which dipstick & tube
#1
Registered
Thread Starter
which dipstick & tube
I have a mid 80's 454 that is being rebuilt, It had a cast gill pan with some rigged up billet dipstick. My engine guy took it off and put on a stamped steel pan with the tube pickup in the side of the pan coming out at an angle with two little welded supports on it. He told me I need to get a 365hp. tube. Evwery parts catalog looks different. I'm trying to make sure I get the right tube the first time cause I'm cutting it really close with time on getting this thing done.
Thanks,
Martin.
Thanks,
Martin.
#3
(aka) Pure Adrenaline
Platinum Member
Just order a dip stick and tube from mercruser for that year motor and when the engine is assembled on the stand bolt the exhaust manifold on and install the tube. If you need to adjust it use a tubing bender so you don't kink it. Thats what I had to do for my 540's and aftermarket pan. Very simple and it take longer to paint it than it does to make the changes. Don't forget to order the little strap that goes around it and bolts to the head. Good luck
#4
Toxic FORMULA
Platinum Member
Most important of all , is make sure it's correct once your all done. A friend of mine basically BURNED UP his engine with a Canton Marine pan and Canton dipstick.
It was a generic (one size fits all) dipstick and he didn't read where you had to "adjust it". The give away was when running hard on a few occasions he lost oil pressure(pumped pan dry). As soon as he slowed down he regained oil pressure. End of the season he had blow by and was loosing power. Tore it down and found signs of MAJOR heat (blackened rods and pistons) plus cylinders and pistons starting to trade metal
It was a generic (one size fits all) dipstick and he didn't read where you had to "adjust it". The give away was when running hard on a few occasions he lost oil pressure(pumped pan dry). As soon as he slowed down he regained oil pressure. End of the season he had blow by and was loosing power. Tore it down and found signs of MAJOR heat (blackened rods and pistons) plus cylinders and pistons starting to trade metal
#5
(aka) Pure Adrenaline
Platinum Member
mopower makes an excellent point. I'm sure you understand what he is saying but if it's an 8 quart pan make sure they mean 8 quarts plus the filter. Put the 8 quarts in before you start it and make sure the oil is on the full make. I had a cheep generic pan one time and when I put in what they said the pan was I was very high on the stick so if I only went to the full mark it would have been 1 1/2 Quarts low. They apparently didn't have the dip stick located in the right spot in the pan.
#6
Registered
Thread Starter
that was another major concern of mine, I was just worried cause who knows if this pan is the same year as the block, I'm pretty sure I know which one I need now though, thanks guys.
#7
Toxic FORMULA
Platinum Member
Before my 540's went together I had bought Canton 10qt marine pans , filled them with ten qts. of water and "fitted" the stick to the water level before they ever went on the engines . After they were assembled with oil lines , filters and coolers and fired up I rechecked and topped them off...almost 13 qts total. Now the oil level is still correct in the pan .
Last edited by mopower; 10-15-2003 at 04:03 PM.