Classic/Antique Car Repair: Quantity of oil in 31A, dipstick, dipsticks

Question
Hi Jack; Took your advice and visited a friend who has three A's. All four dipsticks are the same. He told me  all of his A's had 4 1/2 qts in the pans and when I checked them all three registered a qt. above the F mark on the dipstick. Since the distance between the L and F marks is the same as the length of the "tang" on the dipstick should the level be checked with the dipstick all the way into the block OR just until the "tank" makes contact with the block. Regards Doug.

Answer
Definitely the tang has to be down and the stick all the way in.  You will have a mess if you let the tang stop the insertion of the stick.  All of our cars are at the F when full of oil.  I just changed mine and after putting in 4 qts., I had to add about 1/2 qt to get it up to the F.
jack