Left hand dipstick

[410 John]

My 83 C10 came with a 305 and my current 350 must be an earlier model with a left hand dipstick. The dipstick is a chrome replacement and very hard to reach and get back in. The master cylinder is dead in the way. Anyone else dealing with this?

 

[fast 99]

Had the same issue in addition to 6 bolt heads which caused more problems. Some blocks were converted by rebuilders to right hand. Check the block near the pan rail for the boss. Otherwise, it not an easy fix. I ended up changing the entire long block, 1 exhaust manifold, oil pan, plug wires and various heat shielding.

 

[Rickf]

Somebody sells a flexible dip stick. I don't recall the vendor (maybe Lokar) it's been a few years/decades.

 

[410 John]

I didn’t think of the flexible deal. I think your right on Lokar.

 

[DoubleDingo]

I had that inconvenience with Crusty Biscuit. The PO installed a block with the driver's side dipstick. What a pain to check the oil, especially after adding the power brake booster. It was a pain with the manual brakes. And the PO had the wrong dipstick and tube for the engine. At the full mark it was at 10 quarts. I didn't know it was wrong until after I got back from a camping trip with the truck and changed the oil. The drain pan was full to the rim, and I thought it was going to overflow. How it didn't blow oil all over the place is beyond me, it was triple digit heat the entire trip, and the overdrive transmission was out, so it was a normal three speed and 4.57 gears. Even doing 55 it was 3,000 rpms.

Anyhow, a flexible dipstick may fix it in your case.

 

[WFO]

Mine is on the driver's side, but it is still easy to check. The tube is clocked slightly forward.

 

[410 John]

Clocked forward, that’s a thought.

 

[bucket]

Get a dipstick and tube from a pre-'80 G-van. It'll be super easy to check then, lol. Those were some long suckers.

 

[squaredeal91]

Lol right ^^^^ I love van dipsticks!
My chrome "performance "aftermarket dipstick sucks too

 

[GTX63]

I believe the driver side dipstick location was on motors up thru 1979.

 

[bucket]

I believe the driver side dipstick location was on motors up thru 1979.

Yep.

The factory sticks aren't too inconvenient, but the generic chrome aftermarket one that has been sold for decades can be, especially in a taller truck.

 

[410 John]

I rotated it some. It makes a difference. Thanks