The Ford Barn

cavecreekjake · 07-23-2015, 10:52 AM

I have an 8BA block in my hot rod, and not sure, but think a Merc pan. (are they different?) When I change the oil, adding 4 qts. plus one for the filter (full flow system), shows a quart low on the dipstick. Don't want to over fill it, and wonder if I have the correct dipstick.
Thanks

19Fordy · 07-23-2015, 11:41 AM

The 1951 Mercury Manual Vol. 1 shows the following on page34 under the heading CAPACITIES.:
Engine Oil
Dry (including filter)... 6 qts.
Refil........................ 5 qts.
This leads me to believe that the 49-51 Merc oil pan is larger than the 8BA Ford pan which hold 4 qts. plus 1 more for the filter. ( I think)

42merc · 07-23-2015, 12:45 PM

My Merc pan eqquiped 8BA requires 6 quarts to satisfy the dipstick.

51 MERC-CT · 07-23-2015, 01:01 PM

My 51' Merc. oil capacity is 5 qts. with the stock filter.
For reference the full line on my dip stick is 14 5/8" from the felt seal washer.
There are 3 different over-all length dip sticks and two different tubes (depending on year)

Lawson Cox · 07-23-2015, 01:22 PM

The last dipstick I ran across was 5' 4" and a perfect void surrounded by a sphincter muscle.

34PKUP · 07-23-2015, 01:37 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawson Cox

The last dipstick I ran across was 5' 4" and a perfect void surrounded by a sphincter muscle.

Had a brain scan??

lonewolf · 07-23-2015, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawson Cox

The last dipstick I ran across was 5' 4" and a perfect void surrounded by a sphincter muscle.

Lol thats funny

cavecreekjake · 07-23-2015, 03:04 PM

somehow, I knew this post would elicit some 'non-Ford' response! LOL

cavecreekjake · 07-23-2015, 03:34 PM

My dipstick, errrr...the CAR'S dipstick measures 13 5/8", top washer to Full mark, and the pan tube measures 7 1/2" to the pan end flange.
This combination would be..... ??

Ralph Moore · 07-23-2015, 06:07 PM

I ran in to a similar issue, 52 Merc motor, I filled the oil to the full mark on stock dipstick.
All was fine, then I bought a chrome one for an 8BA, put in in and the oil reads about 3/8" above the full mark, so I took a dremel, and put another mark on it.
So the Merc pan must hold more than a ford.

CT AV8 · 07-23-2015, 06:36 PM

With the various pans, tubes, and sticks you can come up with several combinations that may not give you a good reading. I think it's best to first i.d. the pan then completely drain the engine and mop out the canister. Add 5 (or 6 if Merc pan) and mark your stick accordingly. The engine we put in my AV8 started life as a Merc but has a center sump Ford pan with a 2CM dipstick. I can't see why you would change the oil without doing the filter and cleaning out the canister, anyway.

51 MERC-CT · 07-24-2015, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CT AV8

Add 5 (or 6 if Merc pan) and mark your stick accordingly.

Oil capacity is 5 qts. with filter on Merc's. Don't know how you are assuming it's 6 qts.
The reason for different length dip sticks and tubes is to compensate for the different shaped oil pans that would change the oil level but still have the same oil capacity.

George/Maine · 07-24-2015, 06:20 AM

I have 51 mercury with no filter and was leaking oil out pan gasket was wet.
I changed the oil and put 4 quarts and the mark was way off.
I marked the stick with grind mark on bench grinder.
That's my 2 cents.

cavecreekjake · 07-24-2015, 07:06 AM

Ok, so how do I ID the pan?

CT AV8 · 07-24-2015, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT

Oil capacity is 5 qts. with filter on Merc's. Don't know how you are assuming it's 6 qts.
The reason for different length dip sticks and tubes is to compensate for the different shaped oil pans that would change the oil level but still have the same oil capacity.

I got that from 19Fordy's post above and stand corrected.

Binx · 07-24-2015, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavecreekjake

Ok, so how do I ID the pan?

Oh, that's easy. Someone here called it the gift site that keeps on giving because it gets used so much. Move your cursor to the "?" in the photos on this site:

http://www.flatheadv8.org/bellhousing.pdf

Be careful with overfilling. If the crank throws dip into the oil you'll start burning and leaking oil.

