Dipstick Identity

[Gary C.]

Re: Dipstick Identity

Tracy,

That's "debossed" stamping. The '57 dipstick blueprint calls out the depth of the stamp which is thicker than the dipstick blade metal.

Gary
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[David L.]

Re: Dipstick Identity

Dave, Thanks for those pics. I found your diagrams and info in that thread I linked in my first post. It helped much, but I was still unsure of what I had.

So would you think that the "lightly" stamped one from my '59's ('61 engine) is real or repro?

Rich

Rich,

Enclosed are 3 photos of what I believe are GM # 3739830 dipsticks stamped with the letter "B" (the manufacturer) where A = 19 9/16" and B = 20 1/2" (Chevrolet parts book shows A = 19 9/16" and B = 20 21/64"). The "handles" measure about 2 1/2" long as shown in my 1991-1992 drawing. There were different versions of the 3739830 dipstick used on 1958-1963 Corvettes and 1958-1963 Chevrolet trucks. I believe that your "lightly" stamped dipstick might be original because the font of the "ADD" and "FULL" looks the same as my original "B" dipsticks, however, if the "handle" measures 3" long then it is probably a replacement two-piece 3722959 dipstick.

In the 1980's and 1990's GM sold a two-piece 3722959 dipstick (A = 19 31/64" and B = 20 7/16" in the later parts catalogs) over the counter which was similar but not exactly the same as my original "B" stamped dipsticks. This replacement dipstick has a 3" long "handle". Paragon apparently painted the handle black and sold this same dipstick as a 57-64 Corvette dipstick. The "ADD" and "FULL" font is also different on this dipstick. I can post a photo of one if necessary.

The original factory installed 3722959 dipstick (56-57 ALL 8 cyl. and 56-57 CORVETTE 2nd design is described my 1957 Chevrolet Parts Catalog as "(21 9/16" under washer)" and is a one piece dipstick.

Dave

[Tracy C.]

Re: Dipstick Identity

Thanks Gary, I knew there were two types, one goes into the metal and the other comes out as it is stamped from the back. I just couldn't think of the word and too lazy to dig out my Judging manual for the definition found in the Glossary.

[Joe M.]

Re: Dipstick Identity

When I purchased my 1960 in 1989, it had and still has a "B" dipstick with 2-1/2" handle and the lightly stamped ADD and FULL. The A and B measurements are not like those listed above. For my "B" dipstick A and B are 19-1/2" and 20-1/2", respectively. The distance between ADD and FULL is 1", not 3/4" as the original dipsticks I have seen in Bowtie 1960 cars. All of the 1960 Bowtie cars I have observed had the debossed markings on them. I have always assumed that I had a GM dipstick of some sort, but not an original.

[Richard M.]

Re: Dipstick Identity

Thanks Guys, out all day yesterday moving heavy equipment and my thread instant email notifications aren't working.....

Tom, oooops's happen, I do it hourly. Okay, now I follow. But David thinks the lighter stamping may be possibly original too.

Tracy/Gary, Yes embossed and debossed.......I get those confused too, maybe still...........

I thought embossed was heavy/wide stamp so you read it where the stamp was pressed down, and debossed is stamped from the back with reversed font stamps so you read it from the front and letters are raised(like braille). Kinda like the Vin tags on steering columns on '61/62's.

The one in my top pic is stamped heavy from the top down, with raised font on the backside and reads backwards when you feel and look at it from the backside. The font is pressed in like valleys, reading from the front and not reversed. I consider this embossed. Or am I wrong?

I need to absorb more of this when I get out to the shop, and just remembered I have a '56 out there with a early '57 283 in it so I need to check that dipstick out too and post some pics of that one.

One last thing that always confused me.........Between ADD and FULL are different measurements on these. Why? This will affect the readings based on the width and capacity of the oilpan right? What determines a 3/4" space versus a 1" space? What is right for what engine/oilpan configuration? It must have something to do with the "stepped" oilpans as well.

Thanks,
Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: Dipstick Identity

this is the one on the '57 283 here. It's 19 1/2" to FULL, and 20 7/16' to ADD, 15/16" apart(ADD to FULL)

No W or M or any other marks I can see.

