SBF oil level

[indianamoon]

My car has either a 302 or 289 with an unknown oil pan capacity and an unknown aftermarket dipstick and tube. Can anyone tell me what the level of the oil below the block should be, so I can mark the dipstick. Have searched all over and can't seem to find this info anywhere.

Thanx in advance,

Pat

[spdbrake]

This link should be a good reference point. It says it similar to the OEM dipstick.
https://images.holley.com/6920_6921_dims.jpg
https://www.holley.com/products/acce...ies/parts/6920

[Ron61]

Do you have a stock oil pan or an aftermarket one? The stock ones normally hold about 4/5 quarts and don't forget that the filter will also take some. If you pan has a splash shield in it you can add a little more than if it doesn't have one. If you can get under the car when filling it, you can tap on the side and usually tell pretty close to where the oil level is.

Ron

[indianamoon]

No known quantities on this car. Unknown old oil pan capacity, unknown aftermarket dip stick, unknown aftermarket dipstick tube.

What I am looking for is a measurement from the oil level to the bottom of the block.

I have the pan off to change it and it would be easy to mark the dipstick now.

The pan that I am putting on was given to my by a friend, it is very nice finned aluminum, but no idea of manufacturer or capacity.

Hoping that i don't have to buy a stock pan, bolt it on, put 5 quarts in and mark the dipstick. That would be a pain.

[LMH]

I’ve been told to shoot for 1” below the lowest point of the crankshaft. You could then get the pan volume using that measurement and be able to set the dipstick to check its accuracy.
Also, while the pan is off, you should check the clearance between the pickup and the pan. It should be between 3/8” to 1/2”.
Larry

[indianamoon]

Thanx much, and great idea to check the pan to pickup dim. I have found so much on this car that is not just right already, that it would not surprise me if that was wrong also.

[Dwight]

If you have the pan off it's easy to measure how much oil it will hold.

Take a container, say a one qt oil bottle and fill it with water. Pour into the oil pan. Make sure oil pan is level. Keep add water till you get to the point marked in the picture.

Clean the water out of the pan and install the pan on the motor.
Next pour in the amount of oil needed.
Don't crank the motor.
Check your dipstick to see where the oil level is.
Remark stick to that point.
Crank the motor and let it run a few minutes then shut it down.
Wait ten or 15 minutes for all the oil to return to the oil pan.
Check the dipstick.
Add oil to your new mark. This is the amount of oil need for the filter, oil lines for the remote, if you have one, and or the oil cooler.

[spdbrake]

Sorry Indiana, sometimes what seems clear to me gets lost due to my lack of explaining.
The drawing I posted earlier was for a stock tube and dipstick. It can be used in the passenger side timing cover hole (for front sump pans) or in the block driver's side (for aft sump pans).
Regardless of what Pan you install the dipstick length and markings won't change. You just add more or less oil to touch the correct markings.
(Exceptions are Road Race pans like Canton or Moroso that use a different dipstick location in the sump)

Simply pull your current dipstick and tube and measure them against the drawing. Or just buy a new one for $13.00

The distance from the block bottom to oil level measurement does exist somewhere I'm sure, but may come from a speculative source.