I have a 1983 Ford F-150 base model, long bed, 2 wheel drive. It has a 300 (4.9L) six cylinder motor. When I got it I was told it had a couple of bad valves. I tore the motor down to the block. I took it to the machine shop and asked them to boil it out. They told me the block was bad. I bought another motor. I'm not sure what year truck it came out of, but I think it's a couple years older than the original. I tore that motor down and had the machine shop boil out that block. I completely rebuilt it. I used some parts from both engines for the rebuild. When I attempted to install the motor back in the truck, the oil pan hit the cross-member and wouldn't line up with the transmission. So, I pulled the motor back out and removed the oil pan. That pan had the deepest part of the pan on the front end. I changed the oil sump to the rear. I went to the salvage yard and bought another oil pan that had the deepest part at the rear. I thought I had cut a fat hog and solved the problem. I put the motor in the truck. It runs like a champ. Here's the problem. The dipstick is at the front of the block and hits something solid as you put it in. No oil appears on the stick. I can't see any place on the rear of the block for another dipstick location. Right now, the only way I can check my oil level is to drain the oil, measure it and put it back in. Does anyone have any idea how to remedy this situation?

By the way, and as you might have guessed, I'm really not a mechanic. I just wanted to make this old truck run. It took me a while to do it, but I rebuilt the engine myself. I even rebuilt the simple one bbl carb myself. I'm pretty proud of that, but I can't believe I overlooked the dipstick problem as I was putting it back together. Any help is appreciated! Thanks.

 

The Oil pan itself has the hole for the dipstick, located in the rear of the pan on the left side on the 80's pickups.

Sounds like you got the wrong oil pan or one for an Econoline, as the econoline pan did not have the hole for the dipstick and tubing in the oil pan.

The Econoline van that used 300-6's used a different dipstick location so it could be reached from the hood of the Van. If I remember correctly, there is a threaded hole in the engine block where the Econoline Dipstick and tube attaches around the back of and under the oil filter. On the pickups this threaded fitting is plugged off. If you have this "plugged" hole, getting a econoline dipstick, and tube might solve your problem. Although it might look weird in a truck.

Your problem is definately mismatched parts however.

 

Thanks for you quick response. I went out tonight to look again for another dipstick location on the block near, under or behind the oil filter. I don't see one. I'm still not sure what to do.

 

If your block does not have the rear provision for a dipstick (some didn't). Since this engine had a front sump oil pan, then it's dipstick tube would be located between the fuel pump and Distributor. This dipstick placement won't work with a rear sump pan as it will bottom out on the high part of the pan.

I've did some searching for you looking for pictures...

Check this picture on this post here that shows the hole where the dipstick and tube enters the engine block behind the oil filter and between the oil filter and oil sender. This is for 1983-1986 pickups with rear oil sump pans.

Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Single Post - Can I delete my "breather extension"?

If that hole isn't there in your block, then you will have to get a oil pan for a 1980-1982 ford truck with a dipstick provision in the oil pan on the left side of the engine (as you would be sitting behind the driver seat.)

Picture of dipstick tube entering oil pan... https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...7&postcount=11

The 300-6 had several different castings, and several different dipstick provisions that were different depending on year. Some were on the left, some were on the right, some were in the back of block, (between oil filter and oil sender for rear sump pans) some were in the front of the block (between distributor and fuel pump for front sump pans), some were in the pan itself etc...

Here is a post with the part numbers already provided by CTUBUTIS to get you the correct parts for what you may need...

Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Single Post - '84 Dip Stick Frustrations

 

I just sent my old 300 I6 to the scrapyard along with two 1980 rear sump oil pans with the dipsticks in the left side of the pan.

 

Here is a link to a catalog you can look at aftermarket pans as well, so you can see the pictures.

ecat

 

I saw the topic of this thread, and immediately thought, "Who's moving?"

 

I found an oil pan with a rear sump and a dipstick tube in the pan for a 1982 300 six. I hope that will work. Thanks for all the advice and ideas. I guess this dipstick will be able to "move on." All help is appreciated.

 

Hey Basswood,
I'm glad you found an oilpan and hope it works for you. It should. Getting the pans swapped out, is going to be kind of a pain, but it sounds like you have a good handle on it.

Good luck.