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So I had a tuff time find a front sump oil pan, I finally found a 440 oil for my 383. The only thing that I don't understand is there is a auxilary? hole on the side of the pan that has threads on it. Does anybody know what it is for? I know the 383 dipstick goes through the engine block... Thanks- Adam

1970 Dodge D-200 Camper Special Custom 383/ 727A/ 3.54 Posi
1971 Dodge D-200 Step-side Custom 383/4-speed/ 3.54 Limited-slip

Driver's side of the pan?

One certain trucks there was a T-fitting here that a dipstick tube threaded into. This was where the dipstick went, instead of the block.

As long as you have an accurate dipstick elsewhere, you can just plug this hole.

The dipstick-in-the-side-of-the-pan was a truck thang, not a 440 thang. Car 440's were same as the car 383 in regards to dipstick location.

Bucky

That is weird ... My dad's truck from factory has the dipstick going through the block!! 383 engine

Oneadm1210 wrote:That is weird ... My dad's truck from factory has the dipstick going through the block!! 383 engine

The ones that I have seen using the side/pan dipstick were late 70's big blocks.
Bucky

The rear sump B/RB trucks used an elbo on the side of the pan and a dipstick tube that screwed into it.It looks like something that a plumber invented (no offense,Terry )

http://www.bouchillonperformance.com/BPEtruckKit.asp

The hole in the block is plugged,when the rear sump is used.

I have another question.... My original oil pan from the 383 is a Center sump that holds 6qts. I bought the 440 front sump 7qt pan, question is Do I have to change the dipstick?

Sir

You can add a measured seven quarts amount of oil to the new unit
( filter on and the engine run enough for it to be filled ), stop the
engine and then clean the stick to see where the fluid level is.

Score this level ( if it is not the same ). Use the same distance of
the OEM lower marks to now make a "add because it is low mark" score.



Rodger & Gabby
COS

Oneadm1210 wrote:I have another question.... My original oil pan from the 383 is a Center sump that holds 6qts. I bought the 440 front sump 7qt pan, question is Do I have to change the dipstick?

Logic tells me No. An increase in oil capacity from a bigger volume pan shouldn't raise the level that the oil crests at. The top level should be the same. Its just that the oil is "deeper", much like if you were to deepen a swimming pool or pond.

Just to be safe, when you change the pan & add the recommended amount of oil, take note of where is comes on your current dipstick. Also I have had factory (Ford) engines where the dipstick read inaccurately when the known proper amount of oil was in the pan. I had to make my own marks on the dipstick.

Bucky

Also I think you have to change pick up tubes though.

Bucky

This is interesting, on mine, (it is a front sump) the dipstick does not pass through the pan, but in the same general area, I see this threaded bung on the side of the pan with a square drive plug in it? An oil cooler port or something?? Is it just on mine? Its right on the side, under the dipstick, but its pretty big, is this the port you mentioned bucky? The thing I'm referring to looks more like a galvanized pipe fitting lol just curious

I'm not sure yours is the same but my OEM 383 pan has that and it's used on bigger rigs with BB's for the compressor oil drain. We had an air braked 361 CID '63 D500 that used it like stated.

Hmm, very interesting! So, the compressor...for the air brakes? Did it run off the engine itself? Is that the compressor you mean?

That's interesting, as mine is a camper special, so I wonder if they used that oil pan for any largish truck that might have various options later in the assembly line, mine is front sump too and I've heard that that is not neccesarily standard equipment either

I don't know what my pan originally was on, but it is a rear sump & the pipe "elbow" is one the driver side of the oil pan. A dipstick tube was originally threaded into it, but I am using the block tube. My block is 67 440 from a passenger car.

Bucky