1972 BB Dipstick

[Tom L.]

My '72 LS-5 has what is clearly the wrong dipstick and tube. It is a "fits-all" from the aftermarket and it's Full/Add marks are incorrect. I would like to get a correct one so I don't have to check my notes every time I check oil level and besides, the chrome looks silly to me.

All of the vendors seem to sell the same 22 5/8" dipstick with the red tip but the JM states that there are two different lengths, one for a non-a/c car and one for an a/c car. It only states that the non-a/c tube is"...about even with the lower edge of the valve cover" and that the a/c tube "...tube extending well above the valve cover".

My question is, which of the tubes is the one that is sold from the vendors? The longer or the shorter one?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1972 BB Dipstick

My '72 LS-5 has what is clearly the wrong dipstick and tube. It is a "fits-all" from the aftermarket and it's Full/Add marks are incorrect. I would like to get a correct one so I don't have to check my notes every time I check oil level and besides, the chrome looks silly to me.

All of the vendors seem to sell the same 22 5/8" dipstick with the red tip but the JM states that there are two different lengths, one for a non-a/c car and one for an a/c car. It only states that the non-a/c tube is"...about even with the lower edge of the valve cover" and that the a/c tube "...tube extending well above the valve cover".

My question is, which of the tubes is the one that is sold from the vendors? The longer or the shorter one?

Lynn-------


This has been a point of confusion for YEARS. I don't know what got it started. However, I have absolutely no information that different dipsticks and tubes were used for C-60 and non-C-60 big block Corvettes for ANY year. GM doesn't say that in ANY P&A Catalog and it's not shown in ANY AIM (and, it would be since the dipstick and tube were installed at St. Louis).

As far as I know, ALL 1972 Corvettes with LS-5 used dipstick GM #3981088 and dipstick tube GM #3981089. These parts are longer than than those used previous to later 1970.

I THINK what got this whole confusion started was this: early 1970 Corvettes with LS-5 used the 1965-69 general configuration for dipstick and tube. These were shorter tubes and dipsticks than later. At some point in 1970, probably around February or March, 1970, the dipstick and tube was changed to the longer style. Someone may have seen a (earlier) 1970 without C-60 with the shorter style parts and a (later) 1970 with C-60 which had the longer style parts and concluded that the difference was due to the presence or absence of C-60. That was an incorrect conclusion but a myth was born.

[D S.]

Re: 1972 BB Dipstick

But original 1970-1972 dipsticks didn't have part numbers stamped on them like those we see on eBay that are mis-represented as "NOS".

[Tom L.]

Re: 1972 BB Dipstick

This past weekend I observed a dipstick on a '71 LS-5 w/ A/C and it extended above the valve cover. Has anyone purchased a Repro 22 5/8" stick and tube and used it on a big block? Does it extend above the valve cover? Thanks!

[Joe L.]

Re: 1972 BB Dipstick

This past weekend I observed a dipstick on a '71 LS-5 w/ A/C and it extended above the valve cover. Has anyone purchased a Repro 22 5/8" stick and tube and used it on a big block? Does it extend above the valve cover? Thanks!

Lynn-----


The GM #3981089 dipstick tube has an end-to-end, developed length of 22-5/8". So, wherever that puts the upper end with respect to the valve cover, that's where it's supposed to be.

[D S.]

Re: 1972 BB Dipstick

My 1970 LS-5 with C-60 has the dipstick handle above the valve covers. Melissa Neiman's 1972 LS-5 (Houston) with C-60 also has the dipstick extending above the valve covers. Factory installed.
Originals are hard to find. I bought my original dipstick three years ago from the Corvette Forum after discovering the one that was in it was aftermarket which also protruded above the valve covers. The original tube was the longer tube which I assume was for C-60 application. I haven't seen another original dipstick since.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1972 BB Dipstick

My 1970 LS-5 with C-60 has the dipstick handle above the valve covers. Melissa Neiman's 1972 LS-5 (Houston) with C-60 also has the dipstick extending above the valve covers. Factory installed.
Originals are hard to find. I bought my original dipstick three years ago from the Corvette Forum after discovering the one that was in it was aftermarket which also protruded above the valve covers. The original tube was the longer tube which I assume was for C-60 application. I haven't seen another original dipstick since.

Scott-----


As I've mentioned, there is no tube specific for a C-60 application only. If there was such a tube, there is no record of it or its part number anywhere that I can find. As far as the 1970-74 period is concerned for Corvette big blocks, there were TWO tubes used.

Early 1970, to ABOUT February or March and maybe even later, used tube 3870234. This was the same tube used for 1965 to 1969 Corvettes. Later 1970 through 1974 Corvettes used tube GM #3981089. This is the longer tube. There were no other tubes used that I can find anywhere.

As far as dipsticks go, there were several different ones used over the years FOR THE SHORTER 1965-E70 tube. For the later, longer tube, there was only one used----GM #3981088. Nuance differences regarding the handle configuration and blade stamping may have occurred over the years of this dipstick's availability but I don't think the basic dimensions and general configuration of the dipstick changed.