Correct Dip stick

[big iron]

January L35 and March L78, so early L35's would have the purple buttons and L78's should have the Pink (salmon). I have know idea when the L35 transition  to the pink (salmon) buttons took place or if early L78'S could have the purple buttons. Revision dates do not reflect  when actual production started but early L35's should have purple buttons.
Bob

[Mike S]

January L35 and March L78, so early L35's would have the purple buttons and L78's should have the Pink (salmon). I have know idea when the L35 transition  to the pink (salmon) buttons took place or if early L78'S could have the purple buttons. Revision dates do not reflect  when actual production started but early L35's should have purple buttons.
Bob

 Was the dipstick installed when the motor was assembled or when the car was. I'm thinking it was when the motor was assembled.
My earliest motor, stamped 0214MZ, has the pink (salmon) stick.  Based on some of your posts about date changes then it may be early Feb the color changed from purple (?) to pink.
  As some extra info about oil pans I came across this from the Chevelle group (I assume the 396 Chevelle has the same pan):
http://www.chevellestuff.net/tech/articles/oilpan/index.htm


Mike

[big iron]

Mike,
The measurements in the P&A are taken from the seal surface facing the stick end. The problem is that the stick shown is generic in that it has a washer and a seal and no bell.
Stop the press. Just found something interesting in my 67 Corvette AIM that may explain the purple button.
Bob

'67 Corvette big-blocks had dipsticks with pink (salmon) buttons, both before and after the mid-season running change.

John,
Thanks for the information about the Corvette mid-season (3-3-67) dipstick change from 3860316 to 3925520, both with pink (salmon) buttons.
Now, if you look at the 67 AIM L35 A4 everything starts to fall in place.
The first production BB's started in January ? 67 and had 3902339 dipsticks with purple buttons.
The revision record shows a change in 2-8-67 from the old dipstick 3902339 with purple button to 3860316 with pink (salmon) button and then another change in 3-3-67 from 3860316 to 3925520 with pink (salmon) button. This coincides with the Corvette mid-season (3-3-67) change stated above.
The index of part numbers at the top of AIM L35 A4 never reflected the change in the color code identification as it should be pink or salmon and not purple.
This does lead to the question as to why was the dipstick changed so many times when the tube 3899640 and pan 3958658 where never changed until 68.
In 68 dipstick changed to 3925599 with yellow button, tube 3928901 and pan did not change. Same for 69.
Which engine went into production first the L78 or L 35? This is important as early engines should have dipsticks 3902339 with purple buttons  .
Bob

Pan # 3958658 is wrong and should be 3929257.

[big iron]

Mike,
After engine assembly and painting, on engine dress line.
Could you check the dipstick length from the top of the bell to the add mark for me? Should be 18 1/8" or 18 1/2" = or - depending which dipstick you have.
Good info on pans, think #3 (3929257) is correct for 1st gen Camaro.
Bob

[Mike S]

Mike,
After engine assembly and painting, on engine dress line.
Could you check the dipstick length from the top of the bell to the add mark for me? Should be 18 1/8" or 18 1/2" = or - depending which dipstick you have.
Good info on pans, think #3 (3929257) is correct for 1st gen Camaro.
Bob

 The measurements are as follows:
T0214MZ - 18 1/8" exactly
T0308MW - 18 1/2" exactly
 Both have the pink button

Mike

[Mike S]

Hi Bob,

   The Chevelle guys are sure into details.
Read reply #20 for a lot more info.
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=342864&page=2

Mike

[big iron]

Mike,
The 18 1/8" dipstick is 3860316 and the 18 1/2" is 3925520, both sticks had salmon buttons and fall in the correct time frame (2-8-67 /  3-3-67).
Do both of the sticks have round salmon buttons  or is one flat? Any other differences, type of imprinting ,size of blade etc.?

Chevelle guys have had longer to work at it and have more product to work with. I think most Camaro guys would rather modify than go original.
Look at the post date on reply 20, and we are just now figuring out what dipstick to use in a 67 BB.
Bob

[Mike S]

Hi Bob,

  The imprinting is exact between both blades including the hash separators (both gauges use : as a separator)
The gauge measurements are the same for thickness and width.
In the picture you will see differences in the curves nearest the handle being opposite each other and the 0214MZ motor gauge having more of a downward angle as viewed with the bells lined up with the paper line. I don't know if this is by design or the stick is just bent. The metal is very flexible so I don't think it is bent. The buttons are both pink (salmon) though the later one is square. As for shapes, I have seen other dipsticks of different engine sizes with varying roundish shapes so maybe it's the mold shape.

Mike

[big iron]

Mike,
Great job on the pictures.
I wonder if the buttons where changed to identify a  difference between the two dipsticks.
All we need now is an original very early L35 to see what stick was used to complete this post, unless you want to add the 3899640 tube as you have an original.
Bob

[L78 steve]

As far as the correct 67 Big block dipstick tube, The parts list states 3899640 for 396/427 except HP. I could not find a tube for HP. Is it the same tube?

[JohnZ]

<<

As far as the correct 67 Big block dipstick tube, The parts list states 3899640 for 396/427 except HP. I could not find a tube for HP. Is it the same tube?

>>

Which "parts list" ?

[L78 steve]

http://www.gmpartswiki.com/w/3899640&book=105

[Mike S]

  I can post pictures of the tubes if needed.
Did the "HP" version motor have a larger sump....at least for a Camaro?

Mike

[1968 Z28]

As far as the correct 67 Big block dipstick tube, The parts list states 3899640 for 396/427 except HP. I could not find a tube for HP. Is it the same tube?

According to the 1967 AIM, the L78 engine tube is the same as the L35.  My July 1969 Master Parts Catalog for Camaro list only one part number for the 396ci and it is 3899640.

[big iron]

January L35 and March L78, so early L35's would have the purple buttons and L78's should have the Pink (salmon). I have know idea when the L35 transition  to the pink (salmon) buttons took place or if early L78'S could have the purple buttons. Revision dates do not reflect  when actual production started but early L35's should have purple buttons.
Bob

Anyone have an original early January L35 that could verify that the above could be correct?
Bob