shorten dipstick???

Looks like we may need to shorten the dipstick of our y-block due to interferrance with the lakes headers...
If I take x amout out of the tube and the same amount out of the dipstick, would that work?? I would think the end of the dipstick would end up at roughly the same depth in the pan??? thanks-

 

Make sure the oil in the pan is at the right level. Shorten everything, put the dip stick in, check the level. If it isn't at the right mark on the dip stick, use a file and make a new mark.

 

That is exactly how I did it (on a SBC) ... I took "X" amount out of the dipstick tube and then moved the "full" mark on the dipstick up the same amount.

 

Thats just what Ive done. When welding the dipstick back together I overlap the 2 ends by about an inch rather than butt welding it. I tack it in 3 places on each side so there is less chance of it snapping off at the heat effected area if it hangs up in the tube.
So far, no problems.

 

kinda OT, what should be the oil level in relationship to a crankshaft center line, just so the crank doesnt touch?