#1  
Old 07-24-2020, 08:39 PM
tekuhn tekuhn is offline
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Default RAV Dipstick and Windage Tray Questions

I have a couple of questions and observations concerning the RAV dipstick and windage tray setup. I am missing all these parts and need to figure out what to use/fabricate. I'm told (and pictures confirm) that the RAV used a special dipstick setup. The upper tube had a bracket that allowed it to be bolted to a studded head bolt. This picture is from the Tom Nell Report:

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My block does have a unique intermediate tube pressed in. It is very short - about 2-7/8" long. The bigger mystery is what to use for the lower tube. The only picture I find of a windage tray, is in the Aug '87 Guide To Muscle Cars article that shows a unique special short tray.

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To use that special short tray would require the #3 cap to have the mounting bosses to attach the lower tube with bracket, which it does not. How would the lower dipstick tube have been held in place? My engine was delivered with the standard long windage tray. I have no idea if it should have the special short tray. Perhaps Pontiac started assembling them with the standard tray when they put together the later crate engines. The long tray does not fit very well. The bosses are present and drilled and tapped on the #2 and #4 caps, but they are still not flat on top and the pan rocks on them. Also, the short lower tube hits the #3 cap and seems to be at the wrong angle, but I might have the early lower tube with the shallower angle.

I have noticed that several pictures from the '69 Hot Rod, '69 Super Stock, '69 Car Craft all show a block with the tray bosses on the #3 and #4 caps and the #2 is smooth.

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Perhaps they were all using the same stock photograph of the same engine that someone assembled incorrectly? You can not see the cap #'s in the pictures. If this was not a mistake, then it would explain how they intended to attach the lower tube with that special tray. My caps are all numbered, and the bosses are only on #2 and #4.

I'm hoping several of you that have history and experience with these engines might be able to shed some light on what windage trays you have found on these and what dipstick tubes. Is it a special length dipstick? I realize I can change over to a standard short non-A/C dipstick, but might consider fabricating something that looks more correct.

Thanks in advance for any help...

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  #2  
Old 07-24-2020, 08:43 PM
tom s tom s is online now
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That pic is of a 303 short deck engine!Doubt it would be the same as a 400?Tom

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Old 07-24-2020, 08:48 PM
tekuhn tekuhn is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tom s View Post
That pic is of a 303 short deck engine!Doubt it would be the same as a 400?Tom
I wondered about that, but the picture caption said it was a 400 destined for a GTO or possibly a Trans Am. Aren't those A-body manifolds? Have you ever seen the internals of a crate 400 that hadn't been touched?

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Old 07-24-2020, 08:50 PM
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Look at the oil filter!Short deck 303 for sure!Tom

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Old 07-24-2020, 08:51 PM
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Those are first gen short deck manifolds.Also 400s were never destined for the smog pump.Tom

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Old 07-24-2020, 08:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tom s View Post
Look at the oil filter!Short deck 303 for sure!Tom
Oh wow - I had not noticed that and didn't realize they used something special. It's interesting it's equipped with an AIR smog pump.

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  #7  
Old 07-24-2020, 08:57 PM
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I saw a pic of all 25 303 short deck engine on skids for SCCA approval.SCCA required 100 so the short deck was not allowed to race.The factory built a 303 std deck with V heads and was a dog,then then went to IV heads and still could not compete with the chevy 302 so they went with the Canadian pontiac.Tom

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Old 07-24-2020, 09:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tom s View Post
I saw a pic of all 25 303 short deck engine on skids for SCCA approval.SCCA required 100 so the short deck was not allowed to race.The factory built a 303 std deck with V heads and was a dog,then then went to IV heads and still could not compete with the chevy 302 so they went with the Canadian pontiac.Tom
Fascinating history. It's surprising a 303 with RAIV heads wouldn't make more power than a DZ302.

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Old 07-24-2020, 10:12 PM
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The short deck might have but the blocks were outlawed!The standard deck never had a prayer.Everything too long and too heavy.Tom

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Old 07-24-2020, 10:24 PM
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A short deck 303 with a IV head with the factory RAIV cross ram intake would have kicked ass in 1969.1970 they had to run a single 4.Tom

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Old 07-25-2020, 01:07 AM
tekuhn tekuhn is offline
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Tom, I know you've had several RAV. What type windage trays and dipstick arrangements did they have?

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Old 07-25-2020, 09:38 AM
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I have always built the engine from scratch,just put in what I wanted.Tom

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Old 07-25-2020, 08:27 PM
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Has anyone else opened up a crate engine who can tell me what windage tray and dipstick configuration it had?

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Old 07-25-2020, 08:46 PM
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I thought there was pics in Petes book?Tom

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Old 07-25-2020, 08:49 PM
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Some pics and part numbers on pg 217 and 219 in Petes book.Tom

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Old 07-26-2020, 06:20 PM
tekuhn tekuhn is offline
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I'll look for it. I found Pontiac Racer's & High Performance Handbook (Angeles & McCarthy). Still looking for Pontiac Musclecar Performance which is the one I believe you're referring to. I have a copy of it somewhere hiding. Thank you.

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  #17  
Old 07-26-2020, 06:22 PM
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You can still buy them from Petes wife.I bought a pair a couple months back.Tom

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Old 07-26-2020, 06:24 PM
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The windage tray looks almost the same as the early tray that bolts to the rear main and the #4 cap,might be the same.Tom

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Old 07-26-2020, 06:26 PM
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This one
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-Pontia...EAAOSw8~5eaOg9

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Old 07-27-2020, 12:24 AM
tekuhn tekuhn is offline
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Thank you - that definitely matches.

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