P3280006.jpg P3280007.jpg P3280008.jpg P3280009.jpg

[Gary C.]

Re: Dipstick Identity

Rich,

Appears to be a 56-7 2nd design dipstick. Is the Add & Full debossed ?

Gary
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[David L.]

Re: Dipstick Identity

this is the one on the '57 283 here. It's 19 1/2" to FULL, and 20 7/16' to ADD, 15/16" apart(ADD to FULL)

No W or M or any other marks I can see.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]51939[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]51940[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]51941[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]51942[/ATTACH]

Rich,

The parts catalog "A" and "B" dimensions for a 56-57 Corvette (2nd design, GM # 3722959) dipstick are 19 31/64" (19.48") and 20 7/16" (20.44") which essentially agrees with your measurements (19 1/2" and 20 7/16"). In my notes I have that the 3722959 dipstick as being a one piece dipstick. I got the information from my 1963 Chev. Parts catalog. My 1957 Chev. Parts Catalog (Mar. 1957) describes the 3722959 dipstick as "(21 9/16" under washer)".

Does the handle part (painted red) on your 57 dipstick measure 2 1/2" or 3" long?

Dave

[Richard M.]

Re: Dipstick Identity

Rich,

Appears to be a 56-7 2nd design dipstick. Is the Add & Full debossed ?

Gary
....

Yes, if debossed means pressed down with the print facing you, as that's what it is. See 3rd pic(correction, 4th pic above)? The letters are below the surface of the flat stick.

Rich,

The parts catalog "A" and "B" dimensions for a 56-57 Corvette (2nd design, GM # 3722959) dipstick are 19 31/64" (19.48") and 20 7/16" (20.44") which essentially agrees with your measurements (19 1/2" and 20 7/16"). In my notes I have that the 3722959 dipstick as being a one piece dipstick. I got the information from my 1963 Chev. Parts catalog. My 1957 Chev. Parts Catalog (Mar. 1957) describes the 3722959 dipstick as "(21 9/16" under washer)".

Does the handle part (painted red) on your 57 dipstick measure 2 1/2" or 3" long?

Dave

I meant to show that too but missed it. It's apx 2 5/8" from the top of the disc to top of handle. Definitely not 3".


P3280013.jpg P3280014.jpg

I just checked my 1929 to 1959 Chevrolet Parts book. Here are the pages in Group 1.516 "Gauge, Oil Level". Yes it says one-piece but we know that there are typos in the books.

Rich

[Gary C.]

Re: Dipstick Identity

Rich,

Debossed means the stamping on the front is raised on the back.

Repost of the '56-7 2nd design dipstick blueprint.

Gary
....

3722959 Corvette Gauge Assembly-Oil Level (Medium).jpg

[Richard M.]

Re: Dipstick Identity

Rich,

Debossed means the stamping on the front is raised on the back.

Repost of the '56-7 2nd design dipstick blueprint.

Gary
....

[ATTACH=CONFIG]51955[/ATTACH]

So then mine is "debossed". Okay I get it now. Only confusion to me is, the print says letters are "raised" 0.125".

Rich

[David L.]

Re: Dipstick Identity

Repost of the '56-7 2nd design dipstick blueprint.

Gary,

Excellent documentation!!!! It appears that GM # 3722959 is a two-piece dipstick and the parts catalogs are in error.
Thanks.

Dave

[David L.]

Re: Dipstick Identity

So then mine is "debossed".

Someone once told me that debossed was not a real word. However, according to Wikipedia "An embossed pattern is raised against the background, while a debossed pattern is sunken into the surface of the material (but might protrude somewhat on the reverse, back side)." Contents

[Richard M.]

Re: Dipstick Identity

Gary,

Excellent documentation!!!! It appears that GM # 3722959 is a two-piece dipstick and the parts catalogs are in error.
Thanks.

Dave

I agree, thanks Gary.

[John F.]

Re: Dipstick Identity

Not sure if this helps, but my original 62 dipstick looks like this! It has the stamped "W".