69 L36 Dipstick and Tube Question

[Greg L.]

I was under the impression that seeing as the tube uses a manifold bolt for attaching it that the tube was installed along with the exhaust manifolds therefore it should be orange like the manifolds however the TIM&JG says that it is natural so I'm wondering if the TIM&JG has an error or was the tube really installed after engine painting.

The TIM&JG also calls for a natural finish for the dipstick itself but I don't recall seeing any like this as my memory thinks they were black. Any thoughts?

Thanks

[D S.]

Re: 69 L36 Dipstick and Tube Question

The 1970-1972 JG also says natural so I stripped the black paint off, cleaned them nicely, and shot the tube and handle with satin clear polyurethane. I think people started painting them black when the natural steel began to discolor.

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 L36 Dipstick and Tube Question

Greg-----

The tube and dipstick was installed at St. Louis for big block engines. So, there's no way they should show any paint.

[Greg L.]

Re: 69 L36 Dipstick and Tube Question

Natural they are then! Thanks guys...I was thinking after that it makes sence that the tube was installed in St Louis because if I'm not mistaken there were two different ones used depending on if the car had AC or not.

Would you happend to know what color the plug in the dipstick handle should be? I'm thinking red or white but not sure.

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 L36 Dipstick and Tube Question

greg------

I don't think that there was any difference in the dipstick used for C-60 big blocks and non-C-60 big blocks for any given year. I think that this is "urban myth". What likely happened is that, at some point in the life of a 66-69 C-60 big block, the dipstick tube and dipstick were changed to the later style which became SERVICE for earlier models. These are longer. The dipsticks may have goten changed due to the difficulty in reaching it on C-60 cars or for other reasons. Then, someone came to the conclusion that this length dipstick and tube was "original" for C-60 big blocks "because it seemed like it ought to be that way". I've never been able to come up with any documentation that the longer dipstick and tube existed prior to 1970. In fact, very early 1970 may not have gotten the longer tube and dipstick, either.

I believe that the 1969 biog block dipstick had a "whitish" button.