1971 Oil Dipstick Color

[Terry M.]

Re: 1971 Oil Dipstick Color

Put a period after "All 350s had a black plug." The rest of the sentence refers to Mark IV motors.

[Steven G.]

Re: 1971 Oil Dipstick Color

I have (3) dip sticks for s/b's, all same length. (1) 70', L-46, black plug, "USE GM 6041-M QUALITY MS OIL M." (2) Same as (1). "W" instead of "M", (unknown vehicle, no plug). (3) 72' " USE SE ENGINE OIL 3886083 M", with a red plug. Unless parts were swaped out, (JM) is correct, vin # 3187, 72' used a red plug on this 350. Steve

[Joe L.]

Re: 1971 Oil Dipstick Color

I have (3) dip sticks for s/b's, all same length. (1) 70', L-46, black plug, "USE GM 6041-M QUALITY MS OIL M." (2) Same as (1). "W" instead of "M", (unknown vehicle, no plug). (3) 72' " USE SE ENGINE OIL 3886083 M", with a red plug. Unless parts were swaped out, (JM) is correct, vin # 3187, 72' used a red plug on this 350. Steve

Steve-----



Dipstick GM #3886083 is not a Corvette piece. The only application I can find for it is some 1966-67 series 20 and 30 trucks with 6 CYLINDER engine. It should have a length of 20-1/8" from the seat to the "full" mark and 21-5/8" to the "add" mark. This is different than the 1965-74 Corvette small block dipstick although it's "close enough" that the dipstick might fit.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1971 Oil Dipstick Color

All-----


As some folks may have also surmised, I believe that the color of the button was used as an ersatz "broadcast code" for the dipsticks. In this regard, the dipstick used for all 65-74 small block Corvettes (except those few with chrome handles) was the same----GM #3862730. Ergo, the color of the buttom was the same----BLACK.

For 1965-74 Corvette big blocks there were FOUR different dipsticks used. These were as follows:

1965-E1967----GM #3860316--17-13/32" to full; 18-1/8" to add--salmon

L1967-VE69----GM #3925520--17-13/32" to full; 18-1/8" to add--white

VE1969-VE70---GM #3959158--17-13/32" to full; 19" to add--?????

VE1970-1974---GM #3981088--23-13/64" to full; 24" to add--red


I don't know what the physical difference there was between the GM #3860316 and the GM #3925520. There must have been some difference, though, or the part number (and the button representing it) would not have changed. In any event, the 3925520 replaced the 3860316 for SERVICE, so the two are functionally interchangeable. As you can see from the above, the lengths were the same.

There was also a change in the dipstick tube used for 1965-E67 versus L1967-VE1970. However, the change did not take place coincidentally with the change from the 3860316 dipstick to the 3925520 dipstick. In any event, as far as length is concerned, I don't think there was any difference between these tubes and they can be used interchangeably. The 1965-E67 tube was GM #3862732 and the E1967-VE1970 tube was GM #3870324.

Among other possible differences, the VE1969 to VE 1970 dipstick, GM #3959158, had a different dimension to the "add" mark than earlier dipsticks. However, neither the dipstick tube nor the pan configuration relating to volume changed for 1969. So, all I can figure is that GM must have found the earlier calibration of the dipsticks to be inaccurate and changed it for 1969 (and, earlier SERVICE). I do not know what the color was of the button for this dipstick. However, I vaguely recollect that it might have been GREEN.

The VE1970-1974 dipstick changed by being considerably longer. At the same time, the tube was also changed to longer tube. These became SERVICE for 1965-VE1970 Corvettes. However, if the dipstick is used for SERVICE, the correspondingly longer tube, GM #3981089, must also be used.

Anybody out there with a VE1969 to VE1970 Corvette big block have a dipstick they believe is original to the car, especially if it's stamped 3959158 which would confirm it (I don't know if these dipsticks were stamped with the part number, or not)?

[Steven G.]

Re: 1971 Oil Dipstick Color

Yes Joe, the dip stick works perfectly, so well I thought it was factory 72". Steve