Hey all! So my girlfriend bought a little '63 Nova today, and I've been working on getting it road worthy all night... I have a few questions, as I'm not too familiar with these sixes. I looked up the numbers, but it says 230/250. How do I know what I have? (It runs fine, so I'm nor in the mood for measuring stroke) My biggest concern is that the PO removed the dipstick tube. By remove, I mean cut it off and put a piece of fuel line with a bolt in the end on it.... I've been searching all over the net and cant find one ANYPLACE! I've been told I need a Nova specific one to fit with the front/center sump pan.... I've heard it works ok to use a length of tube from the hardware store and mark the oil level on the stick after adding the correct amount of oil. I don't see why it wouldn't work...
if you have an original 194 the dipstick will be between the motor mount and fuel pump which is a different length from the later 230/250 which the dipstick is located aft of the mount . if you have a 194 , i can hook you up with the correct dipstick , i have a 194 sitting under the workbench collecting dust. if you have a 230/250 you may be better off going the DIY dipstick route.
The engine number is 3850817... It comes up 62-78 230/250. But the dipstick is indeed between the motor mount and fuel pump. I'm uploading pics now (slow internet). When making my own tube/stick, should the stick touch the bottom of the pan? Also, the PO told us he removed the dipstick in the first place because it was leaking oil... There's also no PCV on the engine, so I'm thinking thats what the peoblem was... And of co**** he removed the PCV by putting a big bolt the the end of the vacuum hose. I like this guys style so far another one just for entertainment purposes.... The valve cover gasket was leaking bad out of the front. There's probably a whole tube of silicone on there, along with a shop rag stopping the leak. AND he threw In an extra tube of silicone with the car for FREE!!! I just wish I had pics of all the zip ties before a remove them. Zipties on EVERYTHING.
It sounds like you're dealing with the front sump VS rear sump motors, and their dip sticks being in different locations depending on the year of car/truck the engines came in. The 62-67 Nova/ChevyII used a front sump oil pan, after that ALL Nova/ChevyII sixes used a rear sump pan, all other cars and trucks used rear sump pans. Putting a post 67 six into a pre 68 Nova-ChevyII leaves you without a functioning way to check the oil level, or on any rear sump six going into a front sump Nova/ChevyII. You can drill the block (too much work and too hard in the car) for the dipstick, fabbing up an oil pan based dipstick (means removing the pan to do it), or do what a friend did that I sold my 74 model year 250 to, who put it into a 67 Nova/ChevyII 4 door. Since the engine did'nt burn oil, he'd just check it by draining the pan, and putting 4 quarts back in it. I just shook my head when he told me that. Probably the easiest way is to just modify the oil pan for a dipstick. Been there on the "silicone used everywhere, for everything" deal; I HATE that stuff. Have'nt had the zip tie thing........yet. Butch/56sedandelivery.
Reminds me of the time I worked graveyard at the local Texaco and this Mexican came in with a '53 Ford 4d, 3 shades of primer, chrome all painted silver, cracks in every piece of gl***, 3 different size tires on it, no interior, he sat on an orange crate, and wanted to sell it to me for $30.00, and surprise, he had a ***le in his name. This was 1965. 4 times he came back with a lower price each time until I bought it for $15. V8, 3sp, od. I opened the hood after he left and fell on the floor laughing...silicone and duct tape everywhere, bailing wire holding everything together. What a mess! On a positive note, it ran like a champ...smooth, no smoke, rattles or knocks. I was able to fix all the problems he jerry-rigged fortunately, but man, I wish I had pics of that mess. Those Chevy II's are killer little cars, stay with it, you'll get 'er done.
Ok, so i dropped the pan and am going to knock the old tube out, and clean up in there a little while I'm at it... I'm taking a break now since a smashed a finger (completely unrelated) so figured Id do an update.. I went to Napa and got some parts. They didn't have a PCV in stock, but I have a spare for my '66 Buick... I don't see why it wouldn't work for now. Anyways, the hole for the dipstick tube definitely is in the right spot for the oil pan, so that's a plus! I'm ***uming that the block must be original or at least from another Nova since it has the right dipstick location...
Funny...(not funny ha-ha, funny peculiar!) When at the old shop, I did many misc. repairs on BMW customers' 'other cars'. Brother, did they have a gamut of different types! I had this Chevy 6 dipstick tube situation also, went to Courtesy Chevrolet with engine#, went back 3 times...Finally did the brake line tube trick, bottoming dipstick in pan... I recalled fitting the right long drift to pound the broken tube out from the bottom. I was fortunate to be able to say 'I Got them tools...'
So while I'm at it I'm setting the valve lash... I'm ***uming it has hydro lifters since its otherwise stock, but how do I know for sure?
If your setup is the same as mine, I can give you measurements on the tube and dip stick. I imagine using your pan to get the measurement might work better though?
99+% sure it has hyd lifters ,unless someone put a big cam in it. Adjust it hyd style you will soon know if they ain't.
So my neighbor came over today to see what I had dragged home now. He has a '63 Nova as well, 2dr with a VERY hopped up 230.... He happened to have some tube the right size for the job. He said it started out as an old golf club handle...whatevern it works!! the stick I had for the car was longer than the one in his motor, so we measured the length of the factory tube in his motor, compared dip stick lengths (mine's bigger), and then added the difference to my new tube so the full mark on my stick should be in the right spot... Sorry I dont have pics yet, my phone still wont upload them so I have to wait til I get to a computer.
It also turns out he has a valve cover with a cutout on top for setting the valves while the engine is running... Hopefully she can be driving tomorrow!!
Clean looking little car. I've noticed that every car I buy and take on as a project always has some stupid issue that's not exactly simple to fix or figure out. It always ends up like your dip stick dilemma. It's never easy lol
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