Here's A Great Way To Blow Up Your Brand New Engine - 1969 Plymouth GTX 440 Oil Pickup Fitment Fix

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Published 2024-06-28

Here's a nightmare scenario in hot rodding. You stand on the brakes in your classic car, and the oil light comes on - or even worse, you stand on the throttle and rip out of the lights, and the oil light comes on... It's not a Mopar problem or a 440 problem, it's an engine assembly problem. When you're bolting together your shiny new engine components, overlooking the oil pickup to pan fitment and clearance is not something you want to do. It's absolutely essential to the long term survival of your engine. It's your job as the engine assembler to ensure that the pickup is as close to the bottom of the pan as it can be without making contact, which can cause sealing issues and the bending of important parts. And in this case, the problem is exacerbated by an aftermarket dipstick that doesn't read the oil level anywhere near correctly. So while you're at it, you might want to check that too. Or do yourself a favor and stick with original factory components. Anyway, let's sort out this obvious oil pickup issue, and try to ensure that this big block Mopar lives a long and happy life. ‪@rocketresto‬

All Comments (21)

@localcrew yesterday

Around 50 years ago (!) a friend had oiling issues with a 383 Magnum in his Super Bee. He and I pulled the pan and discovered that the oil pickup was badly cracked. Went to the dealer and got a new one — or tried to. The “Magnum” pickup was different, we tried to explain. “Nope — this’ll fit any 383” the parts guy explained. Yeah — he was wrong. We had to bring the old one in and place it alongside the one he had sold us to prove our point. So he reluctantly opened the parts book and whaddaya know. A 15 year old and an 18 year old knew a thing or two.
@bigwrenchtech 2 days ago

I’m here because you’re here
@burtbacarach5034 2 days ago

Dude that car is FREAKIN GORGEOUS.I was never a fan of green either but....GORGEOUS.
@Mr9501 2 days ago

That happened to me on the very first car engine I built 48 years ago…a 383 Mopar for my ‘71 Roadrunner…wrong pickup in a 402 pan…about an inch off the floor of the pan. That motor lasted maybe 200-300 miles before I went over a set of RR tracks and it sucked air…goodbye number 6 rod bearing. Start over again….learned to measure the second time and every time after…also taught it to my engine class students.
@brianandglendaharkin9457 2 days ago

Green takes you back when cars were enjoyable to me it reminds me of what MOPAR is they built great old school cars .👍🏻🇦🇺. Nice save on the pick up .
@indianaslim4971 2 days ago

I had a 69 Fury 4 door with a 318 in that color, the Jolly Green Giant was an absolute blast to drive, handled better than expected, maybe the best $125 car ever!
@lonnyjaw yesterday

Yeah Brother, my '69 Road Runner was built with the F8 color code. When it was repainted many years ago by the previous owner they changed it to a cross between F6 and Rally Green Metallic. Where ever I take it, this particular shade of green gets 'thumbs up' and compliments. Keep the cool vids coming - very good and helpful. Thanks!
@user-xm2ew1lg8w 2 days ago

Any Mopar is a great car. There are tons of red and blue cars. The green is gorgeous and more rare. Awesome car!
@davidkeeton6716 2 days ago

Green and brown are my favorite colors for a 68-69 Road Runner. Great tips here that should save some engines.
@steves9905 2 days ago

Loooove the green. Fastest I ever went in a car was 140 in a same green on green ‘70 GTX on I5 in Seattle at 2am. In 1979. Good times.
@zs5948 2 days ago

i built my 440 for my 67 charger a few weeks ago, and wanting to check this same measurement went rooting thru my toolbox (which used to be my dads' toolbox). i found some crayola modeling clay in the bottom drawer that i remember being there since i was a small child. and i was never allowed to play with it cause it was for something! anyways, 25 years later i got to take some of the modeling clay out of the package and use it to check pickup to pan bottom clearance...which i'm assuming is the same reason my dad had it in there in the first place. a true full circle moment!
@burthenry7740 2 days ago

Good job diagnosing the problem before it became a "post mortem' issue! I kinda like the green, it was a fairly common color back then. Back when us teenagers called the GTX a "Git-Ex". Hey. if GTO's were 'goats' what's wrong with a Git-Ex?
@antilaw9911 2 days ago

I'm 60 year old Mopar lover. Ditch all factory oil pans on them old engines!! Always use an front crank oil slinger and a windage tray. Also use a Moroso 8 qt deep sump pan with high volume oil pump. Go bear the snot out out it after that. Have fun! 👍
@user-xk5nv9ci3t 2 days ago

Great tech. I use a 1/4 inch or 3/8 inch drill bit taped across the pickup. Put a small dab of grease on the drill bit and hold the oil pan in place with the gasket. You should get a small kiss of grease on the pan. If the clearance is not right i heat the pick up tube with a torch and "adjust" it.
@mikedaugharty5544 2 days ago

Great catch there Jamie you saved the man a engine and a lot of money!!!!!!!!!!
@idaholineman5788 yesterday

Love the green, that’s the exact spec I’d want in a 69 gtx..well a 4 speed. Here’s to dreamin!!
@beljames1563 2 days ago

I'm glad he brought this car to you guys. Great job spotting the issue. Green is ok with me. I love any GTX 66-70. But I agree on 68.
@dieselgrandpa4181 yesterday

I love the green, I had a 71 Swinger Green on green on green. I would love a 68 to 70 Charger in green with preferably a black vinyl top. This is a great car, thanks for the video
@scofab 2 days ago

No sweat on the steering wheel... you're on the right side of the road so you're steering slightly left against the crown of the road. On a clear road hit the opposite lane for a minute and if the tilt of the wheel is exactly opposite then you're right on. I like the green... my first "real" car was a '70 Fury about that shade, with a darker roof. Fun times. Shiny side up, fun hangin' out. Cheers.
@MattsRageFitGarage 2 days ago

I'm not a green guy either but I think it looks great on that car. Actually, the whole car looks great.