I have Milodon 8qt pan part #30940 in my 408 stroker with their accompanying dipstick #22010. When I received this engine from Muscle Motors in Michigan, they stated to fill filter, fill engine and score the dipstick. Mechanic installed engine and called me and said he couldn't read any oil on dipstick. I couldn't either. MAYBE a tiny bit on tip. We knew we had oil in it so we fired it and all has been well. I've since tried a dye and still the same results. I hate this dipstick. It's tiny and round and very small flat area. I've confirmed it's the right dipstick but also seen some reviews criticizing it. I don't even drive the car 1000 miles a year so I've been changing the oil at least once a year but not being able to check the oil is frustrating and shouldn't be the case!

Wondering if anyone has found a better dipstick and tube for this pan? It's a nice billet tube and stick and seals nicely but I'm over it.

Thanks. Larry

I have a similar issue with my big block and the road race pan. I don't think there is a passageway in the pan baffle for the dipstick, At least my motor isn't in the car yet.

Frustrating. I'm about to pull pan. Stick doesn't feel like it's hitting anything. Appears to be very short for this block.

A lot of the aftermarket BB Mopar oil pans aren't set up for a stock location oil dipstick tube so I either grind and dimple them (aluminum pans) or massage the steel ones to make them take the stock type tubes.
On your deal maybe try a stock dipstick in that tube to see if it will read oil on it or not
I've had to mark a lot of the aftermarket dip stick and tube kits Normally I'll fill the new motors up along with the filters and start and run them for a while and then shut them off and let them sit over night before marking the dip stick full mark That allows the oil filter to be completely full and fill all the nooks and crannies that will sit in the lifter valley and heads that won't drip down

Thanks Cab. I thought about trying one from '79 Power Wagon with the Milodon tube but the stick looks so wide and long compared to their's. I'm thinking an OEM stick and tube like you said might be best solution

Can you snake a small welding rod down the tube ? If so, and it stops before getting wet, Mark it at the top of the tube, one could measure the length of the tube etc and compare

If you can get an idea how much the dip stick is too short, maybe you can trim the top off the dipstick tube with a tubing cutter?

I had one that had a cover on the dipstick that fit over top of the top of the tube. It was a fit petty tight, if the stick wasn't pushed down hard enough to seat it properly over the tube, the stick was about a 1/2" too short. .

Larry...I feel for ya bud!

In my case I picked up the Milodon 30940, 8 qt deep pan, then found a good price on the fancy 22060 dispstick...unfortunately that combo never made it past the : "umm, that ain't gonna work now, is it!!!" stage.

I gave up and went back to my MP chrome setup that was in the previous 360 motor. The benefit I had was that with the engine being up on the stand I could measure it out and see how the current dipstick markings would measure up to the actual crank's lower sweep (from the counterweight).

Make no mistake, I did have to clearance the Milodon pan to make this work. The MP stick (being a steel piece that's about three times wider than the Milodon one) did butt up against the pan's front baffle, plate and that would prevent it from literally fully seating. Perhaps that's what you're seeing as well...although if that was the case you would feel it as the Milodon stick should not fully seat either.

Here are a few pics...

Thanks for pics! Okay I guess mine is 22060! Sorry for confusion but when I read my invoice writing wasn't real clear but I read 22060 and did a search on that but dipsticks didn't come up. I also thought the second 2 could be an 8. I took a second look and thought it might be 22010 and dipsticks did come up. Ugh. Either way, I still have the problem. I ordered a Milodon oil pan gasket and as soon as it arrives I'm pulling the pan. I think with pan off it's going to answer some questions for me. I have a windage tray also. The stick doesn't feel like it's obstructed whatsoever. Slides in very easily.

Here's invoice and dipstick which measures 18.5".

Thanks.

Larry

I received the new Milodon four piece gasket for their 8 qt. pan. Do you think this gasket set requires RTV/Sealant, and if so what would you recommend I use? And just dabs in the corners or what? Thanks! Larry

Milodon has a QC issue, imo. I got their pan for an LA as well as their oil pan stud kit. Guess what, some of the studs won't work with the pan.

You may also want to watch the Engine Masters episode How oil kills power.

Ugh. Another company with QC issues Muscle Motors built this "Killer Krate" several years ago and I've had no problems with anything other than the dipstick.

I think I saw that Engine Masters but have forgotten the results. I know there's talk of windage trays not being worth installing. I hate to pull it out though. I don't know.

Seems to be the norm on the QC Before pulling the tray, I was taught the factory boys weren't stupid, (at least back then they weren't)

It has nothing to do with windage trays.

Season 3, episode 32

If you know a welder have a piece of tig rod welded to the Milodon dipstick, make it long and trim to fit. I always use replacement dipsticks, they are long and hit the baffle in the pan, so I drill a hole in the baffle for the dipstick to go through.

I’ve read milodon isn’t what it used to be. When I bought a 31580 about 15 years ago, the windage tray had the dipstick hole, the pickup screwed in and was spot on. I installed that setup with the engine in the car. Worked super well. Now I read these dipstick issues, and people also say the pickup hits big time. Pic I saw on here in last couple years showed it coming over the pan rail! What on earth happened to those people at milodon?

Don’t even get me started on what that company has become.

💨

Stopped by Summit to look at a Milodon HV water pump and there was a GMB Chinese water pump in the box

Gus

Had you gone to Milodon's website you'd know why and that it isn't just a repackaged pump.