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Engine Oil Dipstick identification

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Old Oct 12, 2006 | 08:27 PM
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Default Engine Oil Dipstick identification

Hi, I'm looking for some restoration expertise please. I have this dipstick and tube, which I believe is for a 65-67 big block. I've been told the color of the plastic tip on the handle indicates what it is for. And the handle is the flat style. So can anyone tell what years and engine this dipstick is correct for? And does the tube look like it's the correct one for the stick? The tube is 21 1/4" long and the bracket is about 4" down from the top of the tube. Thanks for any help.

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Old Oct 12, 2006 | 10:43 PM
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The tube projects 1.5 inches above the spot welded bracket unlike 454 or replacement tubes which project 3.5 inches above the bracket.
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Old Oct 13, 2006 | 02:13 AM
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Originally Posted by 67SS427
Hi, I'm looking for some restoration expertise please. I have this dipstick and tube, which I believe is for a 65-67 big block. I've been told the color of the plastic tip on the handle indicates what it is for. And the handle is the flat style. So can anyone tell what years and engine this dipstick is correct for? And does the tube look like it's the correct one for the stick? The tube is 21 1/4" long and the bracket is about 4" down from the top of the tube. Thanks for any help.

SALMON
if thats the color then i believe it to be for 67 & 68 big blocks, my car is pretty original ( 1968 ) my dip stick looks like that one........!!
ZIXXX PACKER
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Old Oct 13, 2006 | 11:24 AM
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That's the GM Service replacement or passenger car dipstick and tube - both the tube and the stick are a couple of inches longer than the original production parts used on Corvettes.

Last edited by JohnZ; Oct 14, 2006 at 12:30 PM.
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Old Oct 13, 2006 | 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnZ
That's the GM Service replacement dipstick and tube - both the tube and the stick are a couple of inches longer than the original production parts.
I know that you mentioned measurements, i guess thats the difference in a replacement vs an original, but how can you tell if you have an original dipstick or not ? mines old looking & salmon in color.....................
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Old Oct 13, 2006 | 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnZ
That's the GM Service replacement dipstick and tube - both the tube and the stick are a couple of inches longer than the original production parts.
I know that you mentioned measurements, i guess thats the difference in a replacement vs an original, but how can you tell if you have an original dipstick or not ? mines old looking & salmon in color.....................
ZIXXX PACKER
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Old Oct 13, 2006 | 09:12 PM
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Originally Posted by 427SIXPACK
I know that you mentioned measurements, i guess thats the difference in a replacement vs an original, but how can you tell if you have an original dipstick or not ? mines old looking & salmon in color.....................
ZIXXX PACKER
You can say that again.
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Old Oct 14, 2006 | 12:37 PM
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Originally Posted by 427SIXPACK
I know that you mentioned measurements, i guess thats the difference in a replacement vs an original, but how can you tell if you have an original dipstick or not ? mines old looking & salmon in color.....................
ZIXXX PACKER
The Corvette dipstick itself only has "ADD", "FULL", and "Engine Oil M" on it - no part number or oil specs. It's 23-13/64" from the bottom of the hood to the "Full" mark, and 24" from there to the "Add" mark. The passenger car dipstick is about 2" longer than those dimensions, and both have the salmon-color plastic tip on the end of the handle loop, but only the passenger car dipstick has the indentation at the bottom of the loop shown in your photo.
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Old Oct 14, 2006 | 12:41 PM
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Here are some measurements which may help further in the identification. Thanks for everyone's input so far:

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Old Oct 14, 2006 | 12:45 PM
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Where did you get the reproduction?
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Old Oct 14, 2006 | 12:47 PM
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Here's what it says on the stick:

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Old Oct 14, 2006 | 12:49 PM
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Looks like a truck (427 or 366) dipstick to me.







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Old Oct 14, 2006 | 12:54 PM
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This dipstick and tube was part of a parts batch I bought from a guy, so that's why I wasn't sure what it's for.
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Old Oct 14, 2006 | 12:58 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnZ
The Corvette dipstick itself only has "ADD", "FULL", and "Engine Oil M" on it - no part number or oil specs. It's 23-13/64" from the bottom of the hood to the "Full" mark, and 24" from there to the "Add" mark. The passenger car dipstick is about 2" longer than those dimensions, and both have the salmon-color plastic tip on the end of the handle loop, but only the passenger car dipstick has the indentation at the bottom of the loop shown in your photo.
Thanks for those specifics. Looks like mine is shorter than those measurements and doesn't have the writing you describe.
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Old Oct 14, 2006 | 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by 67SS427
Thanks for those specifics. Looks like mine is shorter than those measurements and doesn't have the writing you describe.
The oil specs shown on the stick in the photo are only seen on the GM Service replacement; the OEM stick didn't have that on it.
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Old Oct 14, 2006 | 02:29 PM
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Thanks again John. So do you think it's a replacement for the 65-69 big blocks or for 454, or it fits them all?
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Old Oct 14, 2006 | 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnZ
The oil specs shown on the stick in the photo are only seen on the GM Service replacement; the OEM stick didn't have that on it.

Thanks for making me pull mine to check measurements i was 2 quarts down !!!!
anyways mine is a 427/400 it measures 18.5" from cap to end........add & fill & engine oil "M" are whats on there......handle tip is salmon color, no gm part numbers also it doesnt read .....
add l with a line mine reads add : with 2 dots same after fill, it reads fill : not fill l ...........? also my handle is not hammered flat like that, it's circular all the way around the curve ???
now ? if mine is that short was i only 2 quarts down or more ???????????
now i'm cuirous.............is it real or memorex ???
ZIXXX PACKER

Last edited by 427SIXPACK; Oct 14, 2006 at 08:57 PM.
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Old Oct 14, 2006 | 09:16 PM
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427sixpack, Glad to have done somebody some good with this thread .

You bring up a good point. With the different lengths of these sticks, I guess it's a good idea to make sure it is measuring correctly. Of course an easy way to check would be at oil change time, since you will know it should show full after installing the proper amount of oil.

Thanks for looking at your oil dipstick and reporting!
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Old Oct 14, 2006 | 09:22 PM
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Originally Posted by 67SS427
427sixpack, Glad to have done somebody some good with this thread .

You bring up a good point. With the different lengths of these sticks, I guess it's a good idea to make sure it is measuring correctly. Of course an easy way to check would be at oil change time, since you will know it should show full after installing the proper amount of oil.

Thanks for looking at your oil dipstick and reporting!
didnt mean to take over, but wanted to add my same curious question whats real & whats not & now that i'm a few inches shorter then the other guy who posted 24" i'm concerned if i was only 2 down or more......i have no leaks, & the car doesnt smoke at all..........wondering where it all goes ? anyways i have drivin my car more this year then any others & have not checked the oil that frequently, THANK YOU !!!!! waiting on more input, i can post pics of my at a later date if anyone wants / needs ?
ZIXXX PACKER
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Old Oct 14, 2006 | 10:49 PM
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Default Vette Dipstick and Indicator

The dipstick assemblies we keep here for the resto shop we build units for have a "red" tip in the handle. The tube measures slightly over 22.625" and the indicator itself measures 27.500" end to end. The mounting bracket is approximately 7.000" down. Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

P.S. The part number on the tube is 3981089 (a G.M. wrap around tag), the indicator is 3981088. The "writing" on the indicator says: ADD 1 QT, then the first "dot" is 7/8" from the tip, the second "dot" is 1.625" from the tip, then the word "FULL" is 2.000", then it says "USE SE ENGINE OIL", and finally the part number (stamped) #3981088.
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