Oil pump and pickup questions?

I just bought a 302 shortblock and with it came a canton 7 quart pan. Anyways, the bearings in the motor where supposedly new, only 6000 miles. But it had one spun rod bearing and all the rest where showing copper alittle. Well Im putting new bearings in and I decided to check oil pickup tube clearance to the bottom of the pan. There was probably an inch clearance, I got it down to 1/2" clearance right now. Is that adequate? Its not a deep sump pan, It has the sides kicked out and is probably the stock depth maybe a little deeper, but Im using the stock pickup and have no real clearance issues and he had none when he used it either. I just think he had too much clearance and it was starving it.
Also which pump should I use with this new motor, going to have standard sized main bearings and .010 rod bearings. Should I go with a standard volume melling or a high volume melling pump. Thanks

Found the clearance measurements. Should be 3/8" to 1/2" between the pickup and pan. So I need to bend it a little more. Ill worry about that later on. What pump should I use on this.