1G Oil pump pickup won't line up

[SnP9000]

Hey DSM experts. In need of help again. I'm a DSM ignoramus doing a timing belt and and reseal the engine job on my mom's 92 eclipse GS 2.0. I have the EXACT same issue as this guy.

https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/oil-pickup-tube-not-lining-up.428457/

I know this car's history back to the 90s and this pickup has 100% never been removed until I removed it, then it sat on the bench for 3 weeks and now for reasons I can't understand, it wont bolt back up. The images at the end of the thread exactly show my same problem. How can this be possible? The thing is so stiff you can't even muscle it together so there is no way in hell it ever got permanently deformed.

 

[greekgodchaos]

Just cut the support brace off. I did and it really makes no difference. ARP and Kiggly girdle install requires the support be removed. Won't hurt your NA to do so IMO.