I built a HEMI with a 4.5" stroker crank and Charlie's oil pan with no provision for a dipstick. I guess that is what I get for putting racing parts in a street car. But, with all of the money invested in the engine, I wanted a way to check the oil level.
A friend of mine who is a long time Mopar racer and fabricator, now has a special welding business catering to the power industry. I explained my delima to him and in just a couple of hours, he produced the solution. By drilling a hole through the drain plug, then using common fittings from the hardware store, I have a dip stick tube coming off of my drain plug!

The top side of the tube.

I hate to be critical, but that has the potential to do much more harm than good. First, that low pan in a street car is "iffy" -at least where I live(bad roads) Then, the drain you added is even lower in a non protected spot. The other issue, is with ANY positive crankcase pressure, you will be pumping oil out of your dipstick onto your headers/ engine bay. I tried something similar, and had so many issues that I gave it up.

I grind the side of the oil pan rails so a stock dipstick tube and dipstick will work on any aluminum oil pan I use I have freinds who go to a hydraulic shop and have clear site glass tubes fabbed up to fit onto the sides of the oil pans, that is way to complicated for me

That's actually similar to what the factory did on the big block trucks. Except for incorporating the drain plug part.

Good idea. I agree the piece that hangs below the pan bothers me. Quick fix, allen pipe plug in the bottom. Bend the tube slightly so the Tee is higher than the bottom of the pan, Problem solved.
Doug

Thanks for the replies, and constructive criticism. I built the car to drive, but as friends saw it come together, they convinced me to show it. Well, in two years, I have more trophies than my grandson can fit in his bedroom. Now I want to DRIVE it! Of course I have a significant investment in the engine, (anyone who has built a HEMI understands), and I want to protect it. Taking off for a two or four day long distance weekend is what I am looking for, NO TRAILER. But I want the assurance that all is well. Therefore the dipstick.

Silly question...........but why do you NEED a dipstick. I mean we all change oil in these type cars on a regular basis. Plus if it does not leak oil or smoke.......where is the oil gonna go between changes that you need to check it?

Monte

under normal circumstances, you are right. However, I had an intake gasket leak that didn't show up in smoke, pipes were even light grey. Found the problem when I changed oil and was down a couple of quarts in 500 miles. Fixed with Proformance gaskets, but that made me want to be able to check oil without draining it. Just peace of mind.

We usually drill a hole in the side of the pan and weld a block of aluminium drilled and tapped for the truck style dipstick or just weld a block and tap it for a 90 degree fitting with a pipe thread on one side and a compression thread on the other.Use a tube and compression fitting correct for the tubing.Putting the dipstick below the windage tray or screen will keep it away from the rotating parts.Another esay way is weld a thick block and thread it to accept a site glass similar to what is used on hydraulic tanks on heavy equipment.The ones that have a round 1" glass face is easy to see and cheap

Which blocks don't come with a dipstick hole? I have a mega block and it had the hole in the factory location. The engine builder pluged it with an Allen screw but I put a dipstick in the motor.

My KB block has the dipstick hole.

I did something like this for my buddy on his ford...
I bent a 3/8 tube with a 90* and used a bulk head
fitting in the pan with a compression fitting... the
oil is up in the tube to the oil level and it worked
fine.. didnt have to mess with the drain fitting

Here's what i use. Sight glass off a Allison 9000 transmission.