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I think I made a mistake by installing the oil dipstick as last part of my th350 re-install.
It's the last part I have to fit, but I just don't have enough space between the tunnel/firewall and the transmission to reach the top.
To make my life easier and to avoid damaging the insulation I put around the firewall and tunnel area, I want to go for a flexible dipstick.
I found this one:
I think I made a mistake by installing the oil dipstick as last part of my th350 re-install.
It's the last part I have to fit, but I just don't have enough space between the tunnel/firewall and the transmission to reach the top.
To make my life easier and to avoid damaging the insulation I put around the firewall and tunnel area, I want to go for a flexible dipstick.
I found this one:
1)What do you guys think? Will this part fit my th350 (77)? 2) Is the 'fill level' right? How do I know if the markings on the blade are right?
Read the instructions on the link you provided. You have to determine the fill level based on the application.
It's unclear why the stock tube no longer fits, what changed?
Read the instructions on the link you provided. You have to determine the fill level based on the application.
It's unclear why the stock tube no longer fits, what changed?
My transmission is bolted bavk into it's place.
I also insulated the tunnel.
Now it is impossible to fit the original tube between the transmission housing and the tunnel.
Pretty sure that’s the one I used back when I had my ‘69 (but in raw aluminum finish). You can see it back there bolted to the firewall. I forget what all I had to do to make it work as that was maybe 15 years ago, but it did work.
My transmission is bolted bavk into it's place.
I also insulated the tunnel.
Now it is impossible to fit the original tube between the transmission housing and the tunnel.
Yep... Been there myself ('72 454/TH400). I thought, "I'll put the transmission in without the tube to make things simpler and less persnickety." Bad, bad, bad decision. There was no way to twist, turn, rotate, or finagle that tube into place. I ended up removing the trans and engine mounts, hoisting and tilting the engine and trans to create enough room to get the tube in... Then forgot to install the O-ring...
On my LS swaps with 4L60E's I've used Lokar trans dip sticks with good success. You can get various lengths.
One thing I do to help prevent leaks is when I install the dip stick into the trans I add a small bead of RTV around the tube where the tube meets the trans.
Yep... Been there myself ('72 454/TH400). I thought, "I'll put the transmission in without the tube to make things simpler and less persnickety." Bad, bad, bad decision. There was no way to twist, turn, rotate, or finagle that tube into place. I ended up removing the trans and engine mounts, hoisting and tilting the engine and trans to create enough room to get the tube in... Then forgot to install the O-ring...
It worked fine for me. I used one on my th400 but I made a bracket to attach to one of the bellhousing bolts so it's more or less back where it should be
The other style is designed to bolt to a firewall and I didn't want to go that route
M
I used a LOKAR dipstick on my 200-4R. There was no way I was going to be able to squish a regular dipstick tube in there after I had already bolted the tranny on....and I'd already mutilated one regular dipstick tube trying to make it fit.
I wasn't sure if I had to do anything special when using the LOKAR disptick so I contacted LOKAR and they told me that the specific dipstick that they made for 200-4Rs was already marked for appropriate depth/level and I could just bolt it on and use it.
If you are uncomfortable you could just contact them but I suspect you'll get a similar answer...... but, anyway, it was relatively easy to install it and bolt it on after the tranny and engine were together.
Lokar flex dipstick for th350
