Joe Lucia Help Please

[Sheldon S.]

Joe, wondering if you can give me the diameter of oil dipstick tube 3718206, early 56. Overall length is 14 1/2 inches. I think it is 7/16th but like to confirm. If so was there any other years that used that diameter. Also the cast iron piece the dipstick fits into on the pan. Does it have a part number and was it used on anything else.

Thanks
Sheldon

[Joe L.]

Re: Joe Lucia Help Please

Joe, wondering if you can give me the diameter of oil dipstick tube 3718206, early 56. Overall length is 14 1/2 inches. I think it is 7/16th but like to confirm. If so was there any other years that used that diameter. Also the cast iron piece the dipstick fits into on the pan. Does it have a part number and was it used on anything else.

Thanks
Sheldon

Sheldon------

Unfortunately, I do not have specs for the OD of the early 1956 dipstick tube. You should also be aware that it's possible that the major length of the tube had a different OD than the bottom end which inserts into the oil pan. I do not know which portion of the tube you are primarily interested in but, either way, I do not have specs.

As far as the oil pan mounted flange into which the dipstick inserts, I'm sure it had a part number but that part number was never published because the flange was never available in SERVICE as a separate part. So, whatever the part number is, it would be, essentially, a moot point. The only way one could obtain this flange from GM was as part of the oil pan assembly. Reproduction sources for this pan, if any, might sell it separately, though.

By the way, early 1956 Corvette was the only 1955-96 Corvette small block that ever used a pan mounted dipstick tube.

[David B.]

Re: Joe Lucia Help Please

For what its worth, the bracket part number was 3714345 it was attached "first with 3 rivets (110790 revised 2-4-56) and sweat in place". A similar pan was also used on truck engines some also having a second bracket #3725266-65 (oil temp). The 56 P & A catalog lists oil pan #3727732 as correct for '56 Corv. engine. As mentioned this was an assembly consisting of (1) pan 3725254 (2) pin 3836611 and (3) plug 103868 (1/2" cast iron square head pipe plug) both came loose. The pin 3836611 was used to plug the engine block dip stick hole. The drain plug 103868 was later replaced with drain plug 3739264 (1/2" - 20 x 13/16) used with gasket 513975 nylon (1/2" ID x 13/16 OD). This plug was also used on 57 Pas w T.G. and rear axle drain plug. Not positive but outside dip stick tube diameter was same as later dip stick tubes.

[Joe L.]

Re: Joe Lucia Help Please

For what its worth, the bracket part number was 3714345 it was attached "first with 3 rivets (110790 revised 2-4-56) and sweat in place". A similar pan was also used on truck engines some also having a second bracket #3725266-65 (oil temp). The 56 P & A catalog lists oil pan #3727732 as correct for '56 Corv. engine. As mentioned this was an assembly consisting of (1) pan 3725254 (2) pin 3836611 and (3) plug 103868 (1/2" cast iron square head pipe plug) both came loose. The pin 3836611 was used to plug the engine block dip stick hole. The drain plug 103868 was later replaced with drain plug 3739264 (1/2" - 20 x 13/16) used with gasket 513975 nylon (1/2" ID x 13/16 OD). This plug was also used on 57 Pas w T.G. and rear axle drain plug. Not positive but outside dip stick tube diameter was same as later dip stick tubes.

David------

I have confirmed that the GM #3714345 was never available in SERVICE as a separate part.