Oil Dipstick Issue FARNA HELP!

I just checked my 63 American TSM right before I read where others have checked. The oil filter is supposed to have an anti-drainback valve, at least the original did, on the 196 OHV and L-head.

Since the actual tube length does affect dipstick length, there could be more than one length. AFAIK all the 196 OHVs and the L-head have the same stick, but might be a difference. I'd compare the two, just remember which came from which engine.

Unless you have enough oil in there that the crank is hitting it and foaming it up, you are fine to run the level a little high. The filter doesn't hold quite a quart, so that may be the issue. As long as you're putting in the correct amount at an oil change I wouldn't worry about it, just don't go below the low mark. Of course as Tom says, these engines are pretty forgiving. If you get an oil light at a hard stop or turn it's low -- put a quart in.  Better to do it BEFORE that happens, but won't hurt the engine under normal driving conditions if you just get that light under hard stops/turns -- not normal stops turns.

i never thought to look in the TSM for how to check oil level! i always wait, since oil flies around etc and lines the inside of the tube and makes it hard to read.

That's what I was alluding to Ruby. I did say not to let it go below the low mark, but that is just a good rule of thumb. It's not going to grenade if it's a bit low. Has to be at least a couple quarts low for the light to come on! At the low mark it should be about a quart low... on most cars anyway.

The filter used on the top mount 196 (65 has filter on pump) is an industrial engine filter. It's commonly used on the engines that run refer units on trailers. Car Quest over here does a lot of industrial parts sales and usually has them in stock, no one else does (well, the big NAPA does, but they are the regional warehouse too, and 30 miles away). So truck stops and such may have them in stock if you need one in a hurry. But any of the parts stores can order them. I used to get 2-3 at a time when I was running a 196 as a daily driver. Changed oil every six months (6-7K a year on average). Don't know if those industrial engines need an anti-drain back valve or not, but I would assume Nash made the system to use an off the shelf filter when they introduced it back in 56 or so. There were aftermarket systems from around 1923 (Purolator filter system was patented in 1923) they were all partial flow of course.