replace the oil pickup screen?

[nachoman]

I took my pan off today to replace the rear seal. While I am down there, a new oil pump is going in. The oil screen had bits of trash on it. The "trash" is of the non-metallic variety - namely a few pieces of gasket material and remains of a valve stem seal. Curiously the pieces of the oil stem seal turn hard and brittle with time.

Is it okay to just clean the screen an re-install, or do I need a new one?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[Asa]

should be able to just clean it out and re-install

one thing i'd worry about would be making sure that you re-installed it in such a way that it couldn't come loose, i've seen people braze them to the pickup

 

[nachoman]

I decided it needed replacement. The way I figure, the screen part is supposed to keep the hole in the center pressed up against the metal crosspiece. Correct me if I am wrong, but this would mean if the screen ever gets too clogged, the screen will pull away from the crosspiece, and allow oil through the large hole in the center of the screen. In other words, it is better to potentially circulate oil with particles in it than no oil at all. My old one, the screen is distorted and the center hole is completely exposed.

Anyway, autozone had a new one for 20 bucks, and should be her by noon. Better safe than sorry.

Kevin

 

[Hot 6t Falcon]

Howdy,

Are you replacing the valve seals too? The screen is yelling at you to do a replacement of the valve seals too. Or the remaining seals will fall into the new screen.

The valve spring seals can be change withOUT removing the head.

Good Luck, Dennis

 

[rommaster2]

Howdy,

Are you replacing the valve seals too? The screen is yelling at you to do a replacement of the valve seals too. Or the remaining seals will fall into the new screen.

The valve spring seals can be change withOUT removing the head.

Good Luck, Dennis

Could you explain this process of changing em without removing the head, as well as the tools required. I may have to do this to my sisters 289 heads.

 

[wallaka]

The ol' rope trick, where you feed a length of soft cord through the spark plug hole and manually rotate the engine so that the rope holds the valves up and you can remove the retainers without the valves falling in the cylinder.

 

[nachoman]

Howdy,

Are you replacing the valve seals too? The screen is yelling at you to do a replacement of the valve seals too. Or the remaining seals will fall into the new screen.

The valve spring seals can be change withOUT removing the head.

Good Luck, Dennis

Yes, I will be. But these broken seals have likely been in there for years, from before the last time I had the head reworked. Probably a good idea to drop the pan and clean it out after every time you replace a seal or gasket in the engine.

Kevin