Rick,
If your lower dip stick tube is broken, join a club of many people. The
lower tube runs between the block & manifold where it gets so hotthat the
metal changes properties and cracks. Maybe that is why they made a lower &
upper, knowing the lower would get toasted and need replacing every time
the manifold is pulled!
I had been making new lower tubes using a piece of 3/8" tubing cut to
length and a steel ferrel tack welded to make the shoulder. Then one day I
was in Discount Auto parts wandering around aimlessly and found a dip stick
tube & stick that fi all GM V8 engines. It was the right dia. & a bit
longer than our lower section. I took it to the shop, measured the length
and used a pipe cutter and cut it to size. It worked purfectly and was
chrome plated to boot! The best part though, it was cheaper, if you take
into account assembly time & materials, to buy this piece, cut it to fit
and throw away the stick that was included. Actually the sticl worked
great in my sons dune buggy so I had a win-win.
If this is the part you need, go to pep boys and save some $.
Hope this helps,
Jim Bounds
- -----------------
> When Suzette and I first went to pick up what we now lovingly refer to
>as "THE GREAT PUMPKIN" aka '73 Painted Desert (the "painted" part is orange
>as you might have imagined)...I was unable to locate the oil dipstick to
>check the level and condition of the crankcase. To be safe I just did an oil
>change before hitting I-10 to Mesa.
>
> Your responses to an earlier post of mine in January caused me to
>realize that my dipstick was missing from its location under the front
>inspection cover. Upon closer examination I found a "stub" of a dipstick
tube
>protruding from between the block and the exhaust manifold. The "stub" was
>topped with a compression union and it appeared that perhaps an extension
>tube had been attached from there.
>
> Today I removed the exhaust manifold after tracking an exhaust leak
to a
>bad manifold gasket and noticed a second compression union on the dipstick
>stub which had been hidden by the manifold.
>
> Our coach is #968. Does this sound like early production stuff, or a
>cobbled attempt at repairing a broken tube? What options do I have? Should I
>just find a Toronado dipstick assembly and check the oil from under the
>floor, or go to the trouble of trying to put in a long extended one from the
>front access area.
>
> As always your help is appreciated................."Rick"
>
>
Jim Bounds/Co-op Motor Works Orlando www.gmccoop.com
If your lower dip stick tube is broken, join a club of many people. The
lower tube runs between the block & manifold where it gets so hotthat the
metal changes properties and cracks. Maybe that is why they made a lower &
upper, knowing the lower would get toasted and need replacing every time
the manifold is pulled!
I had been making new lower tubes using a piece of 3/8" tubing cut to
length and a steel ferrel tack welded to make the shoulder. Then one day I
was in Discount Auto parts wandering around aimlessly and found a dip stick
tube & stick that fi all GM V8 engines. It was the right dia. & a bit
longer than our lower section. I took it to the shop, measured the length
and used a pipe cutter and cut it to size. It worked purfectly and was
chrome plated to boot! The best part though, it was cheaper, if you take
into account assembly time & materials, to buy this piece, cut it to fit
and throw away the stick that was included. Actually the sticl worked
great in my sons dune buggy so I had a win-win.
If this is the part you need, go to pep boys and save some $.
Hope this helps,
Jim Bounds
- -----------------
> When Suzette and I first went to pick up what we now lovingly refer to
>as "THE GREAT PUMPKIN" aka '73 Painted Desert (the "painted" part is orange
>as you might have imagined)...I was unable to locate the oil dipstick to
>check the level and condition of the crankcase. To be safe I just did an oil
>change before hitting I-10 to Mesa.
>
> Your responses to an earlier post of mine in January caused me to
>realize that my dipstick was missing from its location under the front
>inspection cover. Upon closer examination I found a "stub" of a dipstick
tube
>protruding from between the block and the exhaust manifold. The "stub" was
>topped with a compression union and it appeared that perhaps an extension
>tube had been attached from there.
>
> Today I removed the exhaust manifold after tracking an exhaust leak
to a
>bad manifold gasket and noticed a second compression union on the dipstick
>stub which had been hidden by the manifold.
>
> Our coach is #968. Does this sound like early production stuff, or a
>cobbled attempt at repairing a broken tube? What options do I have? Should I
>just find a Toronado dipstick assembly and check the oil from under the
>floor, or go to the trouble of trying to put in a long extended one from the
>front access area.
>
> As always your help is appreciated................."Rick"
>
>
Jim Bounds/Co-op Motor Works Orlando www.gmccoop.com