Lonnie

37pickupproject · 07-25-2015, 06:51 AM

For some reason the link isn't working on my computer. Nothing pops up when I put the curser on it. I have a #22/23 pan. Do you know which pan this is and the capacity?

Frank Miller · 07-25-2015, 07:02 AM

Here is an idea. Find a friend with an 8ba and measure the length of the dipstick from top to full line. Then measure the tube and figure out how far the full mark is below the top of the pan or bottom of block. I think this will work in every instance as the full level is a certain distance below the bottom of the crank or block. Of course given that logic it could change a bit with a stroker but a 1/2 inch stroke would only change it a 1/4 inch.

cavecreekjake · 07-25-2015, 09:45 AM

OK Thanks, Bink..... I definitely have a Merc pan. Picture 26... I
have the three studs on the back
So oil change will be 5, plus full flow filter.
Thanks all !

07-23-2015, 10:52 AM	#1
cavecreekjake Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 27	Dipstick length I have an 8BA block in my hot rod, and not sure, but think a Merc pan. (are they different?) When I change the oil, adding 4 qts. plus one for the filter (full flow system), shows a quart low on the dipstick. Don't want to over fill it, and wonder if I have the correct dipstick. Thanks

07-23-2015, 12:45 PM	#3
42merc Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Buchanan, MI Posts: 676	Re: Dipstick length My Merc pan eqquiped 8BA requires 6 quarts to satisfy the dipstick.

07-23-2015, 01:22 PM	#5
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: Dipstick length The last dipstick I ran across was 5' 4" and a perfect void surrounded by a sphincter muscle. __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

07-23-2015, 03:04 PM	#8
cavecreekjake Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 27	Re: Dipstick length somehow, I knew this post would elicit some 'non-Ford' response! LOL

07-23-2015, 03:34 PM	#9
cavecreekjake Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 27	Re: Dipstick length My dipstick, errrr...the CAR'S dipstick measures 13 5/8", top washer to Full mark, and the pan tube measures 7 1/2" to the pan end flange. This combination would be..... ??

07-23-2015, 06:07 PM	#10
Ralph Moore Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 1,470	Re: Dipstick length I ran in to a similar issue, 52 Merc motor, I filled the oil to the full mark on stock dipstick. All was fine, then I bought a chrome one for an 8BA, put in in and the oil reads about 3/8" above the full mark, so I took a dremel, and put another mark on it. So the Merc pan must hold more than a ford.

07-23-2015, 06:36 PM	#11
CT AV8 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Cos Cob, CT Posts: 295	Re: Dipstick length With the various pans, tubes, and sticks you can come up with several combinations that may not give you a good reading. I think it's best to first i.d. the pan then completely drain the engine and mop out the canister. Add 5 (or 6 if Merc pan) and mark your stick accordingly. The engine we put in my AV8 started life as a Merc but has a center sump Ford pan with a 2CM dipstick. I can't see why you would change the oil without doing the filter and cleaning out the canister, anyway.

07-24-2015, 06:20 AM	#13
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: Dipstick length I have 51 mercury with no filter and was leaking oil out pan gasket was wet. I changed the oil and put 4 quarts and the mark was way off. I marked the stick with grind mark on bench grinder. That's my 2 cents.

07-24-2015, 07:06 AM	#14
cavecreekjake Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 27	Re: Dipstick length Ok, so how do I ID the pan?

07-25-2015, 06:51 AM	#17
37pickupproject Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 78	Re: Dipstick length For some reason the link isn't working on my computer. Nothing pops up when I put the curser on it. I have a #22/23 pan. Do you know which pan this is and the capacity?

07-25-2015, 07:02 AM	#18
Frank Miller Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn, MA Posts: 2,106	Re: Dipstick length Here is an idea. Find a friend with an 8ba and measure the length of the dipstick from top to full line. Then measure the tube and figure out how far the full mark is below the top of the pan or bottom of block. I think this will work in every instance as the full level is a certain distance below the bottom of the crank or block. Of course given that logic it could change a bit with a stroker but a 1/2 inch stroke would only change it a 1/4 inch. __________________ “The technique of infamy is to start two lies at once and get people arguing heatedly over which is true.” ~ Ezra Pound

07-25-2015, 09:45 AM	#19
cavecreekjake Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 27	Re: Dipstick length OK Thanks, Bink..... I definitely have a Merc pan. Picture 26... I have the three studs on the back So oil change will be 5, plus full flow filter. Thanks all !