The Ford Barn

Dan 1939 · 07-14-2018, 02:12 PM

I have a 1953 Flathead V8 in my 1939 pick-up. It has a truck oil pan. The dipstick is marked 8BA. It was suggested that I need a 8RT Dipstick.

My question is are the dipstick tubes the same length?
I think that if tube length is different it will effect the oil measurement.
Thanks, Dan

leon bee · 07-14-2018, 03:24 PM

I've just done what was logical, and I think everyone else here would, too. Fill her with 5 quarts and run for a bit. Let her sit a few minutes then file a mark on the dipstick.

leon bee · 07-14-2018, 03:26 PM

Except now I realize I don't know if trucks used 5 quarts. I'd check that first.

flatjack9 · 07-14-2018, 04:16 PM

The tubes are the same length - 8 21/64". The 8BA dipstick is around 15 1/2" and I think the 8RT is around 14".

George/Maine · 07-14-2018, 04:26 PM

I was quires about the 8rt and 8ba.
The 8ba is shorter and the 8rt dip stick is 17" long.
I think I just added 5 quart and didn't check it , just now checked was down about 1 quart.

flatjack9 · 07-14-2018, 04:54 PM

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I have a dipstick with 8BA stamped on it and it measures 15 1/2". I have an engine on the test stand with a truck pan and the dipstick measures around 14". With 5 qts in the pan, the level is at the full mark. The stick has no ID stamped on it.

rotorwrench · 07-14-2018, 05:10 PM

The trucks (8RT) had kind of a deep pan. The 8RT-6750-B I have is 17 7/8" long OAL. They changed in 53 to the 8RC-6750-A and those are 20 23/64" long. The tube P/N 48-6754-B was used a long time and it is 8 21/64" long. The 1953 engines with the new pan had P/N 8RT-6784-A tube and it is 10" long.

Most of the dip sticks have the part number prefix on them. The 8BA-6750-A was used on all the center sump pans for Ford cars and including the 52 & 53 Mercury and it was listed at 18 15/32" long. Mercury rear sump pans used the 8CM-6750-B dip stick at 19 5/8" so it's all about the type of pan that is used as to the length of the dip stick.

I think Ford used overall length to measure. And some folks us tube stop to tip. Ford put those lengths in some of their parts catalogs but not all.

flatjack9 · 07-14-2018, 05:18 PM

My dimensions were from the stop.

George/Maine · 07-14-2018, 06:05 PM

I think that I should have measured for the stop to full mark Not the length.
So how many quarts for a 8rt for 1953

rotorwrench · 07-14-2018, 06:29 PM

Fabricating a new stick would be the easiest way. The original poster mentioned the 1953 motor with a truck pan so I don't know if it is a 1953 truck pan or earlier 8RT set up. The 1953 F series pan was known as the stepped pan and has a large volume. It doesn't look like any of the other pans. It has a rear sump but the sump is still relatively deep even with the steps gradually making it shallower all the way up to the front. If it had the 8RT truck type pan with the clean out then he just needs the 8RT stick to be correct as long as his dip stick tube is 8 21/64" long. Ford was pretty good about marking there sticks. They should have 8RT on them somewhere if the engine uses that pan.

19Fordy · 07-15-2018, 10:28 AM

Here's an interesting 'oil debate fill" question with answers on HAMB.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-level.463488/
My 8BA with 50 merc oil pan and no filter takes 5 quarts and the dip stick shows FULL.

rotorwrench · 07-15-2018, 12:04 PM

The filter housing does hold some oil since it has a bit of a standpipe effect on the return side. If the filter housing is empty due to cleaning & filter replacement, the dip stick should read full with 5-quarts just poured in the sump. After it is started and warmed up it may give a lower reading even after the drain back from the filter occurs. I have no idea what the dip stick will read but it likely won't read full. Now after it is topped off again, it should read full after a warm up run. It may take a while for the complete drain back from the filter to occur but with warmed up oil it shouldn't be too long.

Most if not all 8BA family engines have a filter assembly. It may be that this was calculated in when they mention 5-quart capacity. I'll have to check again at the next oil change on my Mercury cars.

4t8v8 · 07-15-2018, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leon bee

I've just done what was logical, and I think everyone else here would, too. Fill her with 5 quarts and run for a bit. Let her sit a few minutes then file a mark on the dipstick.

I've had to fabricate a number of dipsticks after engine conversions. This method works great. My 8RT requires 5 qts.

Dan 1939 · 07-16-2018, 05:52 PM

Thank you all for your help.
The dip stick tube measured 10" so my engine is has the new type pan mentioned by rotorwrench.
Does this mean I should be using 8RT dip stick?
Thanks again,
Dan

George/Maine · 07-16-2018, 06:02 PM

I have the stepped pan and I think my dip stick is for a 1953.
I think if you were to fill with 5 quarts the 8BA would read 1/4" from bottom.
It would be way over with the stick in pic 5.
If you put 5 quarts that's good.

07-14-2018, 02:12 PM	#1
Dan 1939 Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Ocean County, NJ Posts: 56	Oil Dip Stick and tube 8BA or 8RT ?? I have a 1953 Flathead V8 in my 1939 pick-up. It has a truck oil pan. The dipstick is marked 8BA. It was suggested that I need a 8RT Dipstick. My question is are the dipstick tubes the same length? I think that if tube length is different it will effect the oil measurement. Thanks, Dan

07-14-2018, 03:24 PM	#2
leon bee Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Arkansas Posts: 611	Re: Oil Dip Stick and tube 8BA or 8RT ?? I've just done what was logical, and I think everyone else here would, too. Fill her with 5 quarts and run for a bit. Let her sit a few minutes then file a mark on the dipstick.

