Big Block Oil Pick-Up and Screen

[Wayne M.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pick-Up and Screen

what was the part# of the pump assy that used these pickup. i never saw one.

Clem, Joe L -- I'm getting conflicting info with what Joe has has said about the L88 pumps having that weird full screen pickup. The thumbnail pic is from "how to Hot Rod BB Chev's" printed 5-'71. On the left is the L88 pump (can barely see ballpoint-written # 3964259 on the flat). To me, that looks like the standard BB pickup (maybe the tube geometry changes according to the application). The pump in the middle [ignore the Melling pump on the right] has black marker "826" (ie 3904826) on the upper pump housing and the (shorter) gear end. This is the standard solid lifter (production) pump.

Now to the Chev Parts catalogs.... The 1968 first issue (ie. Oct '67 P&A30) lists 3904826 as also used for '67-68 CORVETTE w/H.D. 427 (ie. the L88). The Oct '66 catalog (ie. first issue '67) shows nothing specific to L88 -- makes sense because the RPO was not released yet). The first time the 3946026 shows up (in the catalogs I have, at least) is a July 1969 revision of the P&A30, and the pump applies to '67-69 L88's but not L71's (or L89 or L72 or L78, understood) Notation says "w/screen".

Too bad nobody has one of these 3964259 pumps "new in the box", circa 1970.

[Joe L.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pick-Up and Screen

Clem, Joe L -- I'm getting conflicting info with what Joe has has said about the L88 pumps having that weird full screen pickup. The thumbnail pic is from "how to Hot Rod BB Chev's" printed 5-'71. On the left is the L88 pump (can barely see ballpoint-written # 3964259 on the flat). To me, that looks like the standard BB pickup (maybe the tube geometry changes according to the application). The pump in the middle [ignore the Melling pump on the right] has black marker "826" (ie 3904826) on the upper pump housing and the (shorter) gear end. This is the standard solid lifter (production) pump.

Now to the Chev Parts catalogs.... The 1968 first issue (ie. Oct '67 P&A30) lists 3904826 as also used for '67-68 CORVETTE w/H.D. 427 (ie. the L88). The Oct '66 catalog (ie. first issue '67) shows nothing specific to L88 -- makes sense because the RPO was not released yet). The first time the 3946026 shows up (in the catalogs I have, at least) is a July 1969 revision of the P&A30, and the pump applies to '67-69 L88's but not L71's (or L89 or L72 or L78, understood) Notation says "w/screen".

Too bad nobody has one of these 3964259 pumps "new in the box", circa 1970.

Wayne-----


First, I agree that it's possible that the style pick-up I pictured earlier was used only for 1969 L-88 and not 67-68. In that case, the 1969 style pump and screen were only SERVICE for 1967-68 L-88. I don't know this but I think it's highly possible. That would make the 1969 style L-88 pump even more "exclusive" than I thought.

Now, with respect to the picture you posted, I think this is one of those cases where you can't believe everything you read in a book. The L-88 pump DID NOT use a "pump with longer gears" as the author states. It used a pump with the same length gears as L-36, L-72, L-78, L-71, L-68, LS-5, LS-6, and LS-4.

The only GM pump that used longer gears was the ZL-1 pump, GM #3969870. That is the pump pictured and it has exactly the pick-up and screen assembly on it as it should----the same one used for all 1969+ big blocks EXCEPT L-88. The author has confused the ZL-1 pump with the L-88 pump.

[Ken A.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pick-Up and Screen

A very recent question regarding the 1968 L-36 oil pick-up and screen brings to light an interesting issue regarding these pieces. As I mentioned earlier, I'll be posting some more complete and detailed information regarding these pieces when I get around to it.

However, for now, perhaps we can have another question for all of you to ponder. This one is WAY easier than the last one, so it should not take as long for someone to come up with the answer.

Here's the issue and question: most of the aftermarket engine parts catalogs specify an oil screen and pick-up for 1967-74 Corvettes with big block which is incorrect. They also specify the same one for just about every other Chevrolet big block application from 1967-75 but it's incorrect for those, too. It's functional, but nothing like the ones that were originally used. However, a pick-up of this configuration was used for ONE big block application during the 1965-75 period for either passenger car, Chevelle, Monte Carlo, Camaro, Chevy II, or Corvette.

Does anyone know what it was?

A picture of the oil pick-up and screen is shown below:

According to my 78 Chevy Power Book this pickup was THE recommended
pickup screen for all big blocks and was attached to the ZL1 oil pump assembly, part # 3969870. According to the CPB, this pickup prevented picking up air along with the oil. A similiar P/U screen was recommended for small block racing engines.

[Joe L.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pick-Up and Screen

According to my 78 Chevy Power Book this pickup was THE recommended
pickup screen for all big blocks and was attached to the ZL1 oil pump assembly, part # 3969870. According to the CPB, this pickup prevented picking up air along with the oil. A similiar P/U screen was recommended for small block racing engines.

