I just got a new dipstick tube because my old was was getting pretty beat up. I used a rag, some vice grips and a rubber mallet to drive this tube in, it was really tough to get it in there. Not sure if it's hitting something or what the deal is. So far it's not getting an oil reading, but it's possible that the oil level is just low (I'm about to change it). Has anyone run into dipstick problems with a setup like this? I really don't want to pull the pan for a freaking dipstick problem!

 

I had to bend my dipstick away from the crank when i put my motor back together, that maybe your problem, i would drop the pan and take a look.

 

I just cut off the tip of my tube a few minutes ago because of it hitting. I just took half and inch or so off the end and it is fine.

 

I have got the same problem, the problem appears to to that the mating service of the oil pan is larger and covers a small part of the hole. I am trimming mine as well so it will fit.

 

kinda off topic but does fel-pro oil pan gaskets work? i dont want to shell out $20-30 for the "canton" gasket

 

I used the fel-Pro ones with my canton pan.

 

I'm using the 242t pan. Could be interference with the splayed main caps, I don't know.

 

with my 242 pan I had to notch the crank scraper rail inside the pan so my rod bolts werent hitting it.... too bad I didnt find out they were scraping til after I ran the car

 

What kind of rods do you have?? Stock stroke here with Eagle H-beams and the block still required clearancing Didn't hit the pan though, at least not that I can tell.

 

eagle rods with 3.75(383) crank... Block notched and now pan notched

 

they are i beams huh?

 

yeah they are

 

they seem to have the most clearencing problems of all

 

When I used the Canton 242T pan with my 383 stroker, I had to clearance the scraper for the rod clearance on each crank throw and also clearance the scraper for the dipstick tube. After that, I found that the dipstick tube was hitting on the main bearing so I had to put a gentle bend in the tube at the bottom to make it clear.

By the way, when I started to take out all the allen head screws for the windage tray and baffle, to clean out the shavings after all this clearancing, I found three of them to be loose! Good thing I had to do all the clearancing, because I probably never would have thought to double check them to be tight.

Chris

 

Lots of people have had trouble hitting their main caps after going splayed 4 bolts. I don't know about with aftermarket pans, though.