Just so you know, When you install the pickup and pan, you install the pickup so it makes contact with the bottom of the pan, with the gasket installed. In other words, you want a slight pressure on the pickup with the pan when you tighten the pan bolts. Don't worry, I ain't talkin outta my butt, it's right in the factory service manual. The reason is so the pickup will not suck air on hard braking, acceleration, or turning. If you look at the bottom of the pickup, you'll see it is designed to sit on the bottom of the pan. Doing it this way also gives the pickup some extra support, which it needs, since it hangs out a good ways away from where it screws into the block. If it does not have that support, the tube can crack right where it screws into the block, and that would suck......air.
