58-63 Dipstick (3739830)

[Christopher R.]

I have a repro 58-63 dipstick that I'm trying to modify to make it look like an original. The salient difference in them is the spacing between the metal and felt washer stop and the top of the arc of the fingerhole handle. The repros are approximately 3". The originals are 2 1/2". At recent judging meets, I've heard judges advise the owners to cut a 1/2" off the end of the curved portion of the dipstick, and re-bend the curve.

How do you do that? My school didn't have shop. I'm guessing it needs to be bent around a dowel. Does it need to be heated? Can I do this with hand tools?

[Christopher R.]

Re: 58-63 Dipstick (3739830)

one more time

[Donald H.]

Re: 58-63 Dipstick (3739830)

I'll give it a shot. I have a 1960 that I am restoring and had to buy a repro dipstick and tube. My first question is, if you know, did the judges take off points for the dip stick? There is no mention in the TIM & JG regarding the length of the "handle" from the stop to the tip of the handle being 2 1/2".

I did measure my repro and it is about 3". If there is a judging point hit, then I would use my dremel tool with the cutoff wheel and a steel pipe if I could find one of the right diameter. The inside diameter of the finger loop is about 7/8" so it should be easy to find something of that diameter.

The more difficult part is that there is a straight part of the finger loop at the end where it turns back toward the shaft that is about 3/4". So that would take some work, but I would do it with hand tools I have on hand. E.g., ball pean hammer, bench vice, etc.

I see no reason you would need to apply heat to do this. The shaft is fairly thin and narrow and should bend fairly easy.

Don

[Christopher R.]

Re: 58-63 Dipstick (3739830)

Both judges deducted some points for the dipstick. I forget how many. These were 2 separate judges; 2 separate cars; and, 2 separate meets. What I found interesting is that both had the same comment. "Just cut off a 1/2 inch, and re-bend the end." Yeah, well that's easier said than done.

I've read much here about what the dipstick should look like, and I believe those 2 judges were correct. I'm just trying to figure out how to do it.