That indicates it was built in June of 1953. Should be the stock engine of this car -- does that match the VIN number?

304539--CWC 2 is the casting number - CWC is the company (Campbell, Wyant and Cannon) that cast the block. According to Ric Pinders Engine ID code research project that 304539 casting number is 1953. There should be some other numbers along with that 304539 number that will tell you the day, month and year.

Hudsonly,
Alex B

My dipstick is 8-5/16" from stop-washer to full and tube in block is 3/4". If that is like all the 308's then I need to add about 3 more quarts to get around the middle of the marked range on the stick. Owners manual says it takes 3 1/2 qts within the range. That means that I will be running 11 quarts of oil in my Hornet (and that is not to full level). How many other Hornets in the club are running 11-11.5 quarts of oil? Suppose all you have to do is stay well below the counter-weights!
My mind is not at ease on all this. Comments?????

Hi Richard, If you are curious, casting date code for the step down blocks is located above the casting ID number probably hidden from your view by the distributor. I have used small mirror and flashlight to read these.

I measured 5 dip sticks from step down sixes. From the "disc" to the full line was approx. 8 3/8 " .. From "Disc" to bottom of stick is 11 3/8" .

3 1/2 quarts should bring level to top of LOW range. Another 3 1/2 qts to
the top of FULL range. 7 quarts with each change total.

Any chance your oil pan has been modified???

Dip stick guide tube protrudes 1/2" from block casting.

My measurements as follows: disk to bottom of stick: 11-1/16" disk to full line: 8-5/16" disk to low mark 9-7/8" tube guide protrudes approx. 3/4"
8 qts brought the oil level to approx. 1/4" BELOW the lower mark.
Oil pan not modified as shown(or if it is, it is perfect) Mark below dist. is 37/0 (as best I can read. Thanks for your help, Fred. This is disturbing to me, as you can imagine. The level is the distance down from the rotating counterweights so I am seriously thinking of adding approx. 3 qts to the 8 qts to bring the level up to mid range. Thoughts? Even checked the Wal-Mart containers to see if the gallon had 4 qts in them!! Crazy~~~~~

I wouldn't add too much oil until we can figure out what the problem is.

can drain the oil out and measure it? Will extrapolate the pan to get the volume and see how far it goes up and how far it might below the throws. That is a good question; anyone with the pan off a 308 with the crank in: how far below the block (at pan edge) is the crank throws????

1-1/4, unless you count the rib on the rod cap itself which extends it to 1-5/8.
F

I am misinterpreting: with a 4.5 stroke it is 2.25 to center of rod journal then several more inches to the outer edge of the counter wt. throws( that you must clear probably 2" or so with oil level?)

A thought on checking this. If you have it,take a welding rod-3/32nds or something equivelent with plenty of length,stick it down the hole and touch the oil pan,mark it ,now ,what is that measurement to the top of the tube?. The boss on the side could have been mis-machined-too tall- and then had the standard tube driven in?. If so,it would read low,maybe the tube isn't driven in all the way ?.

oil level from the bottom of pan is 3.5"; from bottom of pan to top of tube is 12-3/16".
The 3.5" sure doesn't sound like 8 qts minus the filter amt. Think I will drain the oil out(and reuse) just to see. I put 2 gals in it !!! I do have a lift in a heated garage so it is no problem. Doug, tks for any thoughts on this, I am about up the wall ! will advise quanity that is drained out.

EDIT: drained 6-3/4 qts from oil pan. stick tube protrudes 3/4" above block casting

Do you live anywhere near someone else with a similar Hudson (and engine)? The Roster would tell you this. Then, you could possibly try their dipstick in your engine (and vice versa), to see if both dipsticks have the same reading.

Jon, don't know, but believe my stick measurments are similar to the 6 measured on page 1-2 above.

I drained out 6-3/4 qts. That means 1-1/4 is in filter canister, lines, etc. Suppose that is normal.
Still doesn't give good reason why level is 1/4" below the low mark on stick range.

Tks for forum tolerance on this thread~~~

Can find everyone in NC but do not know how to find what car or engine they have ??

The centerline of the crank is 2.5 in. above the pan flange, the CL of the throw is 2.25" below that (when straight down), placing the CL of the throw @ .250 above the pan flange, the throw CL to the outer edge of the forging is ~1.5 leaving 1.250" protruding below the pan flange, disregarding, as I said, the rib on the rod cap which protrudes another 3/8".
None of this really matters since the issue about oil level, as measured by the dip stick, is still in question. It will be interesting to hear the outcome of this. Somethin's fishy.
F