Stupid question, where is the oil dipstick on a 84 350? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Rifter_Chevy · 03-17-2011, 02:04 PM

So i bought a new truck, noticed a oil leak on the passenger side of the block i assumed was coming from the valve cover and went to check the oil.

Well i cant find the dipstick, it has aftermarket exhaust manifolds on it so its probably safe to assume the previous owner removed the dipstick tube to install them and never reinstalled it. So i bought a universal distick tube and new dipstick thats supposed to fit any chevy smallblock but i cant find the hole in the block to install it into. So where is it on a 84 350?

Thanks guys.

Rifter_Chevy · 03-17-2011, 02:31 PM

I found a hole in the block on the drivers side between the first and second spark plugs off the firewall end, its 6-8" below the plugs in the side of the block and looks like its the right angle into the block for a dipstick. It has a threaded bolt closing it off right now, is this the dipstick hole?

motornut · 03-17-2011, 02:49 PM

not sure when it was changed but i thought pass side after 80s
bout the size of a bic pen?sounds like it
hope they didn't force thread it
there should be tho a bolt hole to hold the dip in place
make sure its seated right down if not,it won't be right

my block here is 88

Rifter_Chevy · 03-17-2011, 02:58 PM

yeah i have a hole thats about where that one is but on the drivers side not the passenger side. Im going to pull the bolt and insert the dipstick tube and see what happens.

The oil leak is on the passenger side though and i cant for the life of me find the dipstick hole on that side(if there is one on each side, oil might be coming from valve cover after all).

My main issue is on the passenger side is i cant see **** due to those exhaust head shields that protect the plug wires just like pictured in your second picture, makes it real hard to look for dipstick holes on that side.

HTX86chevy · 03-17-2011, 03:03 PM

motornut · 03-17-2011, 03:12 PM

some have a bump in the pan for the stick side

timpage · 03-17-2011, 03:17 PM

'86 or '87 went to the passenger side, '86 and older usually drivers side.

Rifter_Chevy · 03-17-2011, 05:24 PM

ok so it was the drivers side, it was the hole that had the bolt in it.

The old end piece of the tube was broken off in the hole and i pushed it into the oil pan trying to install the new one, i then removed the oil pan and retrieved the broken piece of tube and installed the new one.

Man that was much more of a pain in the butt than it had to be, on the bright side the oil pan was leaking like a bastard so it wasn't a complete waste of time.

79gmcc15 · 03-17-2011, 05:34 PM

In 84 I think was the switch. There are bolts on the side of the motor like the one in this pic.

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But that is NOT the hole for the dip stick. Don't touch it! LOL

Here are some pics that should help ya some. It is between 6 and 8 cylinder.

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mooseknuckles · 03-17-2011, 05:37 PM

my 86 is on the pass. side

timpage · 03-18-2011, 06:04 AM

My '85 GMC is on drivers side, '87 Chevy is passenger side, so figured either '86 or '87 was the change....

03-17-2011, 02:04 PM	#1
Rifter_Chevy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 107	Stupid question, where is the oil dipstick on a 84 350? So i bought a new truck, noticed a oil leak on the passenger side of the block i assumed was coming from the valve cover and went to check the oil. Well i cant find the dipstick, it has aftermarket exhaust manifolds on it so its probably safe to assume the previous owner removed the dipstick tube to install them and never reinstalled it. So i bought a universal distick tube and new dipstick thats supposed to fit any chevy smallblock but i cant find the hole in the block to install it into. So where is it on a 84 350? Thanks guys.

03-17-2011, 02:31 PM	#2
Rifter_Chevy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 107	Re: Stupid question, where is the oil dipstick on a 84 350? I found a hole in the block on the drivers side between the first and second spark plugs off the firewall end, its 6-8" below the plugs in the side of the block and looks like its the right angle into the block for a dipstick. It has a threaded bolt closing it off right now, is this the dipstick hole?

03-17-2011, 02:49 PM	#3
motornut 78K & 79C Jimmys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ottawa Ont CANADA Posts: 7,901	Re: Stupid question, where is the oil dipstick on a 84 350? not sure when it was changed but i thought pass side after 80s bout the size of a bic pen?sounds like it hope they didn't force thread it there should be tho a bolt hole to hold the dip in place make sure its seated right down if not,it won't be right my block here is 88 Attached Images __________________ John 1978 GMCJimmy4X4-350/203 1979 GMCJimmy4X2-305/350

03-17-2011, 02:58 PM	#4
Rifter_Chevy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 107	Re: Stupid question, where is the oil dipstick on a 84 350? yeah i have a hole thats about where that one is but on the drivers side not the passenger side. Im going to pull the bolt and insert the dipstick tube and see what happens. The oil leak is on the passenger side though and i cant for the life of me find the dipstick hole on that side(if there is one on each side, oil might be coming from valve cover after all). My main issue is on the passenger side is i cant see **** due to those exhaust head shields that protect the plug wires just like pictured in your second picture, makes it real hard to look for dipstick holes on that side.

03-17-2011, 03:03 PM	#5
HTX86chevy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 349	Re: Stupid question, where is the oil dipstick on a 84 350? __________________

03-17-2011, 03:12 PM	#6
motornut 78K & 79C Jimmys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ottawa Ont CANADA Posts: 7,901	Re: Stupid question, where is the oil dipstick on a 84 350? some have a bump in the pan for the stick side __________________ John 1978 GMCJimmy4X4-350/203 1979 GMCJimmy4X2-305/350 Last edited by motornut; 03-17-2011 at 03:25 PM.

03-17-2011, 03:17 PM	#7
timpage Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bend, Oregon Posts: 43	Re: Stupid question, where is the oil dipstick on a 84 350? '86 or '87 went to the passenger side, '86 and older usually drivers side.

03-17-2011, 05:24 PM	#8
Rifter_Chevy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 107	Re: Stupid question, where is the oil dipstick on a 84 350? ok so it was the drivers side, it was the hole that had the bolt in it. The old end piece of the tube was broken off in the hole and i pushed it into the oil pan trying to install the new one, i then removed the oil pan and retrieved the broken piece of tube and installed the new one. Man that was much more of a pain in the butt than it had to be, on the bright side the oil pan was leaking like a bastard so it wasn't a complete waste of time.

03-17-2011, 05:34 PM	#9
79gmcc15 Gettin It One Pice At A Time Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: everett, washington Posts: 2,688	Re: Stupid question, where is the oil dipstick on a 84 350? In 84 I think was the switch. There are bolts on the side of the motor like the one in this pic. But that is NOT the hole for the dip stick. Don't touch it! LOL Here are some pics that should help ya some. It is between 6 and 8 cylinder. __________________ RIP ELJAY Work In Progress 1979 GMC C1500 Trailering Special. Getting the truck done, one piece at a time. “You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by his way of eating jellybeans.”Ronald Reagan “I don’t know the key to success but I know the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” Bill Cosby

03-17-2011, 05:37 PM	#10
mooseknuckles Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: ottawa,canada Posts: 4,550	Re: Stupid question, where is the oil dipstick on a 84 350? my 86 is on the pass. side __________________ my build threads '86 C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415628 '67 C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=635078 '63 GMC http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=674682

03-18-2011, 06:04 AM	#11
timpage Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bend, Oregon Posts: 43	Re: Stupid question, where is the oil dipstick on a 84 350? My '85 GMC is on drivers side, '87 Chevy is passenger side, so figured either '86 or '87 was the change....



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