The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 oil level

Hi guys,

I mentioned in an earlier thread that I had just replaced the oil pump and pickup in my '60 235. I want to know the minimum amount of oil that the oiling system should be able to suck up. I don't want to ever run the motor dry due to oil slosh or oil level changes.

In plain english: If I have to put 4 quarts of oil in this thing before she'll suck oil, am I in trouble? What is the proper oil capacity for the following setup??

'60 235 engine block
'55-62 Melling M45 Pump
'60 oil pump pickup, NOS
'57 single-baffle oil pan
'60 dipstick
No oil filter.
'60 oil feedpipe line in rocker assy.
solid lifters

As far as I could measure, the pickup sits about 3/4" off the floor of the pan. Front edge of pickup is up against the slope in the floor of the pan, right behind pan baffle.

Bottom of dipstick is about 1" above top of oil pump pickup. Looks like that puts oil level just below body of oil pump when stick reads "full"

Sound close enough for govmnt work, or am I in trouble?

thanks guyz,

chip

I dunno chip. I'm still a rookie here.

But I have a question for ya: Why no oil filter???

Chip, I'd be worried if it wouldn't suck oil with 3 quarts, since 5 is usually the capacity and 1 is usually working its way around the motor while its running, so that doesn't leave much room for sloshing and accidental low oil levels. Most vehicles I have experienced will pull oil with less than two quarts in the pan. If you have a deep pan and can run six quarts without bad windage problems then that may be ok. The oil capacity of the pan is the point where the oil is close enough to the crank that it gets whipped into a froth from the air flow around the crank, which is bad.

I really think you should find the right pickup/pan combo for this motor, it's not worth finding out the hard way.

I went through his after changing pans, oil pump, and dipstick etc on my GMC. All you need is enough oil to maintain oil pressure when you hit the brakes hard, or during hard cornering. Too much oil will make for a lot of turbulence in the pan and it will blow oil out of the breathers.

I'm gonna pour some oil in it this weekend, and I'll post the results.

JYF- As you prolly know, the 235 used a removable 'bypass' oil filter canister that bolts to the intake manifold. Since I'm using the clifford 4 bbl intake, there is no provision for mounting the oil filter. So I removed it. I may add it back to the firewall or inner fender later, but right now I'm just trying to bring her back to life.

chip

Chip - We discussed this a year or so back. I don't have the time to search right now. You should have a 5 quart engine at full. And a stock 235 should still pick up oil until 1-1/2 to 2 quarts low.

I agree with the two quart min. My brother-in-law always runs his cars that low. That handy tapping noise from the lifters is his low oil warning.

I put 3 quarts in her this weekend. The pump picked it up and I got oil to the rockers before it felt like it was having a little trouble picking up oil. So I figure another 2 quarts and she'll be fine.

I asked again about this because I changed from a '57 to a '60 oil pump pickup, which is totally different in shape.

Chip