the new cam and sold the original.


Elgin says he has aquired many original GM/Chevy cam masters, so he may have a '55 cam/part#.

http://elgincams.com

[ATTACH=CONFIG]60468[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]60469[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]60470[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]60471[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]60472[/ATTACH]

John

John------


According to GM the same cam, GM #3711354, was used for both 1955 and 1956 Corvette applications. I have no direct experience with these applications so I can't say one way or the other. In any event, I can say that if the 3711354 was not originally used for 1955, it was the cam which GM specified to SERVICE 1955 applications. It was discontinued without supercession in May, 1975.