Small Block Oil Pick Up Tube Question
If you are stuck with the center sump pan, you are doing all you can do, and it will work. And help. I have posted it before but the style of pump that Chrysler used is the best pump at moving oil, but it has quirks that should be addressed in a performance application. Because of the rotor and scroll, the pump output is very spiked. In a spur gear pump, the output is smooth but the MoPar pump puts out big gulps of oil. And because of that, the pump needs more cross section in the pick up tube.
You will never err in getting a bigger suction side tube on the pump. The best situation is a rear sump with a 1 inch (IIRC) inlet to the pump.
A ford guy I know has custom built pick up tubes that doubles the cross section. It rid him of many oiling issues he was fighting.