Oil pick-up for 68 L36

[Charles F.]

I am having trouble finding the correct oil pick-up for a 68 L36. I bought one from Keen (the only place I found for this block) but it looks like a marine pick-up. It is cigar-shaped. I understand the original should be the shape of a coffee can, with a tube attached. This one looks nothing like that.

Any suggestions where to get the appropriate part ?

Thanks

Chuck

[Joe L.]

Re: Oil pick-up for 68 L36

I am having trouble finding the correct oil pick-up for a 68 L36. I bought one from Keen (the only place I found for this block) but it looks like a marine pick-up. It is cigar-shaped. I understand the original should be the shape of a coffee can, with a tube attached. This one looks nothing like that.

Any suggestions where to get the appropriate part ?

Thanks

Chuck

Charles------


I'm going to put together an informational post for big block and small block oil pick-ups soon as I mentioned in my "1963-94 Unique-To-Corvette" recent post.

I can tell you this: most of the aftermarket catalogs have the wrong pick-up listed for 1967-74 Corvette big blocks. The one they show is a functional replacement, but it's not configured anything like the originals used for the vast majority of big blocks.

The one you need is a Melling 77-S1 or Sealed Power 124-1252. These are identical pieces. They are very close, but not identical, to the original used for your application. The last available GM piece is discontinued and it was not identical to the original, either.

Please post a photo of the incorrect one you received from Keen.

[Charles F.]

Re: Oil pick-up for 68 L36

Joe:

I don't know how to post the photo, but this is the link to the Keen page with the photo:

http://www.keenparts.com/pages/detai...=140061&PL=186

Do you know where to buy either of the the pick ups you recommended ?

Thanks

Chuck

[Joe L.]

Re: Oil pick-up for 68 L36

Joe:

I don't know how to post the photo, but this is the link to the Keen page with the photo:

http://www.keenparts.com/pages/detai...=140061&PL=186

Do you know where to buy either of the the pick ups you recommended ?

Thanks

Chuck

Chuck------


That's the one I figured they would show as that's the one that most of the aftermarket replacement catalogs call for, INCLUDING those of Melling and Sealed Power. As I say, it will work but it's configured completely different from the original.

You can get the pick-ups I mentioned from Summit Racing. They offer great service and very fast shipping as well as excellent price. I don't know if they have both brands but it doesn't matter; they are both the same and both manufactured by Melling.

By the way, the pick-up offered by Paragon is configured very similar to the Melling and Sealed Power pieces I mentioned. However, if it's also the GM part number they say it is, GM #3955281, it's not the correct piece for a Corvette pan, although it is still available from GM. The 3955281 is a passenger car pick-up. It will work for a Corvette, but it's not exactly right.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Oil pick-up for 68 L36

the GM pickups are made like that because in the center where the recess in the cover is located there is a hole in the screen so if the screen gets plugged the pump will suck in the screen and open the hole to allow oil to get to the pump. most all racing pickups are fully open to allow the max flow to the pump and are oval shaped to prevent a vortex from forming

[Wayne M.]

Re: Oil pick-up for 68 L36

Joe; Clem -- care to guess what I have here ? Is on a 3855961 2-bolt 396 (May 15th '65). Still has original (passenger) oil pan, but the oil pump might be non-GM (Melling ?) There's a tag on one of the oil pump cover bolts that is stamped "77-HV". I see no stampings on the pickup.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Oil pick-up for 68 L36

Joe; Clem -- care to guess what I have here ? Is on a 3855961 2-bolt 396 (May 15th '65). Still has original (passenger) oil pan, but the oil pump might be non-GM (Melling ?) There's a tag on one of the oil pump cover bolts that is stamped "77-HV". I see no stampings on the pickup.

sounds like a melling HV pump

[Joe L.]

Re: Oil pick-up for 68 L36

Joe; Clem -- care to guess what I have here ? Is on a 3855961 2-bolt 396 (May 15th '65). Still has original (passenger) oil pan, but the oil pump might be non-GM (Melling ?) There's a tag on one of the oil pump cover bolts that is stamped "77-HV". I see no stampings on the pickup.

Wayne------


This oil screen and pick-up assembly is a GM #3955281. It pretty much as to be that part because this piece was never available in the aftermarket. This is the passenger car pick-up and screen. However, I believe this is the piece sold by Paragon for Corvette applications, assuming that the GM part number they have associated with their own number is correct. This will work for Corvette applications, but it's not a piece that was ever originally used for a Corvette application. It remains available from GM.

Pictured below is a GM #3955281. This one was manufactured by Melling, but I do not think that all were. However, as far as I can tell, it is not available under a Melling part number or, for that matter, any other aftermarket part number I can find.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Oil pick-up for 68 L36

Wayne------


This oil screen and pick-up assembly is a GM #3955281. It pretty much as to be that part because this piece was never available in the aftermarket. This is the passenger car pick-up and screen. However, I believe this is the piece sold by Paragon for Corvette applications, assuming that the GM part number they have associated with their own number is correct. This will work for Corvette applications, but it's not a piece that was ever originally used for a Corvette application. It remains available from GM.

Pictured below is a GM #3955281. This one was manufactured by Melling, but I do not think that all were. However, as far as I can tell, it is not available under a Melling part number or, for that matter, any other aftermarket part number I can find.

some of the pickups the tubing was not long enought for the screen part to clear the sheet metal "box" with the trap doors. the screen has to fit inside the "box"