how many quarts of oil?

[ssgoodman]

anyone know how many quarts of oil a stock 1976 400 engine holds?  i changed the oil saturday before work, put 5 quarts in and when i checked it it said it was way over full.  it drained for about 10 minutes and it was done draining when i went back under it.  put on a fram oil filter and filled it up and now there is brand new oil on the dipstick but quite a bit over full with only 5 gallons.  i know my old 6.2 diesel took more then 5 quarts.

also does anyone know of any easy ways to get alittle extra power out of the engine?  could i remove some of the aircleaner or put in a bigger aircleaner?  previous owner put in new plugs and wires about 2 months before i bought it.  i cut the mufflers off it yesterday and got some glasspacks i plan to turn backwards for it but looking for some other tips or tricks.  this is the first gas v8 that i have owned.

thanks
Sutton

[ccz145a]

Most of them hold 4qts plus whatever fits in the filter. If you had a small filter, then 5 would have been too much.

[Lt.Del]

Sutton
welcome.  You may wanna start a new thread versus hijacking a thread--but i see the correlation "new purchase".  But w/ a new filter, 5 should do it.  Start out with 4 but dont check the oil before you run it a  little to get the filter nice and full. Then check it.

As far as getting a little more power, the best thing to do is ensure it is in tune.  Put a timing light on it.  Make sure the carbs are adjusted correctly. A bigger cleaner won't amount to anything noticeable, unless what you have on there is smaller than stock. Ensure the cats aren't clogged, if you have them.

[VileZambonie]

it drained for about 10 minutes and it was done draining when i went back under it.  put on a fram oil filter and filled it up and now there is brand new oil on the dipstick but quite a bit over full with only 5 gallons.  thanks
Sutton

You put in 5 Gallons?! it only takes 5 quarts with the filter change. Make sure you run the engine and check it on level ground 30 seconds after you shut it off.

[ssgoodman]

i meant quarts...

[bigblock73]

I have always put in 4 1/2 quarts in all my SBC powered vehicles..checked out fine every time.

[85MudMonster]

pretty sure it should be right at 4.5 qts.

[Captkaos]

All the trucks I have ever worked on or owned took 5 quarts.

[75 C20]

always threw 5 qts in mine

[Dragon]

5 qrts have been the standard refill capacity of a SBC for years. Now that does change depending on the size of the filter used, and weither or not a Radiator/ & or an externally mounted Oil Cooler is also used, and you have a leak in the system....