dipstick revisted

Guest

I've followed all the dialog on dipstick lenght on this site the last few months and know the proper lenght to be 38". my question is on the calibration on the stick. My car is 71 which puchased within the last year. When I changed the oil a couple of weeks ago, I was surprised to find there was only about 3 quarts of oil in the crankcase although the dipstick indicated full. I replaced the filter and added 6 quarts of oil. Now the dipstick reads an inch above the upper "safe" mark. Below are the dimensions of my stick:
overall lenght from tip to base of handle: 38 1/2"
Dimension from tip to upper "safe" mark: 1 3/8"
Dimension from tip to actual oil level with 6 quarts of oil: 2 1/2"
Can anyone tell me if there's is calibrated similarly.
Thanks in advance, Warren V. #1799
PS I've now noticed the rear seal is now leaking slightly. Probably a result of running low on oil for who knows how long. What do you think?

3/10/029:20 AM

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Original Post

bosswrenchMember

Ford says the dipstick should be 38.0 inches from stop to tip. The volume of the pan will make no difference to the proper dipstick calibration, except that "1 qt low" obviously won't be just one qt with a 10-0qt pan.
Some '71 engines use rope seals and some use neoprene seals. The rope seal is held in place with a tiny spike in the main cap and the block, and will prevent you from dragging it out with a "seal puller" unless the crank is dropped quie a ways. Once the rope seal is out, the spike can be driven into the cap & block and a neoprene seal used after this. I'd be real sure its a main seal and not just loose pan bolts. Seems the rear bolts on a 351C often back out a little. A simple tightening moght fix it. Also be sure its not a trans seal by checking if the leak is 10W30 engine oil or 80-wt trans lube

3/11/0210:42 AM

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