'58 oil dipstick

[Ted S.]

What are the differences between an original verses a repro oil dipstick? My understanding is the originals have a cad plated handle and a natural steel stick. Is that correct and are there other differences?

In searching the archives I believe the one I have is an original but it may actually be for a late '56 or '57 verses my '58 because of the stick measurements.

[Roy B.]

Re: '58 oil dipstick

[David S.]

Re: '58 oil dipstick

Roy would you have any Service News showing the dip stick on the 57 corvette.
Thank Dave

[Roy B.]

Re: '58 oil dipstick

Roy would you have any Service News showing the dip stick on the 57 corvette.
Thank Dave

Dave! no but wood they be the same ,57 & 58 oil pans are.

[Ted S.]

Re: '58 oil dipstick - Hinckley Archive Posting

Roy, That's what I thought but I found a posting in the archives where John Hinckley had the following

First Post - The correct dipstick for that application is 19-3/16" from the seat to the "Full" mark, and 20" to the "Add" mark; the upper tube is curved, 8-21/32" long overall.

Second Post - The dimensions I posted above are for '58-up. For a '57 (and late '56), it's 19-31/64" to the "Full" mark and 20-7/16" to the "Add" mark; upper tube is the same.

Here's the posting
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...stick&uid=2813

The dipstick I have appears to be closer to the second posting than the service bulletin or John's first posting. It's a little hard to measure with the felt being soft.

[Roy B.]

Re: '58 oil dipstick - Hinckley Archive Posting

Roy, That's what I thought but I found a posting in the archives where John Hinckley had the following

First Post - The correct dipstick for that application is 19-3/16" from the seat to the "Full" mark, and 20" to the "Add" mark; the upper tube is curved, 8-21/32" long overall.

Second Post - The dimensions I posted above are for '58-up. For a '57 (and late '56), it's 19-31/64" to the "Full" mark and 20-7/16" to the "Add" mark; upper tube is the same.

Here's the posting
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...stick&uid=2813

The dipstick I have appears to be closer to the second posting than the service bulletin or John's first posting. It's a little hard to measure with the felt being soft.

I would trust what Hinckley said not me!

[David S.]

Re: '58 oil dipstick

Roy I have been talking with Gary Chesnut recently about 57 dipsticks.
Will try to post pictures of the dipstick from my 57 bowtie. let me know what you think
Dave

[Roy B.]

Re: '58 oil dipstick

Roy I have been talking with Gary Chesnut recently about 57 dipsticks.
Will try to post pictures of the dipstick from my 57 bowtie. let me know what you think
Dave

I cant say yes or no Leave up to the judges for 57, but it should show a W or E or M on the handle or stick.
Here is my original NOS 55 oil stick (it has a W or M) depends how you look at it on the stick , have other NOS 55's on the handle. different logo's diferent suppliers 55 is all by it's self. Sorry about the poor pic's I just went out and took them.
55 had arrows for dumm guys like me

[Ted S.]

Re: '58 oil dipstick

Here's the 3 I have. The bottom is a repro, the middle is supposed to be an NOS one, and the top I believe is an original.

[Ted S.]

Re: '58 oil dipstick

Here's a better shot of the markings

[Roy B.]

Re: '58 oil dipstick

OK the top one is what I see in original Corvettes ,I would pass that one because like my 55 they really in-boss them not scratch it on , I would not pass the other two.Thats my opinion.

[David L.]

