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  •  » Relocating Oil Dipstick

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    6/03/2020 1:02 PM  #1

    TremendousWand
    I FYI 24-7

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    Registered: 5/16/2013
    Posts: 657

    Relocating Oil Dipstick

    I had the oil dipstick on the side of the oil pan on the drivers but w/ the shorty headers that's not a viable location anymore.
    I saw a right up and a youtube video about relocating the dipstick to the timing cover on the front of the engine.  

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g79WMAu42UA

    It seems simple enough but I have some questions:

    1) Can i do this w/ the timing cover still on the car?  I just put the engine back together after swapping the heads.  I was thinking of just pulling alternator and bracket to get access to the boss where the hole goes.  It's a 3/8" hole... only concern is some shavings falling into the oil pan.
    2) How do I make sure the dipstick gives me an accurate oil quantity?  Is there a specific dipstick I should use for relocation to the front?
    3) Can I put off installing a dipstick?  I know it has 5 quarts of oil because I poured it myself.  I need to tweek the distributor, set timing, and then start the engine.  Don't really want to set the project back another month to take off half the engine to just drill a hole.  

     

     

    6/03/2020 4:01 PM  #2

    TKOPerformance
    Hyper FYIFORD ADDICT

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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
    Posts: 7,510

    Re: Relocating Oil Dipstick

    Does the timing cover have the hole for the dipstick?  If not I wouldn't do it on the car because you will have to drill a hole, or just replace the cover with one that has the hole.  The dipstick is just any repro front mount dipstick for the car.  If the car has the right oil pan on it for the year/chassis it should read accurately.  Of course you can always test that by properly filling the oil and seeing where the level reads. 

    We always just bent the block mounted dipstick tube to clear the headers.  I did that on about a dozen 5.0s over the years.  I used a Canton pan on the 331 for my '89 and modified their dipstick to clear the headers and pick up a header bolt.  Fairly easy really, just avoid tight bends. 

     

    6/03/2020 5:09 PM  #3

    50vert
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: QLD Australia
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 1,427

    Re: Relocating Oil Dipstick

    I'd pull the pan before drilling. How were you able to use the original efi dipstick with a front sump pan??
    Edit... I think I recall you are using the late model pan. Take this opportunity to replace it with a front sump pan, and put the crossmember back in.
    Can'ya tell I REALLY think you need the crossmember? I'm sure everyone, is gunna agree. 

    Last edited by 50vert (6/03/2020 6:15 PM)

    "Those telephone poles were like a picket fence"
     

    6/04/2020 5:55 AM  #4

    TKOPerformance
    Hyper FYIFORD ADDICT

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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
    Posts: 7,510

    Re: Relocating Oil Dipstick

    Uh, yeah, you need that crossmember for sure.

    Wow, definitely get the right pan (requires a different oil pump pickup too).

     

    6/04/2020 8:37 PM  #5

    50vert
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: QLD Australia
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 1,427

    Re: Relocating Oil Dipstick

    I'm sure we had this discussion 3 years ago. Both MS and myself told you then, you really need the crossmember. Do as you will.
    You can lead a horse to water ...

    "Those telephone poles were like a picket fence"
     

    6/04/2020 9:19 PM  #6

    6sally6
    Hyper FYIFORD ADDICT

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    From: Surfside Beach,SC
    Registered: 4/02/2013
    Posts: 6,858

    Re: Relocating Oil Dipstick

    Yeah Big Wand.......what're you thinking?!  You need the cross member for strength/rigidity a bunch of stuff!
    6sal6

    Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
     

     

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