Dipstick length?

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discharger1332

discharger1332

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My 64 valiant wagon has a later engine, it’s dipstick looks like it’s been cut maybe? I compared it to the one in my 73 dart and the valiant one is much shorter. Both blocks have the same casting number and both have 5 freeze plugs. Does anyone have a correct one for sale?
 
Why not simply fill it with 5 quarts including the filter and re mark the dipstick? Then you don't buy anything.
 
If you think your dipstick is too short you can easily make one. Go to a junkyard and find one that's plenty long but still fits and seals your tube. Cut down the excess length until it just seats on the tube, which means the dipstick is touching the bottom of the oil pan. Now take an extra half inch off. Drain your oil and put on a new dry oil filter. Add 4 quarts of oil, start the engine and let it run for a few minutes to fill the filter. Shut it off, let it sit and settle for a few minutes and using something sharp mark where the oil line comes on the stick. I used the edge of a small flat file to score a line across. Now start the engine and add one more quart of oil. Shut it off again and let it settle, and mark the new oil line. That will give you your two "full" and "add a quart" lines on the stick. I did this recently for my slant and it came out great.
 
Short one barely has any oil on it. Long one reads way over filled.
also both tubes are different lengths. Doing a oil change today and will cobble something up.
 
discharger1332 said:
Short one barely has any oil on it. Long one reads way over filled.
also both tubes are different lengths. Doing a oil change today and will cobble something up.
Click to expand...

Then use the long one and re mark it. One and done!
 
yeah, if you got mix and match dipsticks and tubes. just do the fill and mark method as the tubes dictate how much of the stick is in the drink.
 
halfafish said:
If you think your dipstick is too short...
Click to expand...

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Man, I love you guys! I'm sometimes embarrassed at how complicated I can make something and you guys bring it home with the K.I.S.S. method.

I was quoted $80 for a correct dipstick for my '64 and I walked away thinking who in their right mind would pay $80 for a dipstick!?

This is a great fix. :thumbsup:
 
About 8 or 9 quarts came out. It actually over flowed my drain pan. I used a long dipstick and made it match the stock one from my 73. yes I checked it with 4 quarts and again with 5.
I just got this car a week ago and it’s been about 12 years since I’ve had a early A.
Anyway on to the next project, passenger window is stuck up.
 
Just a FYI. There have been several different length dipsticks, and tubes over the years. Except for the truck oil pans, the difference in the length of the stick, and the length of the tube is constant. I would have to check my notes, but if you measure the tube from the top to where it contacts the block, then add that dimension, you will have the correct length of the stick.
 
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