Re: '58 oil dipstick

Here are pictures of a dipstick GM # 3739830 (used on 1958-1963 Corvettes and Chevrolet trucks as per parts catalogs) from a 1959 Chev. truck (eng. stamped "F 7 21M" or July 21, block casting date G 20 9, July 20, 1959) with a broken handle (about 2 1/2" long). There is a very small "M" stamped (not embossed, not debossed, just plain stamped) on the handle. The "ADD" & "FULL" are debossed. The "A" measurement is 19 9/16" and the "B" measurement is 20 21/64" just as described in my 1963 Chev. parts catalog (effective Oct. 62). I have had this dipstick for 20+ year and I am 99.999% sure that is original. I would assume that this dipstick is exactly the same as those used on 58, 59, and 60 Corvettes. The 61-63 Corvette & truck dipsticks may be different with different stampings but I really do not know at this time.
The repro dipsticks seem to be nothing more than dipstick GM # 3722959 (1956 2nd design & 1957 Corvette & Chev.) stamped "B" on the 3" long handle sold over the counter for many years by GM. I bought one on Sept. 8, 1989, for $2.33 at my local Chev. dealer. The dimensions are as follows: "A" = 19 31/64" and "B" = 20 7/16". These dimensions are somewhat similar but not close enough for serious restorers.

[Roy B.]

Re: '58 oil dipstick

Here are pictures of a dipstick GM # 3739830 (used on 1958-1963 Corvettes and Chevrolet trucks as per parts catalogs) from a 1959 Chev. truck (eng. stamped "F 7 21M" or July 21, block casting date G 20 9, July 20, 1959) with a broken handle (about 2 1/2" long). There is a very small "M" stamped (not embossed, not debossed, just plain stamped) on the handle. The "ADD" & "FULL" are debossed. The "A" measurement is 19 9/16" and the "B" measurement is 20 21/64" just as described in my 1963 Chev. parts catalog (effective Oct. 62). I have had this dipstick for 20+ year and I am 99.999% sure that is original. I would assume that this dipstick is exactly the same as those used on 58, 59, and 60 Corvettes. The 61-63 Corvette & truck dipsticks may be different with different stampings but I really do not know at this time.
The repro dipsticks seem to be nothing more than dipstick GM # 3722959 (1956 2nd design & 1957 Corvette & Chev.) stamped "B" on the 3" long handle sold over the counter for many years by GM. I bought one on Sept. 8, 1989, for $2.33 at my local Chev. dealer. The dimensions are as follows: "A" = 19 31/64" and "B" = 20 7/16". These dimensions are somewhat similar but not close enough for serious restorers.

David! I may be using the wrong words when I said in-bossed , you say stamped ,that's ok but that's what I mean anyway and I 'ed say your correct

[David L.]

Re: '58 oil dipstick

Here are pictures of (what I believe to be) three 3739830 dipsticks and one 3722959 dipstick (shown on the top).
The three 3739830 dipsticks all measure 19 9/16" (the "A" dimension) and 20 31/54" (the "B" dimension). The "B" dimension for the 3739830 dipstick is 20 21/64" as shown in my 63 Chev. parts catalog (typo error???). The "B" dimension is 20 5/16" for the 58 Corvette & Chev. truck as shown in the 1958 Service News which also checks out with my 1959 Chev. truck dipstick (with the broken handle, stamped "M") mentioned previously. I believe that the "ADD" mark was lowered on the later 3739830 dipsticks used on the 61 (?), 62 (?), and 63 dipsticks without changing the part number as they were made by different manufacturers designated with the "B" and "E" stampings.

[Roy B.]

Re: '58 oil dipstick

Here are pictures of (what I believe to be) three 3739830 dipsticks and one 3722959 dipstick (shown on the top).
The three 3739830 dipsticks all measure 19 9/16" (the "A" dimension) and 20 31/54" (the "B" dimension). The "B" dimension for the 3739830 dipstick is 20 21/64" as shown in my 63 Chev. parts catalog (typo error???). The "B" dimension is 20 5/16" for the 58 Corvette & Chev. truck as shown in the 1958 Service News which also checks out with my 1959 Chev. truck dipstick (with the broken handle, stamped "M") mentioned previously. I believe that the "ADD" mark was lowered on the later 3739830 dipsticks used on the 61 (?), 62 (?), and 63 dipsticks without changing the part number as they were made by different manufacturers designated with the "B" and "E" stampings.

David! I like seeing you mention first or second design's when talking parts ( some people don't) so the pic. you show the first design with the broken handle you feel is original 57? Have you seen many 55's that I showed using arrows which I feel is the first design original for the 55 Corvette ,it has the W or M logo.