#1  
Old 04-21-2023, 10:50 AM
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Default Engine oil dipstick, AC to Non AC?

On a '78 400, what parts/tubes do I need & where to get a non-ac dipstick? Thanks!

  #2  
Old 04-21-2023, 11:56 AM
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Call one of the f body parters.

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Old 04-21-2023, 06:14 PM
'ol Pinion head 'ol Pinion head is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by burd View Post
Call one of the f body parters.
Not F-body specific.
Won't need a slip on upper tube (AC only). Just has to be from traditional Pontiac V8 w/o AC from '68-79. Last two I pulled were out of '73 & 74 Venturas.

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Old 04-22-2023, 10:38 AM
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So, I've taken off the top ac tube and what's left is the tube coming from the block up to about the header flange.
What's next? Thanks.

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Old 04-22-2023, 11:39 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by highway star View Post
So, I've taken off the top ac tube and what's left is the tube coming from the block up to about the header flange.
What's next? Thanks.
get the dipstick from Ames.

Done.

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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
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Old 04-25-2023, 10:55 AM
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The tube that’s left seems too low, the dipstick can barely seat on it:
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Old 04-25-2023, 01:25 PM
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That is what I use on mine, even the 81 with the rotary AC compressor.

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1978 Trans Am original owner 10.99 @ 124 pump gas 455 E heads, NO Bird ever!
1981 Black SE Trans Am stockish 6X 400ci, turbo 301 on a stand
1965 GTO 4 barrel 3 speed project
2004 GTO Pulse Red stock motor computer tune 13.43@103.4
1964 Impala SS 409/470ci 600 HP stroker project
1979 Camaro IAII Edelbrock head 500" 695 HP 10.33@132 3595lbs
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Old 04-25-2023, 01:30 PM
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That’s the way all non-A/C dipsticks fit on 1965 and later engines.

Completely normal.

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Old 04-25-2023, 04:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by highway star View Post
The tube that’s left seems too low, the dipstick can barely seat on it:
is the tube having trouble seating because of the headers (or header gasket)?

Factory manifolds, and manifold gaskets are curved around this spot to allow the dipstick to seat fully.

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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
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Old 04-26-2023, 09:13 AM
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Sometimes you have to tweak the tube to get past headers even using the A'C tube.

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Skip Fix
1978 Trans Am original owner 10.99 @ 124 pump gas 455 E heads, NO Bird ever!
1981 Black SE Trans Am stockish 6X 400ci, turbo 301 on a stand
1965 GTO 4 barrel 3 speed project
2004 GTO Pulse Red stock motor computer tune 13.43@103.4
1964 Impala SS 409/470ci 600 HP stroker project
1979 Camaro IAII Edelbrock head 500" 695 HP 10.33@132 3595lbs
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Old 04-26-2023, 12:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by unruhjonny View Post
is the tube having trouble seating because of the headers (or header gasket)?

Factory manifolds, and manifold gaskets are curved around this spot to allow the dipstick to seat fully.
Yes, I had to cut away part of the header gasket to to get the dipstick to seat. Will live with it.

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Old 04-26-2023, 12:45 PM
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Is an “AC” dipstick and tube simply the standard tube with an extension slipped on and a longer dipstick?

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Old 04-26-2023, 01:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bhill86 View Post
Is an “AC” dipstick and tube simply the standard tube with an extension slipped on and a longer dipstick?
My thoughts too. Seems like the dipstick handle should be up higher. The pull handle is gonna get hot! Eh?

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Old 04-26-2023, 01:50 PM
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Yep just and extension and longer dipstick

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1978 Trans Am original owner 10.99 @ 124 pump gas 455 E heads, NO Bird ever!
1981 Black SE Trans Am stockish 6X 400ci, turbo 301 on a stand
1965 GTO 4 barrel 3 speed project
2004 GTO Pulse Red stock motor computer tune 13.43@103.4
1964 Impala SS 409/470ci 600 HP stroker project
1979 Camaro IAII Edelbrock head 500" 695 HP 10.33@132 3595lbs
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Old 04-26-2023, 01:50 PM
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the ac dipstick tube is essentially an extension that is slipped over the standard tube;
As I recall, there are a couple different ones, because they bolt up to the air conditioning bracket.

The AC dipstick is of course a much longer one.

let me see if I can find a picture of the parts I have...

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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
  #16  
Old 04-26-2023, 02:03 PM
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The AC extension tube goes IN the base tube:
And the non-AC stick is 11” shorter. At least, that’s what I have here. Correct?
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Last edited by highway star; 04-26-2023 at 02:08 PM.
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  #17  
Old 04-26-2023, 02:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by highway star View Post
The AC extension tube goes IN the base tube:
And the non-AC stick is 11” shorter. At least, that’s what I have here. Correct?
I haven't made it out the the garage yet;
I will check that measurement.

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1970 Formula 400
Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior
A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car.
Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left.


1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing)
2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs)
  #18  
Old 04-27-2023, 06:04 PM
'ol Pinion head 'ol Pinion head is offline
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The standard '68-79 V8 non A/C dipstick measures:

17" long from "under the bell" to the very end of the tip.
14 5/16" from under the bell to the FULL mark
15" from under the bell to the ADD mark.

There are at least 2 different versions of these later non AC indicators, but just due to the engraved lettering as to the grade of oil to use.

On a tight budget, you can make your own '68-79 non AC dipstick out of an A/C version, or from an extra AC verion that someone did not know to install the small inner oil tube inside when they had the oil pan off. That will always cause the dipstick to snap off
In repurposing an AC version, just need to lightly score the cutoff dipstick with a thin Dremel cutoff wheel at the new FULL & ADD marks.

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Last edited by 'ol Pinion head; 04-27-2023 at 06:27 PM.
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Old 04-27-2023, 06:33 PM
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Sorry for the mini hijack highway star, I just always assumed a new tube was required to be installed when the oil pan was off. I added AC back to my car but have the short dipstick so I’ve just been dealing with it. Good info to have.

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