MC260 oil dipstick - car block

[fasteddy3243]

We have just rebuilt our Cobalt 18BR engine. We bought it with a freeze damaged block (9 different cracks found before we quit counting). We bought a GM 3970014 casting unrebuilt longblock and built it, but that block has a port side dipstick boss, and the original MC block had a stbd boss. The "new" block boss starts at the block deck. The MC block boss is only 1.5" or so above the oil pan rail, so I can't rebend the old one, as it will be several inches too short on pan depth reach. I've currently got a cork stuffed in the hole, and I check the level with a piece of sanded wire.

Note we also had to use the truck block oil pan, as there's a kickout to cover the dipstick boss bulge, and since the pan is slightly shallower, we could not use the windage tray in the sump. However, with the comp cams cam, it runs like a scalded dog...

 

[tswiczko]

Re: MC260 oil dipstick - car block

The windage tray keeps the oil thrown from the crank at high rpm from aerating the oil in the pan. You can run without it but you stand a chance of loosing a bearing by sucking aerated oil into the lubrication system. The air in the system will lead to a reduced volume of oil to the bearings.

I know it sounds like a lot of work but the section with the curve for the dipstick area can be cut out and welded into the old pan giving it the correct profile. But if you don't have fabrication experience you may be better off paying to have it done by a professional as opposed to trying and screwing it up so bad that you can't make either work.


As for the dipstick I would get something. Marine dipsticks usually go to the bottom of the pan and are used to remove the oil with a pump for oil changes as well as to check the oil levels. although oil removal can be accomplished if you can run a hose all the way to the bottom of the pan also.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: MC260 oil dipstick - car block

I had the same issue when I did a block swap with a 350. What I did was pick up an OMC dipstick and tube off eBay - the long kind that replaces the oil pan drain plug and has the threads for an oil extractor pump.
Then I just hammered a little welch plug in the dipstick hole and covered that with JB weld.