Oil dipstick full mark

65barracudaLA said
The engine is a '69 318 block with unknown, but likely stock internals, 163 (smog?) heads, Edelbrock Performer intake and carb, early 90 degree oil filter adapter, stock A-body oil pan (294) in a '65 Barracuda. Came out of a '68 Dart, so wasn't the original engine in that car either. Previous owner didn't know much about the engine and took it out to put a 383 in the Dart. Chrome oil dipstick that I found to be identical to a Mopar Performance dipstick. The original dipstick is long gone. I have had all kinds of issues with this engine and changed the oil plenty of times. The level after filling it with 5 quarts on level ground has varied for whatever reason.

So if all small block require 5 quarts of oil, then at least with the same 294 pan you should have the same oil level in the pan? That's why I was wondering how far the dipstick goes into the block to the full mark.

"Most" all small blocks do fill with 4 quarts in the pan, plus the filter. Trucks take an extra quart and are usually full at 6 quarts, including filter. What you're not grasping is, not all A body pans are shaped the same. Even though all the passenger car pans are 4 quart pans, the shape affects WHERE the top of the oil level is in the pan, get it? Since we now have the pan information, what I would suggest is treating the engine as if it's a 65 273 in a 65 Barracuda when doing an oil change and you will have the right amount. You would have the right amount regardless at 5 quarts including the filter, but where full reads on the dipstick could have been different for a wide range of applications considering the oil pan shape. Understand now?