Hello all, new here. I searched and found some good information here, and was hoping someone could provide some info for a problem I have.

Not too long ago I stumbled on a 73 F250 Camper Special 2wd 390/auto. It was sitting under a tree being neglected so I took it home and started cleaning it up. The guy told me the engine had been rebuilt less than a year before he parked it (he had been using it around his property and didn't need it any longer). I had to pull the heads due to busted exhaust man bolts and noticed 30 over pistons and nice clean cross hatching on the cylinder walls so I have no reason to not believe him.

I have done quite a few things to the truck but one thing keeps nagging at me. All the books and such say that it takes five quarts of oil to fill her up, however the dipstick says it's way overfull with just four. It is a front sump pan, but there appears to be more room under the pan than I would expect to see, considering the posts I have seen about clearance issues. The drain plug is in the oh so wonderful location in the middle of the pan.

Can anyone tell me the proper length of the dip stick and tube as well as the proper depth of the pan? I truly think someone may have put car parts on this truck engine..........

Thanks again, and sorry if this info is in here somewhere, but I couldn't find it.

 

First off Gary, welcome aboard here!!!

Secondly, I will measure mine up this eve and let you know, unless someone has the number already ...

--Mike

 

bump to keep up

 

Sorry man, been a little busy... The sticky note has been located to my forehead.

--Mike

 

i have the same problem it could be because these are car oil pans mine says it takes 6 but 5 is overfilled

 

Dipstick length is approximately 18 7/8" from the bottom of the collar to the end (another 1/2" to the complete top).

--Mike

 

I think the 6qts the books say for the 390 is just wrong. Mine is also overfull with 6 qts. Something like 5.5 is probably more like it.

 

Thanks Mike,
I am out of town right now and will check when I get home. The book I have says 5 qts but I don't remeber the years it referenced. One thing comes to mind though, with the oil filter mounted sideways it would drain back into the block, most vehicles take x number of qts of oil plus the filter, what about these engines? does the 5 qts mean when the engine is running and the filter is full that we actually only have 4 - 4.5 qts in the system?
For me this will be a non-issue as soon as I get around to pricing the parts for an oil cooler and remote filter mount (want cooler oil and larger filter so this engine lasts as long as possible).

 

yeah i just add 5 qts and forget it six quarts is wrong a oil cooler will add almost a quart

 

And if it does not bother you re-mark the dipstick. I had to do this on my brand new 88 GT way back when. When I first changed the oil and the level was 1 qt over the line. I contacted Ford and they had a service bullitin issued about the problem. They would simply re-mark the dipstick for you LOL. G.

 

When you change the oil, add 5 quarts, then start it. Let it run, check for leaks, and then turn it off. Wait about 10 seconds, THEN check the level.

The oil filter takes about a quart, and the heads hold a little and some gets up on/in engine parts too. That should get it down where it belongs on the dipstick. If it's still high, THEN remark the dipstick.

 

OK, now that I am back in town.....

Measured the dip and it is the same. However I have seen othe threads that talk about dipstick location. This one is next to the oil filter, where is yours Mike? I have read that there are ones that have them further back on the block as well as in the pan.........

I am going to do some research about the oil pan as well, perhaps it is the wrong one?

I just don't want to mess this thing up..........

 

The sump is 10" deep from the block to the bottom of the pan.

 

Really??? I just measured mine and only have 5", for that matter I only have 2' between pan and cross member. How do you fit a 10" pan? I found a full sump pan on ebay, but I think it is too deep, and without the proper baffels all the oil could run to the back, which would not be a good thing with a front pickup.

 

Sorry about that I mixed up the deminsions. From the block to the crossmember is 7.5" From the block to the bottom of the pan is 7". Sounds like you have a car pan or something. Mine holds 6qts. and reads full on the dipstick.
As for the full lenth pan you need a rear sump pickup to go with it.