Ken------


Attached are photos of a GM #3969870, the ZL-1 oil pump.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pick-Up and Screen

Joe - going going gone, in this mix of parts is a screen...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150429396151

The pic on the right is what I was told-sold as the original 66-427 pickup.

[Joe L.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pick-Up and Screen

Joe - going going gone, in this mix of parts is a screen...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150429396151

The pic on the right is what I was told-sold as the original 66-427 pickup.

Ronald------


I can't see it or the parts label well enough in the photo to say if it is or it isn't the 65-66 pick-up and screen assembly.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pick-Up and Screen

Hoping to get a close up photo...

[Ken A.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pick-Up and Screen

Ken------


Attached are photos of a GM #3969870, the ZL-1 oil pump.

Joe,
That P/U does not match the picture in the 78 Power Book. The P/U you show is described as a passenger style part. Chevy Power Books were quite specific on what the proper P/U should be for racing engines.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pick-Up and Screen

....The only GM pump that used longer gears was the ZL-1 pump, GM #3969870. That is the pump pictured and it has exactly the pick-up and screen assembly on it as it should----the same one used for all 1969+ big blocks EXCEPT L-88. The author has confused the ZL-1 pump with the L-88 pump.

.

Joe -- (from same HtHRBBChev source) in the back of the book they list Heavy-Duty parts list [buy these at your Chevy store ]

3964255 Pump Asm. Oil, w/screen ... HD oil pump (1.3" gears) for deep oil pan 3879633.

3969870 Pump Asm. Oil, w/screen ... ZL1 oil pump (1.3" gears) for standard pan.

3964259 Pump Asm., Oil, without screen ... L88 67-71, 454 HP

3904826 Pump Asm., Oil, w/screen ... HiPerf with mechanical lifters, L88 and 454.

So yes, the caption under the pic I posted earlier probably should have read "ZL1" instead of L88. I don't know why they describe the '259' as w/o screen [maybe so the weird full screen pickup can be added later ?]

[Joe L.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pick-Up and Screen

.

Joe -- (from same HtHRBBChev source) in the back of the book they list Heavy-Duty parts list [buy these at your Chevy store ]

3964255 Pump Asm. Oil, w/screen ... HD oil pump (1.3" gears) for deep oil pan 3879633.

3969870 Pump Asm. Oil, w/screen ... ZL1 oil pump (1.3" gears) for standard pan.

3964259 Pump Asm., Oil, without screen ... L88 67-71, 454 HP

3904826 Pump Asm., Oil, w/screen ... HiPerf with mechanical lifters, L88 and 454.

So yes, the caption under the pic I posted earlier probably should have read "ZL1" instead of L88. I don't know why they describe the '259' as w/o screen [maybe so the weird full screen pickup can be added later ?]

Wayne-------


The book has its oil pump descriptions "mixed up" again. All of the P&A Catalogs that list the 3964259 oil pump show it as "w/screen". Plus, I have 3 NOS examples of the 3904826 oil pump, the one that they say is supplied "with screen", and none of them have a screen installed.

[Joe L.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pick-Up and Screen

Joe,
That P/U does not match the picture in the 78 Power Book. The P/U you show is described as a passenger style part. Chevy Power Books were quite specific on what the proper P/U should be for racing engines.

Ken------


I don't have a 1978 edition of the Chevrolet Power book. However, I have a 1976, 1984, and several later versions and none of them show a big block oil pump which has installed the style pick-up I pictured in my initial post in this thread. There is a photo in both the 1976 and 1984 editions, though, that shows an oil pump with what they describe as a "typical production screen" and, below that, a separate pick-up that they describe as a "mini-screen" which they recommend for racing applications.

As far as I know, the 3969870 ZL-1 pump was always supplied with the style pick-up as seen in the photo I posted of that pump.

I think the L-88 pump is a different story, though.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pick-Up and Screen

Joe,
here are the two most important pictures of that collection that sold, two posts above. Good stuff that has been around from the early to mid 70's - back when you could go to Flint and get this stuff direct from the general. PICS Thanks to the gentleman that had this part>>>

[Joe L.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pick-Up and Screen

Joe,
here are the two most important pictures of that collection that sold, two posts above. Good stuff that has been around from the early to mid 70's - back when you could go to Flint and get this stuff direct from the general. PICS Thanks to the gentleman that had this part>>>

Ronald------


The GM #3955282 oil pick-up and screen was used for 1969-74 big blocks except L-88. It also will SERVICE 67-68 big blocks. It was never cataloged for a 1965-66 Corvette big block application but I believe it will work for 1965-66 applications.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Big Block Oil Pick-Up and Screen

Melling continues to make this same screen/pump for these engines today, located in Michigan. This was the screen they had listed for 65-66.

What came out of the car was the one shown in this thread...

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthread.php?t=76482