Oil Dipstick markings, 1965 396

[Wayne M.]

This eBay auction ended yesterday at $371. Part # 3860316. Looked at the latest '65 TIM&JG and there seems to be no description of the oil level markings or marking method (emboss, engrave), as there is for the small block dipsticks.

So what should it be ? You'll notice the eBay seller did not take a picture of this important area. Also, although the seller claims '65 Corvette usage, my July 1st '65 P&A30 shows the ...316 part # is for 396 passenger, (EXC. Sp. H/Per.) Same catalog says 3860318 is for Corvette, although the A & B dimensions are the same as the passenger gauge.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110609050883&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[Joe L.]

Re: Oil Dipstick markings, 1965 396

This eBay auction ended yesterday at $371. Part # 3860316. Looked at the latest '65 TIM&JG and there seems to be no description of the oil level markings or marking method (emboss, engrave), as there is for the small block dipsticks.

So what should it be ? You'll notice the eBay seller did not take a picture of this important area. Also, although the seller claims '65 Corvette usage, my July 1st '65 P&A30 shows the ...316 part # is for 396 passenger, (EXC. Sp. H/Per.) Same catalog says 3860318 is for Corvette, although the A & B dimensions are the same as the passenger gauge.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Wayne------


I believe the GM #3860318 was a chrome-handle dipstick, but I don't think it was ever actually used in PRODUCTION. It was available in SERVICE until July, 1967 which is probably when the initial run of parts ran out.

The dipstick in the eBay item has to be pretty old. The GM #3860316 was discontinued from SERVICE in February, 1968.

[Ray K.]

Re: Oil Dipstick markings, 1965 396

Wayne,

My 1965 P&A 30 also shows the 3860316 for 396 passenger and the
3860318 for Corvette. However, my 1967 P&A 30 shows the 3860316
for 1965-66 pass 396 and also 65-66-67 Corvette 396 & 427. The
3860318 is not listed , it was removed from service earlier. The 3860316
was replaced by 3925599 in Feb 68. ( 3860316 use 3925599 )
I don't believe that a chrome dipstick was ever used in the early big block
engines.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Oil Dipstick markings, 1965 396

The real 1st gen BB dip stick had a salmon colored tip, pretty sure the details are somewhere in the forums. Still not cheap, but no where near stupid as that sale was. Chrome ones are dime a dozen.

[Joe L.]

Re: Oil Dipstick markings, 1965 396

Chrome ones are dime a dozen.

Ronald------



...but not chrome ones like the 3860318.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Oil Dipstick markings, 1965 396

Joe, you'll have to post a photo!

[Joe L.]

Re: Oil Dipstick markings, 1965 396

Wayne,

The 3860316
was replaced by 3925599 in Feb 68. ( 3860316 use 3925599 )

Ray----


Yes, it was. However, this was an error on the part of GMSPO. The GM #3925599 is a dipstick used for Camaro, Chevelle, and Chevy II big block applications. It has a completely different calibration and would not read properly for a Corvette application.

The dipstick that actually replaced the 3860316 is the GM #3925520. It has "full" and "add" dimensions identical to the 3860316. It has a white button for identification. How it otherwise differs from the 3860316 I do not know.

By the way, the GM #3925599 was discontinued in April, 1974 and replaced by GM #3989391 which remains available from GM to this day.

[Joe L.]

Re: Oil Dipstick markings, 1965 396

Joe, you'll have to post a photo!

Ronald------

I do not have one. However, my recollection of it is that it was the same as the 3860316 except that the handle portion was chromed. All of the aftermarket chromed ones I have ever seen are a completely different configuration.

[Daniel K.]

Re: Oil Dipstick markings, 1965 396

This eBay auction ended yesterday at $371. Part # 3860316. Looked at the latest '65 TIM&JG and there seems to be no description of the oil level markings or marking method (emboss, engrave), as there is for the small block dipsticks.

So what should it be ? You'll notice the eBay seller did not take a picture of this important area. Also, although the seller claims '65 Corvette usage, my July 1st '65 P&A30 shows the ...316 part # is for 396 passenger, (EXC. Sp. H/Per.) Same catalog says 3860318 is for Corvette, although the A & B dimensions are the same as the passenger gauge.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

For what its worth.......Attached is a picture of a 65, 396 dipstick and should address the "embossed/engraved question from Wayne.

[Michael H.]

Re: Oil Dipstick markings, 1965 396

For what its worth.......Attached is a picture of a 65, 396 dipstick and should address the "embossed/engraved question from Wayne.

The 1966 printing of the GM parts book shows the same.

3860316......Gauge, oil..... 65-66 pass and Corvette w/396-427.

3860318......Gauge, oil..... 65-66 pass and Corvette w/396-427 (chrome)

The 66 AIM shows only the 3860316.

I agree, the chrome 318 was likely only an item listed but never used in Corvette production.

The gauge in my 66 looks exactly the same as the one posted above by Daniel, although the characters are stamped, not embossed.

[Carl N.]

Re: Oil Dipstick markings, 1965 396

Daniel,

Either you have very very clean oil - or your down a qt or two - LOL

Just kidding - moderators don't hammer me - gotta have a little humor

Thanks for pictures.

Carl

[Daniel K.]

Re: Oil Dipstick markings, 1965 396

Yeah.....2 Qts down......

No problem on the pictures.

Dan

[William C.]

Re: Oil Dipstick markings, 1965 396

Not only that, but the picture addresses a question I had about the flattened vs round handle. The eBay piece seemed to have the flattened handle, ane easy to see no-no.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Oil Dipstick markings, 1965 396

Oh! but it is a NOS piece

NOS yes, at what point in time? the 70's?

or 80's when they stopped the high cost process to keep the tube round, that early process had to generate a lot of scrap.

[Joe L.]

Re: Oil Dipstick markings, 1965 396

Oh! but it is a NOS piece

NOS yes, at what point in time? the 70's?

or 80's when they stopped the high cost process to keep the tube round, that early process had to generate a lot of scrap.

Ronald-----


The GM #3860316 dipstick in the eBay item under discussion here was discontinued from SERVICE in February, 1968. So, it's utterly impossible that it could have been manufactured any time after that and, most likely, was actually manufactured well before that time.

Also, I believe the GM specifications for the dipsticks allowed for either the full round tubing on the loop handle OR the flattened tubing.