Dipstick Tube (Upper/Lower)

[firebane]

I have to replace the dipstick tubes on my truck and recently picked up part #s 12337946 and 371111951081.

I've been told that these are a press fit but judging from the tubes there is simply no way that I can these fitting without causing some damage.

Has anyone installed these two tubes successfully? And how difficult was it?

 

[chengny]

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What kind of damage are you expecting to cause?

 

[firebane]

Well the small round end of the picture in the right has to go into the part of the lower tube with the flare. The narrow part of the curved tube is the same OD of the lower tube.

The issue is that it doesn't even remotely fit into the flared part. So am I going to have to open the flare up or just beat the snot out of it to get into the hole?

 

[chengny]

Noo, noo. Beating the snot out of things - to get them to do as you want - isn't the way to go. I tried it on my kids. It didn't work.

Where did you get the part numbers for this set-up? Admittedly, I don't have much experience with pre- 80's SBC's but, I have never seen a two piece dipstick tube.

I have a feeling all you need is the tube on the right. That which is pictured looks to be about the right length.

Just press the end with the ridge on it, into the hole in the block. Insert your dipstick and check the level. If it is near the normal mark - that's it.

 

[firebane]

Noo, noo. Beating the snot out of things - to get them to do as you want - isn't the way to go. I tried it on my kids. It didn't work.

Where did you get the part numbers for this set-up? Admittedly, I don't have much experience with pre- 80's SBC's but, I have never seen a two piece dipstick tube.

I have a feeling all you need is the tube on the right. That which is pictured looks to be about the right length.

Just press the end with the ridge on it, into the hole in the block. Insert your dipstick and check the level. If it is near the normal mark - that's it.

Older SBCs will have a 2 piece dipstick tube. The lower piece protects the dipstick end from whacking the crank and the upper is guide and hold it all in.

I just finished reading something which makes PERFECT sense of how this whole contraption works.

You have a hole in the engine block which has to fit the lower AND upper tube. You start the lower tube into the hole and get it low enough below the surface so you can feed the upper tube in. Once you get the upper tube started you can then use a open end wrench on the ridge to seat the upper against the lower and then seat the ridge to the block.

 

[bucket]

There were vans that had two-piece dipstick tubes, not including the lower one that's inside the block. I checked the dealer several years ago for a new setup, all they had is lower one, neither of the uppers.

 

[firebane]

Yeah I had to get mine from ebay. Luckily one guy had both pieces and got I got them as a set. I talked to my GM dealership and they say they are discontinued.

Its funny that even the ones I got off ebay are OEM as they have the "Made in Canada" stickers still on them

 

[firebane]

So I'm going to continue this thread and now I need to figure out the dipstick situation since mine well.. walked off somewhere lol.

So I currently have a block that is older than 1980 as the dipstick is located on the drivers side. I was wondering if someone would be able to measure their dipstick length and let me know the size

Trying to find a OEM one will be difficult but I can get a dorman (http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=626722) that should work.

Engine: SBC 350 driver side dipstick tube.

 

[chengny]

I wouldn't go by anyone else's measurements. Calibrate your dipstick this way:

Start with an empty sump and a new oil filter (pre-filled with fresh oil). Add 5 quarts to the sump. You will then have about 5 1/2 quarts total in the system. The sump level will be just a tiny bit higher than it would be if the system had the normal 5 quarts.

Stab your dipstick and note the level - if it shows about at the full mark you're done.

If it is low, measure the distance from the oil level in the DS to the full mark. Using an imp (AKA an mini tubing cutter), crop the top of the tube off by an amount equal to the measurement obtained above. Re-stab the DS and check the level - it should be right about at the full mark.

If it is high, you will have to get one of those replacement dipstick handles like this Mr. Gasket 4557:

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They have a set screw that lets you lock your dipstick to the handle - after you trim the necessary amount off (from the top of the stick).

 

[firebane]

Well it seems the general size for the pre 80 block is 19". So I was just looking for a general baseline for the dipstick. But the idea of cutting the tube down is a good idea too.

 

[chengny]

That's the only kind of ideas I have.