428 Dipstick tube

[shelbydoug]

Is there a difference in dipstick tubes for the FE engines?

The Ford Service replacement tube that I have mounted on my 67 GT500 engine does not fit correctly.

When the mounting flange to the exhaust manifolds is connected, the tube is too short and pulls out of the block mounting point.

I am presuming that the answer to my question is yes, there are different tubes, but what is the service part number for the correct one?

[430dragpack]

Doug,
Can you post a picture of your dip stick tube?  How long is it?
Chris

[430dragpack]

Here is what they should look like.  You can see the tube doesn’t go all the way so that the “ring” seats on anything.  Probably only about 5/8” of the end, ends up sticking in the block.
Chris

[shelbydoug]

Here is the tube here installed. You can see where the tab bolts to the exhaust flange.

 I have a spacer under the tab because the header flange is thinner then the iron manifold is.

When I bolt it down, it comes almost completely out of the block.

I'm aware that they usually will only seat about 5/8" into the block but this one barely makes it make it to the block. A picture here shows the ring about 1/2" away from the block and if you closely you can see the edge of the dipstick.

I tried to fix this by twisting the mounting tab so that it would come closer to the block. It still isn't enough to seat the tube.




I am very certain that this was a Ford Service Part that I bought about 30 years ago and had a white Ford sticker on it that was a C8 part number.

Now I could easily relocate or extend the mounting flange on the tube but then that re-calibrates how the dipstick will read so I need to find out what the issue is right now.


So the question remains, is there more then one dipstick application?


Since it is installed I can't get the exact length but it appears to be 9-1/2" long.
It looks like the length of the tube below the metal o-ring is 1/2".

The distance from the top of the tube to the top of the mounting flange on the tube is 2-1/2".

[430dragpack]

Not sure if the ~1/2” shorter yours is, is what’s causing the issue, as mine is a good 10” overall.  From the top of the tube to the top of the mounting tab is ~2”. 

[shelbydoug]

Mine is too short and the tab is in the wrong place.

I can move the tab but the tube is still 1/2" short.

I had nothing to compare it to when I bought it. I didn't discover the issue until I put the engine together.

Thank you for measuring and replying.

[Royce Peterson]

Mine is too short and the tab is in the wrong place.

I can move the tab but the tube is still 1/2" short.

I had nothing to compare it to when I bought it. I didn't discover the issue until I put the engine together.

Thank you for measuring and replying.

The one for 390GT / 1968 427 and 1968 - 70 428CJ / SCJ are the same ones. Scott Drake has reproduced them and it is sold anywhere repro parts are available like Summit Racing for example.

[430dragpack]

Here is the tube here installed. You can see where the tab bolts to the exhaust flange.

 I have a spacer under the tab because the header flange is thinner then the iron manifold is.

When I bolt it down, it comes almost completely out of the block.

I'm aware that they usually will only seat about 5/8" into the block but this one barely makes it make it to the block. A picture here shows the ring about 1/2" away from the block and if you closely you can see the edge of the dipstick.

I tried to fix this by twisting the mounting tab so that it would come closer to the block. It still isn't enough to seat the tube.




I am very certain that this was a Ford Service Part that I bought about 30 years ago and had a white Ford sticker on it that was a C8 part number.

Now I could easily relocate or extend the mounting flange on the tube but then that re-calibrates how the dipstick will read so I need to find out what the issue is right now.


So the question remains, is there more then one dipstick application?


Since it is installed I can't get the exact length but it appears to be 9-1/2" long.
It looks like the length of the tube below the metal o-ring is 1/2".

The distance from the top of the tube to the top of the mounting flange on the tube is 2-1/2".

Like Royce said, The correct ‘67-‘70 Mustang/Fairlane/Cougar Big Block FE tubes are C7OZ-6754-A.  That’s the only one, never replaced by any C8 numbered tube.  I wonder if you might not happen to have the ‘68 289/302 tube, C8AZ-6754-A, that has been trimmed off a little at the end that goes into the block?   It’s supposed to be a little over 10” long (similar to C7OZ) and has  mounting tab similar to the C7OZ tube but a little longer and is mounted down on the tube further from the top like you say yours is(2-1/2” down).   It also has a long bend in the middle like the FE tube. 

[shelbydoug]

That sounds like it could be the case?

In any case a tube change is in order.

Thanks guys.

[shelbydoug]

Here is the tube here installed. You can see where the tab bolts to the exhaust flange.

 I have a spacer under the tab because the header flange is thinner then the iron manifold is.

When I bolt it down, it comes almost completely out of the block.

I'm aware that they usually will only seat about 5/8" into the block but this one barely makes it make it to the block. A picture here shows the ring about 1/2" away from the block and if you closely you can see the edge of the dipstick.

I tried to fix this by twisting the mounting tab so that it would come closer to the block. It still isn't enough to seat the tube.




I am very certain that this was a Ford Service Part that I bought about 30 years ago and had a white Ford sticker on it that was a C8 part number.

Now I could easily relocate or extend the mounting flange on the tube but then that re-calibrates how the dipstick will read so I need to find out what the issue is right now.


So the question remains, is there more then one dipstick application?


Since it is installed I can't get the exact length but it appears to be 9-1/2" long.
It looks like the length of the tube below the metal o-ring is 1/2".

The distance from the top of the tube to the top of the mounting flange on the tube is 2-1/2".

Like Royce said, The correct ‘67-‘70 Mustang/Fairlane/Cougar Big Block FE tubes are C7OZ-9754-A.  That’s the only one, never replaced by any C8 numbered tube.  I wonder if you might not happen to have the ‘68 289/302 tube, C8AZ-6754-A, that has been trimmed off a little at the end that goes into the block?   It’s supposed to be a little over 10” long (similar to C7OZ) and has  mounting tab similar to the C7OZ tube but a little longer and is mounted down on the tube further from the top like you say yours is(2-1/2” down).   It also has a long bend in the middle like the FE tube.

C7OZ-9754-A doesn't even come up in a Google search. Are you sure that it wasn't updated by Ford?

[430dragpack]

I typed a “9” instead of a “6”.  C7OZ-6754-A.  I corrected it in the above post.
Chris

[Royce Peterson]

C7OZ-9754-A doesn't even come up in a Google search. Are you sure that it wasn't updated by Ford?

It comes up for me every time: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sdk-c7oz-6754-a

Using the wrong number might be your problem......

[shelbydoug]

I just did it. It comes up FOR ME as "no good matches found". Doesn't matter.

I checked the tube on my GT350 and it appears to be the same.

I found the receipt for this one and it is from a few years ago and is a Scott Drake part. The receipt says for 428 Ford. I don't have the package for it any more.

I did by one from my Ford Dealer but that likely went on my 427 that I sold.

The question has been answered. Thank you all. I am wiser for the moment but that won't last. I'll forget about this all shortly anyway in dealing with the next delema.

[shelbydoug]

The problem definitely is that the dipstick tube that I had is for a small block, but the label is a big block id.

I bought a Scott Drake tube which is significantly different in the right length and the tube insert end into the block.

It is labeled correctly yes. There is an issue with it though. The mounting flange that bolts to the engine is in the wrong place. It is 1-1/8" too low.

So whatever is going on with these tubes is strange. Maybe that's why people want $100 for an original used one on Ebay?