"I love it when a plan comes together!" Does the oil pan on your engine have a straight passenger's side rail, or is there a slight offset in line with the distributor/oil pump area? That dogleg is there to clear a larger diameter oil pump housing on the 56-63 engine block. The bigger pump is a Melling M45 or the equivalent OEM part. 54 and early 55 235 and 261 engines run a Melling M29 with slightly smaller diameter gears and less volume output. With a little creative plumbing of inlet and outlet lines, the M29 pump can also be fitted to 216 engines. It's got a higher volume than the 216 pump.
Jerry

"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!