[tekuhn]

I have a couple of questions and observations concerning the RAV dipstick and windage tray setup. I am missing all these parts and need to figure out what to use/fabricate. I'm told (and pictures confirm) that the RAV used a special dipstick setup. The upper tube had a bracket that allowed it to be bolted to a studded head bolt. This picture is from the Tom Nell Report:



My block does have a unique intermediate tube pressed in. It is very short - about 2-7/8" long. The bigger mystery is what to use for the lower tube. The only picture I find of a windage tray, is in the Aug '87 Guide To Muscle Cars article that shows a unique special short tray.



To use that special short tray would require the #3 cap to have the mounting bosses to attach the lower tube with bracket, which it does not. How would the lower dipstick tube have been held in place? My engine was delivered with the standard long windage tray. I have no idea if it should have the special short tray. Perhaps Pontiac started assembling them with the standard tray when they put together the later crate engines. The long tray does not fit very well. The bosses are present and drilled and tapped on the #2 and #4 caps, but they are still not flat on top and the pan rocks on them. Also, the short lower tube hits the #3 cap and seems to be at the wrong angle, but I might have the early lower tube with the shallower angle.

I have noticed that several pictures from the '69 Hot Rod, '69 Super Stock, '69 Car Craft all show a block with the tray bosses on the #3 and #4 caps and the #2 is smooth.



Perhaps they were all using the same stock photograph of the same engine that someone assembled incorrectly? You can not see the cap #'s in the pictures. If this was not a mistake, then it would explain how they intended to attach the lower tube with that special tray. My caps are all numbered, and the bosses are only on #2 and #4.

I'm hoping several of you that have history and experience with these engines might be able to shed some light on what windage trays you have found on these and what dipstick tubes. Is it a special length dipstick? I realize I can change over to a standard short non-A/C dipstick, but might consider fabricating something that looks more correct.

Thanks in advance for any help...