40mopar Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 Just picked up a 1936 Buick Century with the 320 CID engine. Can someone tell me the correct length for the oil dip stick? Looks like mine has been repaired and I want to make sure it's the correct length. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
50jetback Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 How does it compare to this - 1936 Century 320 CID oil dip stick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40mopar Posted June 6, 2016 Author Share Posted June 6, 2016 Nope. Mine is 15 inches in overall length, 13 inches of which goes into the pan tube. Fill mark is 1-1/4' from tip. Markings say "ADD OIL" and "FULL". Has a number: 1326043. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
50jetback Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 (edited) Okay, according to my parts book part number 1326043 is ROD, crankcase oil gauge 1942 -60-70-90; H1942 -60 -70; 1946 -70 Part number for 36 Century appears in parts book as 1288436 1936 -60 -80 -90 ( 10 3/16" overall ). Seems mine is correct ( phew!! ) and yours is from a later motor. Are you sure your Century hasn't had a 1942 engine installed? Run the engine number past us, and we love photos of 1936 Century Buicks so how about posting a few. Edited June 7, 2016 by 50jetback (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40mopar Posted June 7, 2016 Author Share Posted June 7, 2016 Thanks very much for the info. Sounds like I might have a bigger problem than I expected. Just got this car, so don't have any parts books or manuals yet. Initial inspections, unfortunately done after the sale, indicate a sledge-hammer mechanic has made several modifications, so who knows what I have. I'll look for an engine number and try to post a few photos in a day or two. Again, thanks for the help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40mopar Posted June 7, 2016 Author Share Posted June 7, 2016 Oh Boy, here we go. Just got a '36 Buick shop manual, so went to check my car. Turns out that with a bumper-bumper length of 207" and a tire/wheel size of 700-16, it's not a Series 60 Century, but a Series 80 Roadmaster. Sound correct? More confusing info: engine serial number is "48589697." No dashes or hyphens. What the heck do I have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 I don't think you have a 1936 Engine. Maybe this link will help identify your engine: http://www.buicks.net/shop/reference/engine_ident_52.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40mopar Posted June 8, 2016 Author Share Posted June 8, 2016 Thanks for the link, but I'm still lost. My engine number is 48589697, which doesn't match the format of any numbers in those series'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted June 8, 2016 Share Posted June 8, 2016 I think it fits into the 1946-1947 chart. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 Maybe this link will make it more clear for you: http://www.theclassicbuick.com/1946_buick_ID.htm The engine number appears to be a 1946 Series 70 Engine number to me. The dipstick part number also agrees with a 1946 Series 70 engine, which would seem to explain why your engine has that dipstick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimy Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 For practical purposes, it MAY be important to know whether the installed oil pan is a 1936 or 1946; an engine change MAY have used the 1936 oil pan for steering linkage clearance. Are the oil capacities the same (don't have my books at hand)? So one must calibrate whichever dipstick is used. During an oil change, put enough new oil in to be 2 quarts low, then note the level achieved on whatever sticks you have. Add one more quart and do the same, and again when it's full. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40mopar Posted June 9, 2016 Author Share Posted June 9, 2016 Gentlemen, my apologies for being a little dense about the engines numbers. I think I understand now and agree that I must have a 1946 engine. Good news is I have located a dip stick for a '46 engine, so that should put me almost back to apples and apples. So, one more question. If Grimy's theory about the oil pans possibly being switched is correct, is there any way to tell visually? As always, thanks very much for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 I'm confused, AS ALWAYS,,,,,,,post # 10 states that the engine is a 1946 piece, and that the dip stick you have is also a 1946 correct piece, so wondering why you are buying another? I'm not trying to be a SMART guy, just confused. Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40mopar Posted June 9, 2016 Author Share Posted June 9, 2016 Dale, The dip stick I now have has been broken and mended. That's how this all got started. In an effort to determine the correct length of dip stick for my '36 Buick, the folks here advised me that I didn't have the original engine. So now that I know that it's a '46 engine, I would still like a proper dip stick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 I have a 46 Roadmaster, I will check my dip stick, maybe I don't have the original engine toooooooooo, hehe. Best wishes, Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 I realize that the brochures are not always 100% correct, but this is a photo of a 1936 engine from the 1936 Buick Brochure that I have. From my initial look at a parts book, the 1936 oil pan should be the same as 1937. This photo looks pretty close to what the oil pan on my 1937 engine looks like. If someone can confirm that an actual 1936 engine does look like this, and if someone with a 1946 can confirm if the oil pan is different and post a photo, then I guess you can take a look at your engine and figure out which oil pan it has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted June 9, 2016 Share Posted June 9, 2016 If you GOOGLE, (Images of 1946 Buick engines), you will find pictures of complete engines including the oil pan, if that will help. Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCHinson Posted June 10, 2016 Share Posted June 10, 2016 Do you have a direct link to a 1946 engine photo? When I tried that search earlier, It returned a bunch of Engine photos for similar years but in a few minutes of searching I did not locate a 1946 engine photo that showed the oil pan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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