Sump won't line up to oil pump?

[420sxse]

Ok, so the oil sump won't line up with the inlet for the oil pump. The cover is on all the way. I let the gasket dry for an hour or so then torqued the bolts down to spec...Now the two bolt holes won't line up to connect it to the pump. It's almost a quarter inch off. Is this normal? Do I just need to connect the sump before I tighten the front cover? I'm afraid I'll warp the cover if I do that.

[420sxse]

Or should I just bend the bracket?

[onosqv]

picture is needed. I'm not too clear on exactly what you are talking about.

Are you positive you are connecting everything in the right orientation? Mine didn't line up the first time around because I had the pump 180 degrees... just a thought.

[420sxse]

Sorry, I can't get a pic right now. I took the oil pump apart to dry it after I cleaned the front cover. I put it back together (I'll double check that the oil pump cover is flush). The front timing cover is now installed on the engine, and its bolts are torqued to spec. The 10mm bolt holing the sump bracket to the girdle is in place. When I swing the sump up to mate the sump tube to the oil pump inlet, the two 12mm bolt holes do not line up. The holes on the oil pump inlet flange on the oil pump cover need to be 1/4 in forward to line up to those on the sump flange. Also, the FSM listed no special instructions for orienting the oil pump. What do you mean by 180' off?

[onosqv]

There is specifically a front & back for the oil pump to face, that's what I meant.

Try rotating it 180 degrees, or 90, or 270, and see if they will line up then.

That was the only problem on my car - but I have sohc engine, so dohc may be a little difference in procedure...

[420sxse]

Are you talking about rotating the entire oil pump assembly so the flat areas slip over the crank shaft? There is no gap between the timing cover and the block. More gap between the timing cover and block would make everything line up. The FSM shows a lip on the outside of the inner oil pump gear...so I wouldn't go in upside down. I don't remember that, but there was a dot (punch mark) on one side...I installed with that facing up.

[420sxse]

Yeah, so basically, it didn't end up being an issue. I took the front cover back off and fastened the sump while it was hanging on the bolts out away from the block a bit. Torqued the sump/pump flange bolts, then the cover went on all the way with only finger tightening the bolts. The flanges meet squarely with no gaps. At first, it seemed like the sump/bracket were too stiff to just ease into place like that. It's kind of freaky when you've never done anything like this and things start not lining up.