With my upcoming cam swap I'm going to be replacing the timing chain and gear set on my 6L. For those of you who have changed oil pumps out in the truck, is it really necessary to lower the front of the oil pan to get at the pickup tube bolt? Would a 90deg gearwrench get in there ok? It's been since last fall since I looked behind the front cover of my motor so my memory is getting to me.

 

I haven't pulled mine personally, but i don't think the bolt would really be a problem to get out with the right wrench. However the pickup tube in the pump would hinder removal. The pump assembly has to slide out straight off the crankshaft snout. The tube is in the pump and at 90 degrees from the crank. So without bending the pump tube being that its bolted rigid to the windage tray it doesn't look like you could pull it off.

I could be wrong, but thats what i saw when i had mine open, heres an old pic i dug up.

 

I swapped mine in the truck a couple of years ago. Seems like I unbolted the oil pan to do the swap. It was still tough.