What is the difference between the oil pans for 1979 and before blocks compared to the 80-85 blocks? Do they bolt up the same? Is it just the dipstick that is different on it? I am using a '76 truck block and am trying to keep the passenger side dipstick. So i guess my question is, will an 80 - 85 passenger side dipstick oil pan fit on a 76 350 block?

 

All the motors I have built you would think I'd know the answer. I don't, really. Hope the following helps anyway.

I have a 1978 305 with a passenger side dipstick and the dipstick connected directly to the pass side of the OIL PAN, not through the block in any way. When I used the pan later on a 350 motor of similar vintage I removed the dipstick from the pan, welded the hole closed and just shoved in a block-mounted driver's side dipstick into the 350 block on the driver's side, which was the style of dipstick this common 350 block used originally.

The 78 passenger-side dipstick pan still had the little cut-out on the driver's side of the pan that worked with the more traditional driver's side block-mounted dipstick. Aside from welding the original pass. side dipstick tube hole closed, it was a bolt-on.

The vast majority or earlier motors I have used have taken a block mounted driver's side dipstick. They kind you can buy for $10 off the "chrome parts" aisle at Pep Boys.

 

No. A pass side pan will not work on a driver-side block, or vice-versa. The pan has a little place where it loops out about an inch to include the dip stick.

 

Alright, thanks guys.