The Camaro Club (UK)

I have a 1978 305 but with an oil pan mounted dipstick instead of block mounted. Pretty sure they didn't put the dipsticks in the sump like this until 1980 or so. Which leads me to believe I have the wrong sump on the engine. The dipstick I have in there hits the bottom of the sump so I am pretty sure it's a block mounted dipstick and tube I have in there. I need to fill the engine with oil but am a little stuck now. I can't find any sump mounted dipsticks on the web anywhere. Does anyone know where I can get one or have any other suggestions? I thought about making some new marks on mine as it currently sits but it seems a bit risky.

could you drain you oil, refill with the recommended quantity, refit your dipstick and then mark off where the level is?

Block mounted dipsticks go in the top of the block just under the deck.

There are a few different dipsticks used across different years and applications. You have a few options... You could buy a new dipstick, lots of people sell them in the after market.

Oil capacity is 5 litres on the SBC.

So I would simply do an oil and filter change, full with 5 litres and then shorten the dipstick you have and make a new Mark.

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My '80 progress thread - hugger orange! Now with LQ9 power - forged pistons, LS2 rods, 236/242, .621/.612, flowed and milled 317 heads. MS3X

4L80e, 12 bolt, 4.11, Moroso brute strength posi, steel shafts.

Subframe connectors, g-braces, solid body bushes, carbon hood and front bumper, custom door cards, Autometer gauges.

Flak Monkey's advise sounds spot on. The haynes / chilton manual gives the exact fill quantity and i think i created a thread in the tech section called fluid finder, which also states the factory fill quantity. I also sent you a load of facebook messages about the great oil debate so when you have a few minutes take a read on that too. Let us know how you end up sorting it

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Yeah I just went for it in the end and did that today. I cut the dipstick to length then put in 3 U.S. quarts which is about 950ml. Then I deducted the capacity of the oil filter for the next quart as the filter was primed when put in. I calculated about 150ml for the filter by filling a couple old ones with water. So that's 3 quarts plus 800ml. In theory there should be 4 quarts in the motor at this point. I then scribed a new mark as minimum then added another quart bringing it to 5 and scribed another line as max. However everwhere I have checked say the filter holds about a quart!!! That's way more than the 150ml I measured. Does that sound right?

It depends what size filter you use.

The big filters hold about a quart (0.95litre), smaller ones about .75litre.

It takes a while to fill them if you just pour liquid in as it takes a while to get through the filter media, under pressure it flows quickly.

_________________
My '80 progress thread - hugger orange! Now with LQ9 power - forged pistons, LS2 rods, 236/242, .621/.612, flowed and milled 317 heads. MS3X

4L80e, 12 bolt, 4.11, Moroso brute strength posi, steel shafts.

Subframe connectors, g-braces, solid body bushes, carbon hood and front bumper, custom door cards, Autometer gauges.