LS Tech: Improved Racing's Oil Pickup Tube Brace Install 

Thanks! Got a new set of XS Power long tube headers and their 3" catted x-pipe that will hopefully go in this week, so I'll do a review on those. Lots more videos to come so stay tuned. I'm really really ready to fire this thing up!

Anthony Pell it doesn't just a plug to get you to buy junk

That would have made too much sense, haha.

@@ScrufsGarage That's true. As a military veteran I wonder if GM really stands for Government Motors because NOTHING the government does makes any sense lol.

I’m guessing they did it for reasons of cost and not having to worry about access to the other bolt.

@matthewstorm5188 you may be right. It's hard to understand the mindset of the designers sometimes when you're wrenching on their stuff.

I didn't have to grind anything off. With the tube seated in the pump, the clearance is very tight to get the bracket bolt started. So as noted in the video, I had to pull the tube back a little and then seat the tube as I tightened the bracket bolt.

I've been impressed by everything I've purchased from Improved Racing. I didn't get a chance to use their crank scraper... don't recall why I didn't, other than my spending was getting out of control and I had to pull the plug at some point, haha. But if you're building an engine that will see high, sustained rpm's, then I think the crank scraper is probably a good addition.

It depends on which pickup tube you have. The Melling pump comes with a chart and you match up the inlet shape of the pickup tube with which o-ring you need.

Well I can't speak for failures that others have had. Personally, if you are doing other work (cam, timing chain, etc) then I would recommend a new oil pump. There's nothing inherently wrong with the OE pump, but if you've got some miles on the motor, then it makes sense to replace it while you're in there. However, oil starvation is typically not the fault of the oil pump itself, at least not when using the car for track events. Check out my video on the oil pan baffles from Improved Racing. These help keep oil in the pan close to the pickup tube so you don't suck in air during high g-load corners. There are other solutions like an AccuSump tank, or even a full dry-sump, but those are a lot more $$$.

@@ScrufsGarage so the problem is basically in the oil pan. Have you had any problem after adding the baffeled oil pan?. Will it be sufficient bcz dry sumps are expensive. Checking ur video right now🤣

Well "sufficient" is relative to your intended usage. Obviously full-out race cars typically have a true dry-sump setup because just oil pan baffles wouldn't be sufficient. But dry-sumps are $$ and aren't realistic for the casual HPDE driver. In which case, the oil pan baffles are a nice addition and should help. And as you probably already know, GM recommends adding 1 extra quart of oil during track events, again to keep more oil in the sump.

@@ScrufsGarage my car is used for weekend trackdays drifting and boosted making 650whp. And you are right the baffles should work

Kinda late but yes. It will be a pita when it’s in the car

It required a little force but nothing crazy. If I recall, the oil pump includes a couple of different o-rings for various applications. Make sure you've got the correct o-ring. Good luck.

It is just an OE pickup tube. Stock for the C5 LS1 with the batwing oil pan.

Scruf's Garage what year would I have to look up? Do you know if it would fit a 6.0 Ls in a trailblazer ss???