i have seen this pump used with a melling hv cover. i have no experience with external pick up systems. do i even need one. engine is a 493 that will see regular strip time. max rpm would be around 7000. i have a 21815 pump available to me if i want it. can the melling hd shaft be used or do i need to buy the milodon 21503 shaft.

External pickup systems pull a lot more oil than an internal. Don't know if you absolutely need it, but would be good insurance. You will need a shaft with a hardened tip, and the Milodon pump requires a longer shaft than stock. The Melling cover should work fine. Check your clearances for your mounts, frame, steering gear.

I ran a street and strip motor(700+ HP) on Oregon pump gas for a lot of races and street miles with internal 3/8 pickup, OEM 6 quart Mopar 1970/71 440 six pack oil pan and a Mellings high volume oil pump with the bypass spring cut to give me 65 Lbs. oil pressure with hot oil at 6500 RPM. I had to use a Milidon bronze gear oil pump drive for the stock oil pump also due to using a solid roller cam
I've ran both types of oil systems, single line , dual line and internal pickups with success

i'm using a motor plate so clearance should be ok. some say to change up to external pick up, others have used 3/8 or 1/2 pick up and hv pump with good results.
i failed to get the pick up hole enlarged while at the machine shop, and short block is now assembled. that was why i was going to look at a external pick up. i'll look at the pump and do any necessary blending and run with the 3/8 pick up and 7 quart pan. cheers

That pump takes a bit longer shaft. I’ve ran one on my dart for several years with a normal cover. Worked real well, shifted my hemi at 7200 and the rod bearings could be reused.

A good pump from what i hear, i am putting one in to gaurantee enough oil flow for loose clearance lifters and oil thru pushrods. Most race setups won't need it, and if it pulls a lot more volume than a melling hi volume, i wonder about cavitation if used with a stock 3/8 factory pickup. It also requires the. Milodon longer oul pump drive, 23 for rollercams, 03 for cast cams.

If you can fit the external pickup system, then use it. No downsides IMO.
I've been running that same pump w/ a stock Melling pump cover on my 572" hemi for many years w/ no issues. I did "port" the cover to help the flow. I used to have the Milodon cover for a remote filter for a long time, but got tired of the extra plumbing and clutter, so I put on the normal cover and I'm much happier w/ it.

Is this the pump you are referring to? I have the photo saved as 21814 though, and use a stock, ported cast cover on it to save room. I believe it is available with a side feed -12 fitting. It would work nicely with a stock cover as well.

It's supposed to take less power to drive due to the design change to the gearator. Internal oil pick-up passage enlarged to 1/2" and block passages massaged.