I have a 383 sbc in my Fiero. I had to extend the oil dipstick and housing so I can reach it. I am using an aftermarket cast aluminum oil pan. I thougt I was very careful to get markings on the extended dipstick at the same level as the old. I believe I do not have a high enough oil level. Hard braking or sharp turns can make the oil light come on as the oil pressure momentarily plummets.

I can insert a piece of piano wire down the dipstick tube and reach the bottom of the pan. This will allow me to figure out where the top pf the pan would be on the dipstick. How many inches below the top of the pan should the oil level be considering the stroked crank?

If you can help it will be greatly appreciated. Dropping the pan could be done in car I believe but I woulod rather not.

Ideas?

Unless your pan is larger than stock, SBC's are 5 quart engines. Change the oil and refill with 5 qts, then check your dipstick and mark accordingly. Is your pan baffled? If not, you're still gonna have pressure problems.

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1986 SE 350 V8

I do what TS says. If i install a 2 quart deeper oil pan, then it takes 7 quarts. Put 7 in it and mark where it comes up to...same as if it has 5 with OEM pan. I use a cutoff wheel to make a notch in the dipstick.

Good point guys but I did not have a pan to compare when I bought my current pan. I do not know if it is larger than stock. If I knew how far below the bottom of the block the oil level was I could adjust my didpstick.

Unless it is an aftermarket pan, it should be 5 qts. If you run dual filters you can increase the volume to 5 1/2 (which is what I did on mine).

When making a custom length dip stick tube, I prefer to get a truck or van dipstick and cut it from the top side to keep the factory markings on the bottom. Fill the pan with 5 qts, put a small C-clamp on the overly long dip stick and check the oil level. Keep moving the c-clamp until the dipstick reads 5 qts as full. Then drill the hole for the dowel pin that retains the upper handle.