FE Power Forums
FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: 67428GT500 on January 25, 2020, 01:54:56 AM
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I have been having an issue with the dipstick being pushed up about an inch. There isn't a blow-by issue. Sometimes I have to rotate the dipstick to get it all the way down. I thought perhaps it's getting hung up on the windage tray?
I have a PCV valve that is vented from the right rear intake boss ( C7ZX 427 MR intake)
I thought perhaps others may have encountered this in their travels.
-Keith
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Rotating the dipstick to get it all the way into position is fairly common with a windage tray installation, at least based on my own experience. I put a 30 degree bend at the very end of the dipstick, probably 1/4" from the end or less, to help guide it past the windage tray. If you install the dipstick with that bend pointing away from the crank it will help get it past the windage tray.
The dipstick pushing out is a different situation altogether. There is lots of air movement in the crankcase, blowby or not, and if there is not enough breather capacity to let the pressure waves escape they will look for another outlet, hence the dipstick pushes out. Take a close look at your breathers; many of them only have two very small holes for ventilation of the crankcase, and these are not sufficient on a strong engine. An open, K&N style breather with a 1" or larger hole is a much better solution. Even if you have good breathers though this can still be a problem. On my 511" FE that I ran in 2005 and 2006, I put a spring between the dipstick handle and one of the oil filter adapter bolts, to hold the dipstick in position.
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Jay: Thanks for the advice on the spring. I think I over-filled the case by a half quart as well. I am running the Cobra T-sump with seven quarts of Brad Penn straight 30 WT. The breathers are the factory chrome units. There is only one. On the MR would it matter which port I ran the PCV from on the right side? The rear on the back of the manifold is plugged off.
-Keith
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my dipstick does that.i believe my hoop on the end of the dipstick where your finger goes in to remove it comes in contact with my shock or spring tower because of engine movement or vibration.i have to push the dipstick down a inch or so nearly every time i open the hood. jmo
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Crankcase pressure . No other reason. I used to hook a spring to mine.
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As Jay stated, check for sufficient breather capacity. One can also use a vacuum/pressure gauge (many have both functions) and with a length of rubber hose, attach same with clamps or a tight fit to the dipstick tube and fire her up. Excessive blow-by if present will be noted at idle and other rpm levels. Having a well-functioning PCV valve is helpful too although if worn rings and/or well-worn internals are present, this will not help of course.
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Crankcase pressure . No other reason. I used to hook a spring to mine.
This. If I see this behavior consistently, it's time to check the header evac check valves - OR - for rings and a bore touch up.
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I fit the dipstick before evey windage tray/pan installation, if it hits, be careful, it can roll up into the crank and break off. A stock pickup won't care much, but an aftermarket pickup can let a chunk into the oil pump
If it is crankcase pressure at WOT, you may need to add a breather hose to the air cleander to create negative pressure at WOT when the PCV is at or near zero
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my dipstick tube really is touching the shock tower. it sits less than i/16 inch from it. i can bend the tube slightly and it quits popping up. this dont have nothing to do with this topic,but one time i had a carb rebuilt on a 352 in a 56 ford.gas leaked in the engine after installation and when i fired it up it blew the valve covers off,all but one or two bolts still holding,it blew the breather cap sky high,and it shot the dip stick out like a bow and arrow through the tree tops,never found it.
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I had that on the 428 in my '66 Galaxie XL. The stick started popping up - after a while I was hearing a tick, and it was getting worse - it turned out the tick was a loose valve guide pressurizing the crankcase (but probably not what the OP problem is?).
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When I had this problem I blamed it on the Total Seal rings.
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When I had this too it turned out to be rings. :o
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I noted two issues. I made a quick change and drove it about 35 miles after returning from Madrid.
I remembered that someone suggested restricting the 1/2 PVC hose that runs to the right rear side of the intake on on the C7ZX. I inserted two pieces of rubber hose that reduced the inside diameter to about 3/16. I removed the restrictors and it didn't raise back up. I have a push on breather on the driver's side cover and the tube in the front of the intake. It also has a baffle in it that blocks most of the tube internally.
The back of the intake has a cover on it. My guess is I don't have enough ventilation. I have a factory windage tray which I noted also was problematic when inserting the dipstick. The engine has less than 650 miles on it. I have yet to spin it over 4500 rpm.
-Keith
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One breather and the intake fill tube should still vent enough. Quite a few early 427's left the factory with just the fill tube and a vent at the back of the intake, with no problems. I used to run my old 390 that way with no issues, and spun it to over 5500 regularly. I'd still be concerned about blow-by being your issue.
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Drive it some more, se if the rings seats after
a while