38racing wrote:I think it's the smaller size pan because I googled the capacity and put in the higher amount and it was overfull. I then saw the note about smaller pan and sucked out the excess until dipstick read at full.
if I was you, I would not depend on the dipstick - there are many sizes that all could fit but differing lengths depending on the spec (and likewise differing length dipstick tubes) and unless you are absolutely sure the dipstick (and tube) are original to that engine, you might have the wrong dipstick (or tube, or a modified tube, or damaged & "repaired" dipstick).
For the most part they are either a 2 quart, or a quart and a half oil pan on a K301 - the cast iron pan will be the one with the mounting ears (so you can bolt it down with through bolts & nuts) , and those are 99.9% all 2-quart capacity (with block off the pan, the fill level is the gasket line) - The other pans (most commonly aluminum, and can only mount to a frame or base using correct size bolts, since there's no way to put on a nut) and are almost always aluminum alloy, and those are typically quart and a half capacity.
If you have a cast iron oil pan, then measure out 2 quarts of oil, and that should be the full level, regardless of what the dipstick says. Actually that is also pretty much the case with any similar oil pan (even on old briggs, wisconsin, Onan horizontal series, etc, and other engines of the same design) - the gasket line is typically the proper oil level (that is, fill pan to the tippy top to the point it overflows)
How poor are they who have not patience. What wound did ever heal, but by degrees? - Iago (Othello Act II, Scene 3)