07-14-2018, 03:26 PM	#3
leon bee Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Arkansas Posts: 611	Re: Oil Dip Stick and tube 8BA or 8RT ?? Except now I realize I don't know if trucks used 5 quarts. I'd check that first.

07-14-2018, 04:16 PM	#4
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,526	Re: Oil Dip Stick and tube 8BA or 8RT ?? The tubes are the same length - 8 21/64". The 8BA dipstick is around 15 1/2" and I think the 8RT is around 14".

07-14-2018, 04:26 PM	#5
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: Oil Dip Stick and tube 8BA or 8RT ?? I was quires about the 8rt and 8ba. The 8ba is shorter and the 8rt dip stick is 17" long. I think I just added 5 quart and didn't check it , just now checked was down about 1 quart.

07-14-2018, 04:54 PM	#6
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,526	Re: Oil Dip Stick and tube 8BA or 8RT ?? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I have a dipstick with 8BA stamped on it and it measures 15 1/2". I have an engine on the test stand with a truck pan and the dipstick measures around 14". With 5 qts in the pan, the level is at the full mark. The stick has no ID stamped on it.

07-14-2018, 05:10 PM	#7
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,422	Re: Oil Dip Stick and tube 8BA or 8RT ?? The trucks (8RT) had kind of a deep pan. The 8RT-6750-B I have is 17 7/8" long OAL. They changed in 53 to the 8RC-6750-A and those are 20 23/64" long. The tube P/N 48-6754-B was used a long time and it is 8 21/64" long. The 1953 engines with the new pan had P/N 8RT-6784-A tube and it is 10" long. Most of the dip sticks have the part number prefix on them. The 8BA-6750-A was used on all the center sump pans for Ford cars and including the 52 & 53 Mercury and it was listed at 18 15/32" long. Mercury rear sump pans used the 8CM-6750-B dip stick at 19 5/8" so it's all about the type of pan that is used as to the length of the dip stick. I think Ford used overall length to measure. And some folks us tube stop to tip. Ford put those lengths in some of their parts catalogs but not all. Last edited by rotorwrench; 07-14-2018 at 05:23 PM.

07-14-2018, 05:18 PM	#8
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,526	Re: Oil Dip Stick and tube 8BA or 8RT ?? My dimensions were from the stop.

07-14-2018, 06:05 PM	#9
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: Oil Dip Stick and tube 8BA or 8RT ?? I think that I should have measured for the stop to full mark Not the length. So how many quarts for a 8rt for 1953

07-14-2018, 06:29 PM	#10
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,422	Re: Oil Dip Stick and tube 8BA or 8RT ?? Fabricating a new stick would be the easiest way. The original poster mentioned the 1953 motor with a truck pan so I don't know if it is a 1953 truck pan or earlier 8RT set up. The 1953 F series pan was known as the stepped pan and has a large volume. It doesn't look like any of the other pans. It has a rear sump but the sump is still relatively deep even with the steps gradually making it shallower all the way up to the front. If it had the 8RT truck type pan with the clean out then he just needs the 8RT stick to be correct as long as his dip stick tube is 8 21/64" long. Ford was pretty good about marking there sticks. They should have 8RT on them somewhere if the engine uses that pan.

07-15-2018, 10:28 AM	#11
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,923	Re: Oil Dip Stick and tube 8BA or 8RT ?? Here's an interesting 'oil debate fill" question with answers on HAMB. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-level.463488/ My 8BA with 50 merc oil pan and no filter takes 5 quarts and the dip stick shows FULL.

07-15-2018, 12:04 PM	#12
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,422	Re: Oil Dip Stick and tube 8BA or 8RT ?? The filter housing does hold some oil since it has a bit of a standpipe effect on the return side. If the filter housing is empty due to cleaning & filter replacement, the dip stick should read full with 5-quarts just poured in the sump. After it is started and warmed up it may give a lower reading even after the drain back from the filter occurs. I have no idea what the dip stick will read but it likely won't read full. Now after it is topped off again, it should read full after a warm up run. It may take a while for the complete drain back from the filter to occur but with warmed up oil it shouldn't be too long. Most if not all 8BA family engines have a filter assembly. It may be that this was calculated in when they mention 5-quart capacity. I'll have to check again at the next oil change on my Mercury cars. Last edited by rotorwrench; 07-15-2018 at 12:10 PM.

07-16-2018, 05:52 PM	#14
Dan 1939 Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Ocean County, NJ Posts: 56	Re: Oil Dip Stick and tube 8BA or 8RT ?? Thank you all for your help. The dip stick tube measured 10" so my engine is has the new type pan mentioned by rotorwrench. Does this mean I should be using 8RT dip stick? Thanks again, Dan

07-16-2018, 06:02 PM	#15
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: Oil Dip Stick and tube 8BA or 8RT ?? I have the stepped pan and I think my dip stick is for a 1953. I think if you were to fill with 5 quarts the 8BA would read 1/4" from bottom. It would be way over with the stick in pic 5. If you put 5 quarts that's good.