Stupid SBC question
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Stupid SBC question
How do you tell which side of the block is the mounting point for the oil dipstick? My block has two little tabs on one side that I think is the spot. Unfortunately, the free oil pan I found at a swap meet last weekend has the "bump" on the other side. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 3
There is a hole on one of the protrusions. Or, look up your block casting number on google. If it's a pre 80 block the dipstick goes in the drivers side, or if it's an 80-85 the dipstick goes in the passenger side. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Get a pan that fits ... this one has stick on driver side & you can't beat the price ... several on motors around here ... I have one too.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY...QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY...QQcmdZViewItem
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 3
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
It's definately a pre-80 block...
Is there any way to mount the dipstick on the wrong side?
Is there any way to mount the dipstick on the wrong side?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
I need to take a better look...I don't recall seeing a hole on either side, just two square pegs. It's a SBC 400, if that matters.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
From: Des Allemands LA
If the block is plugged, another option is to buy a pan that has the dipstick mounted directly to it. In other words it doesn't go through the block. You can get these with the dipstick on either side. Or you can get a rare one like I have where the dipstick is mounted behind the steering wheel 
.
ltlevil
.ltlevil
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Yes, it was originally built as a race motor - guy blew a head apart on his second run.
Looking at it again last night, I still haven't found a hole, or any sign of a hole that was ever there and later filled. I'll go over it again tonight...
Looking at it again last night, I still haven't found a hole, or any sign of a hole that was ever there and later filled. I'll go over it again tonight...
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Ok, I'm completely retarded. My free oil pan has the dipstick notch on the correct side. However, the block is still confusing me. Does anyone have a picture of the dipstick attachment on a bare SBC block?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 3
Originally Posted by Yellow73SB
Oil who needs oil?
Click here to see Video