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1950 Chevy Styleline deluxe with a 1949 216 engine without an oil filter. I just changed the oil and I drained out over 7 quarts of oil. I added back 5 quarts and it just shows on the bottom of the dipstick. Dipstck seems to hit the bottom of the oil pan when inserted all the way. If that is what it is doing, with 5 quarts of oil, there is only about a half of inch of oil in the pan where the dipstick goes in.

First thought was the dipstick was the wrong one. Mine is exact with the specs (15-3/32" washer to end/ 13-5/16" washer to fill line/ 13-3/16 washer to add line). OK, next thought tube to long (8-7/16" overall with 5/8" to 7/8" in engine). Mine is way short. Only 6" sticking out of the engine. If the tube was the right length, no oil would show and it would take way over 7 quarts to full line.

I checked and found a few instances where people have posted more oil to fill the 216 engine. But, alas, no real answers and a lot of questions. OK, put your thinking caps on: #1 Is there (or was there) an oversized oil pan for the 216 and how do I tell if I have one? #2 Should I put the right oil dipstick tube in her and fill to the full line? (over 7 quarts). #3 should I use the short tube and put in the oil to the full line? (about 6 to 7 quarts). I am confused!

a. 216 Chevrolet engines had a 5 quart fill as normal.

b. What is the tube you talk about? Seems the dipstick goes right into the block on my 216s. No tube, at least on the outside.

c. The pan could have been modified for racing or something. If so, it would be probably be noticeable.

I hope others chime in to help solve the mystery. Beats me. Does too!

Best,

Charlie

There was an extra deep oil pan for trucks working on large inclines. It looked llike the stock pan with and extra deep extension crudely welded to the deeppart of te pan......i
The dip stick should measure 15 3/32" under the washer the tube.8 7/64 overall length with around 1/2" or so in the block.

My 216 has an external oil dip stick tube. Per chevy specks (1949 through 1962) the dip stick tube should be 8.1094 inches (8-7/64") long, with 5/8" or 7/8" deep stop inside the block. The dipstick itself should be 15-3/32" from the washer to the end / 13-5/16" from the washer to the fill line / 13-3/16" to the add line.

My engine # GAA74I657304. A 1949 engine in a 1950 styleline. My dip stick is right on specs. The tube is short, only about 6". If someone fabricated a deeper pan, they did a real good job on it. Going to run with 7+ quarts and go 4 it. I am still wondering if there was a factory manufactured oil pan that was deeper.

I would be cautious about an "overfill" situation regardless of what the dipstick reads. If the oil gets too high the rods will agitate it so much that it becomes a lot of foam. Oil pumps do not like foam and the dippers on the rod caps will not do their job.

Does anyone know where I can get a "standard" oil pan for my '50 chevy (49 engine)? The only thing I can come up with is that the oil pan is "oversized". Thanks again to all.

You might want to visit a few of your VCCA friends with 1940 to 1952 vehicles to compare oil pans. The 1954 Master Parts List shows the same oil pan 3935858 as the service part for all 1940 to 1952 as well as 1953 non-Powerglide engines.

A deep sump pan would not even fit under the idler are on a passenger car.....you have some other problem.