As I said, I'm not dropping the oil pan for this damned oil pick-up tube....... and I didn't
However, (pause for effect) My pick-up tube is not the same as the one from the video. This stupid thing is welded all the way around in place and cannot be switched around. (believe me, I tried. If someone knows a way, then please give up the info!!)
Whenever my oil pump goes, I will drop the pan and take that pick-up tube to a shop and get it cut and re-welded so that the bolt can go on the outside.
So, back to getting that bolt on the pick-up tube without dropping the oil pan... :evil:
1. Stuff a rag in the oil pan.
2. Remove the skid plate so you can sit under the vehicle with your head up in front of the engine. (I'm not sure if this will be possible if all you're removing is the oil pump. I have so much torn out of my truck right now, that there was plenty of room)
3. Use a neighbor to put pressure on the pick-up tube with a small pry bar to get it flush with the oil pump
4. Position the bolt on a small magnet as the image shows: (this is not the actual oil pump bolt)
5. With one hand, maneuver the bolt into the hole, with the other hand, have a flathead ready to apply pressure to the top of the bolt.
6. Remove magnet.
7. Utilize small pliers to begin tightening the bolt while you're applying pressure with the flathead. Eventually you will have enough room to fit the box end of a 10mm wrench and finish tightening it.
Doing the loosening and tightening with pliers will degrade part of the rubber sealing on the oil pan. I applied some high temp RTV to remedy this.
Doing this saved me all the time of removing the front differential and the extra money of having to get an alignment done after it was put together.
There may be better ways than this, but this worked out for me. I only dropped the bolt once
If I would have had the same pick-up tube as the video, I would have absolutely used that way first. But, both will work.