54 Transmission Dipstick Length

[Donald M.]

How long is the dipstick on a 54 transmission? Mine is 11.5" long for the shaft part of the dipstick, and 13" long for the total length from tip to the part that stops it from being inserted any farther. The stick has an octagonal cap and shows remains of blue engine paint. Seems like that would be a proper stock dipstick, but what do I know.

Here's the deal. I measured my fluid level like the owner's manual said, warmed up, idling, in neutral. It barely touched the tip of the stick. That would be about two quarts low, yes? I checked it this morning just sitting there, and it shows full.

Don

[Joe L.]

Re: 54 Transmission Dipstick Length

How long is the dipstick on a 54 transmission? Mine is 11.5" long for the shaft part of the dipstick, and 13" long for the total length from tip to the part that stops it from being inserted any farther. The stick has an octagonal cap and shows remains of blue engine paint. Seems like that would be a proper stock dipstick, but what do I know.

Here's the deal. I measured my fluid level like the owner's manual said, warmed up, idling, in neutral. It barely touched the tip of the stick. That would be about two quarts low, yes? I checked it this morning just sitting there, and it shows full.

Don

Don------


GM says that it should be 15-3/32" from under the washer ("part that stops it from being inserted any further") to the bottom. GM #3701556, long-since discontinued.

[Leif A.]

Re: 54 Transmission Dipstick Length

Check with Richard Fortier for a correct dipstick. He advertises in the Driveline.

[Steven B.]

Re: 54 Transmission Dipstick Length

Don,
If you checked it while not running, you will get a reading that shows a considerably higher fluid level. There is a lot of oil in the top of the transmission while the engine is running and the pump is pushing oil throughout the transmission. If it was running and showed full after a previous reading of 2 quarts low, you may have another issue. I would put it in drive and back to neutral, let it idle for a minute or two and then check levels.
Steve

[Donald M.]

Re: 54 Transmission Dipstick Length

Thanks Steve. I drove the car a few miles to warm it up, and then parked it in neutral while idling. Those are the instructions given in my reproduction owner's manual, the NCRS version. I have had people tell me to check fluid level in park, but that's not what the manual says. The fluid barely touched the bottom of my dipstick. The next morning I checked the fluid level cold, and it showed full.

I don't know if I have a correct dipstick. Now that I know the fluid level cold I'm going to stick a coat hanger in there until it bottoms out and compare the fluid level on the coat hanger with the fluid level on my dipstick. That should give me a good idea of the length of my dipstick to where the oil level is in the transmission. I don't yet know what I'll do with that information. Maybe I can ask '54 Vette owners who know their transmissions are full to compare my readings to theirs. We shall see.

Don

Don,
If you checked it while not running, you will get a reading that shows a considerably higher fluid level. There is a lot of oil in the top of the transmission while the engine is running and the pump is pushing oil throughout the transmission. If it was running and showed full after a previous reading of 2 quarts low, you may have another issue. I would put it in drive and back to neutral, let it idle for a minute or two and then check levels.
Steve

[Joe L.]

Re: 54 Transmission Dipstick Length

Thanks Steve. I drove the car a few miles to warm it up, and then parked it in neutral while idling. Those are the instructions given in my reproduction owner's manual, the NCRS version. I have had people tell me to check fluid level in park, but that's not what the manual says. The fluid barely touched the bottom of my dipstick. The next morning I checked the fluid level cold, and it showed full.

I don't know if I have a correct dipstick. Now that I know the fluid level cold I'm going to stick a coat hanger in there until it bottoms out and compare the fluid level on the coat hanger with the fluid level on my dipstick. That should give me a good idea of the length of my dipstick to where the oil level is in the transmission. I don't yet know what I'll do with that information. Maybe I can ask '54 Vette owners who know their transmissions are full to compare my readings to theirs. We shall see.

Don

Don------


I gave you incorrect information. The information I gave you was for the ENGINE dipstick. I don't know how I missed that you were asking about the transmission dipstick.

The transmission dipstick was GM #3697699. GM describes it as being 18" overall length. I presume this means end-to-end.

[Donald M.]

Re: 54 Transmission Dipstick Length

Joe,
I'm relieved to hear this because at this point I have a very strong inclination to believe my dipstick is the correct dipstick for this year Corvette trans. No problem, Joe. I appreciate your correction.

Don

Don------


I gave you incorrect information. The information I gave you was for the ENGINE dipstick. I don't know how I missed that you were asking about the transmission dipstick.

The transmission dipstick was GM #3697699. GM describes it as being 18" overall length. I presume this means end-to-end.

[Tim E.]

Re: 54 Transmission Dipstick Length

Don - The measurements on my dipstick are similar to yours: 11.5" from the tip of shaft to the base of the cap, 12.5" from the tip to the top of the hex shaped cap, and 14" overall length. If you need a measurement of the dipstick tube length or a measurement using your coat hangar idea, I can measure mine. Tim

[Donald M.]

Re: 54 Transmission Dipstick Length

Thanks, Tim. Right now I'm pretty busy with a fellow named Harvey who is bent on blowing me off the face of the earth, but when Harvey is finished doing his thing I'll take you up on making that comparison. Funny thing... I can't find a coat hanger. All my hangers have been converted to plastic. I think my engine dipstick will work just as well.

Don

Don - The measurements on my dipstick are similar to yours: 11.5" from the tip of shaft to the base of the cap, 12.5" from the tip to the top of the hex shaped cap, and 14" overall length. If you need a measurement of the dipstick tube length or a measurement using your coat hangar idea, I can measure mine. Tim