360 LA oil pickup

I'm assembling a 360 and have a question about the oil pickup.

I see plenty of threads telling me that it needs to be at the bottom of the pan, but none describe how to change it if it's not.

It screws into the side of the oil pump, so threading it in farther makes no difference in the depth in the pan.

Am I supposed to bend it if it's not where it needs to be, or what?

I'm using a new Melling pump and pickup and a stock "392" car pan.