[CovertPerformance]

First I usually go by the username kmurphy for those wondering, but I have since opened up a vendor account since I'm now taking the fabrication gig from hobby to business.

I'm currently in the process of getting everything together to start making a whole new oil pick-up assembly. But before I get too deep into it money wise which I don't have a lot of, I wanted to see how many of you were interested in something like this.

I'll be keeping the same basic design just using stronger material and tig welding instead of brazing. Everything will be 304 stainless steel, from the flange to the mesh. The flange will be laser cut and then machined to accept an o-ring made from viton to seal it. The pick-up tube will be .75" od x .62" id stainless steel tubing. This tubing is double the wall thickess of the stock piece and is equivalent to 16gauge wall thickness. The filter assembly will be made out of 2" stainless steel with a stainless steel mesh screen tig'd to the bottom of the tubing. The top will be covered by plate cut to fit to the top of the 2" tubing and tig welded to that as well. The pick-up tube will then be notched to the top and side of the tubing and tig welded and there will also be the support bracket made as well. Thats a quick description and run down of what I have going.

Let me know if your interested or if you have any other suggestions.

Thanks
kelly

[neverendingmods]

I'd be possibly interested. Throw in a oil pan gasket so it'd be a complete kit and come up with a price. Thanks for the making of a better/stronger product. Many have had their p/u tube break.

[CovertPerformance]

I wasn't fully aware of the problem as I never opened any of the threads until someone sent me a pick-up tube and asked if could remove the brazing and tig weld it. But once I looked into it seemed like the best way to go around it was making a whole new assy.

[neverendingmods]

Yep, the pickup tubes are known to break from the poor brazing and poor metal. once that tube cracks, it's all over for the motor in a split second. Too common to not wanna fix the issue. Iwas looking at a complete pan that came with a new pickup but the cost has kept me away. It's always in the back of my mind though.
If you build it, they will come.


remember to include a pan gasket for a complete do it yourself install in one shot.

[Turbineguy]

I'd be in for one.

[JDM-STI]

I'd be in for one too. Get a prototype made up and post some pictures ASAP.
Actually, I'd probably be in for two.

[WolfPlayer]

I'm totally down for this. IF you review the previous thread, you'll see there is a lot of interest. The key here is marketing. One other person seems to have started this. However, I won't buy that version because it only replaces half of the tube - which for me is not the correct approach. I want exactly what you are suggesting - a full replacement.

t

[neverendingmods]

^^ Exactly. I have seen pics of the tube break at the top near block aswell as near the screen. That soft metal and poor weld(brazing) just ain't cuuting it.
If you build it,they will come...

[topend]

Subscribed for interest

[CovertPerformance]

Its sounds hopeful from the response already. I'll probably make what i can without the flanges so i can get you guys some pictures of everything and make some progress. Once the guy at the laser cutter is done with the oil pick-up assembly I'll make a jig that way when the flanges get here I can just weld them on. I'll most likely have to get deposits once this gets going because I dont have the cash flow to fund everything up front. I'm getting 10 flanges cut for the first run which I can fund, but I told him I would probably want 50 for the 2nd run.

I will include a pan gasket with the pick-up to make it complete per neverendingmods suggestion, which to me sounds like a good idea. As a consumer I like to not have to buy/source anything else to install a part.
And if anybody else has any other input please chime in. I'm aiming to make a complete product that will make everyone happy.

Thanks
Kelly

[neverendingmods]

Full pick up tube/screen replacement and pan gasket FTW!

If you build it, they will come

[topend]

How tough is the install?

[neverendingmods]

Front subframe must be removed just like installing a front sway. I think 10 bolts. The motor mounts must be unbolted on certain years and motor slightly lifted with a floor jack to give enough room to remove all the pan bolts(also unbolt the pitch mount) . The tranny and driveshaft are left alone in this situation. So, just the normal SUBY front end work. pretty basic when it comes to mods on this car.

[neverendingmods]

What he needs to check if he is indeed gonna make it a self install kit in one shot is if the 04/05's use the same oil pan gasket as the 06/07/08's. The 06/07 STi's have a different oil pan than 04/05's. The 04/05's hold approx. 3/4 qtr of a quart of oil more than the 06/07's. I personally would like the extra oil capacity back the previous years had but I am not gonna pay $600 for a half a quart of oil capacity when the oil p/u tube alone can suppress my concerns til I hit 700hp. Which I'll be on the run by that time.

[neverendingmods]

The overall shape of the pan is same from year to year, it's only the capacity/depth of pan that has changed year to year. All pan gaskets should be identical. A suby part# check would confirm this.