Cannot find a dipstick to fit right, please help

[Shrug64]

OK,not exactly an A-body question, but I figured nobody would know more about this than you guys. So much Dodge knowledge here!

I havea 1956 DeSoto. Last year a couple of YouTubers came and put a Magnum360 in it out of a 1996 Dodge Ram B3500 van.

You can see the whole installation here:

During the swap the dipstick and tube vanished, think it got junked with the van.

Below is a photo of the casting number from the engine. Seems like a regular 360 to me. It has a rear sump oil pan. We needed a rear sump pan to clear the front cross-member on the DeSoto. The engine actually bolted up to the original 1956 motor mounts without modification.

Anyway, my issue is I cannot find a tube and dipstick to fit right.

First let me say I drained the oil, filled and installed a new filter, and then put 5 quarts of oil in the engine.

I got a dipstick and tube from Amazon that said it would fit. When I pullout that dipstick, it reads empty. Seems kinda short to me.

Then I went to the junkyard and grabbed the dipstick and tube from a 98 Ram1500 pickup with a 360.

I installed it and the dipstick is stupid long. It reads like several quarts over.

Then I went back and got one from a 97 Ram 3500 van. Installed it and it also reads several quarts over.

I do not understand why I cannot get a correct reading on anything. It seems odd to me that I have a rear sump pan but the dipstick is on the front of the engine.

So, my question is this, what the heck do I do?

I need to be able to check my oil without draining the pan and refilling it every time.

Please,please help me out. My health is not great, and I was just trying to finish one more project car before I cannot do that kind of work anymore.

Thank you gang!

 

[Bobzilla]

Do you know for sure what that oil pan is off of; what year and model truck? The dipstick and tube need to be a matched set and need to match the oil pan. However, if the tube you have installed now is acceptable in appearance you could just a long dipstick that is reading too high and remark that dipstick with the known new level from the oil you added. Nothing wrong with doing that if you cannot find the matching parts.

I just measured the length of two dipsticks and tubes for comparison:

89 LA 360 Ramcharger (same as pickup truck): dipstick is about 34.5 inches from the tip to the top end of the handle and the tube is about 14.5 inches from block to the top end of the tube itself.

94 Magnum 5.9/360 pickup truck: dipstick is about 37.5 inches from the tip to the top end of the handle and the tube is about 15.5 inches from the block to the top end of the tube itself, although this tube has curves and is not a perfect measurement.

The Magnum oil pan from a pickup truck has a channel or guide for the dipstick to run inside of, so it goes down into the engine, curves rearward almost level with the ground, and then curves down again into the oil in the pan. Picture of the channel below. I don't have a picture right now of the inside of the 89 Ramcharger/truck oil pan.

 

[Shrug64]

Do you know for sure what that oil pan is off of; what year and model truck? The dipstick and tube need to be a matched set and need to match the oil pan. However, if the tube you have installed now is acceptable in appearance you could just a long dipstick that is reading too high and remark that dipstick with the known new level from the oil you added. Nothing wrong with doing that if you cannot find the matching parts.

I just measured the length of two dipsticks and tubes for comparison:

89 LA 360 Ramcharger (same as pickup truck): dipstick is about 34.5 inches from the tip to the top end of the handle and the tube is about 14.5 inches from block to the top end of the tube itself.

94 Magnum 5.9/360 pickup truck: dipstick is about 37.5 inches from the tip to the top end of the handle and the tube is about 15.5 inches from the block to the top end of the tube itself, although this tube has curves and is not a perfect measurement.

The Magnum oil pan from a pickup truck has a channel or guide for the dipstick to run inside of, so it goes down into the engine, curves rearward almost level with the ground, and then curves down again into the oil in the pan. Picture of the channel below. I don't have a picture right now of the inside of the 89 Ramcharger/truck oil pan.


View attachment 1716366806

Thank you. That channel thing is good to know, I was wondering how the dipstick got down in to the oil going from the front of the engine all the way to the rear sump.
I grabbed the dipstick from a Ram pickup. It read way overfull. But this morning (since I know I have 5 quarts in there) I just started inserting it a little at a time and pulling it out until it read full. Made a mark so I know how much to cut off the dipstick.

 

[TT5.9mag]

@Bobzilla nailed it. The pan is what makes the difference. What you need with that pan is a dipstick and tube from like a 2001 dodge ram 2500.

 

[Bobzilla]

I just watched the video. That is going to be a really fun car to cruise in. Smooth running Magnum motivation and a very good looking body style. I like it. Please post some updates when you get it out driving around.

 

[MV8]

I would like to add that after an oil change, the engine needs to run before the dipstick will read a normal level. The right, "stupid long" dipstick would read several quarts over if you didn't run the engine. To check the level a few minutes after running, remove the stick, wipe it clean, reinsert, then pull it to see the level.

Fwiw, a dipstick would not be cut off to mark the levels. It can be scratched with a hacksaw and guide block, notched on one side with a jeweler triangle file, or drilled with a bit smaller than 1/3 of the stick width.

 

[Freezerman]

If you go to RockAuto and look up a 2001 Ram with 5.9, you can get a dipstick and tube for about 12 bucks each. Those will work, I have used them on at least 2 Magnums

 

[Shrug64]

If you go to RockAuto and look up a 2001 Ram with 5.9, you can get a dipstick and tube for about 12 bucks each. Those will work, I have used them on at least 2 Magnums

I will check it out, thanks!

 

[JDMopar]

Another thing is, truck and van oil pans are 6 quart pans instead of 5. Next time you change the oil, do it with 6 quarts and a filter. Then do the dip stick marking procedure just like @MV8 described above to mark your stick correctly. You have a really cool car. Thank you for your service.