|
Zane: Many thanks for your different take on this problem. All four rods have about 1/2" of threads showing past the cap bolt nuts. Is this a typical situation? I really don"t see why there would be so many excess threads but all 4 rods are all alike.It"s the # 2 rod bolt hitting but the #1 is just missing by the smallest of hairs. The new pickup tube appears to be cocked a little sideways when you get back and look at it mounted (in other words the bottom of the pickup sump? is not parallel with horizontal. Do you think this is an assembly problem or would all new pickup assemblys have the same problem?A small error in loction where the tubes goes into the oil pump casting would be greatly exagerrated 8 or 10 inches out along the tube.In other words a small angle error on a line 2 feet from you really becomes large if extended out 200 feet. If I can rule out connecting rod problems how else would you attack this? These are my current thoughts: 1. Grind off the excess threads on the connecting rod. Would this cause any odd problems? How about balance? Would this upset it? 2. Cut a slot in the tube which would allow me to bend the tube away from the rod bolts; take the tube off and repair my cut in that position and then remount it? I"m sure it won"t line up with the drain plug but I don"t think that is necessary. I"ve read posts that say it is but if the location of that tube is dependent on that flimsy screen on the drain plug something stinks at FOMOCO. 3. Return the new inlet tube to the Ford dealer? Or would all new ones be the same. 4. Do you think the tube where it is attached to the oil pump casting was just heat fitted or is there solder in there someplace? Could I just heat the casting and twist the tube a little until it works and then let it cool down?And then the question of solder. Any old solder? silver solder? Brazing? No solder (heat shrink)? 5. A combination of 1 - 4. I would be glad to send photos if it would help. Thanks. Rich
| 
