Oil Stick

YES SIR! THE AGREED UPON LENGTH IS 38.5" TIP TO STOP(WHICH IS THE BACK/INSIDE OF THAT 1/2" CUP AT THE FRONT OF THE HANDLE! ALL MODIFIED(CORRECTED AT THE DEALER) DIP STICKS ARE IDENTIFIED BY THE HANDLE BEING PAINTED YELLOW. NOW THE QUESTION IS: IS THE TUBE THE PROPER LENGTH? JUST KIDDING! ALL THE BEST, MARLIN.

Thanks Marlin. Mine is 39.5", so apparently it was not changed. My stick is all chromed, so there isn't any yellow handle. I will just ensure I keep it filled another inch past the full line.

Pantera dipsticks were cut, lengthened & brazed from Mustang & Fairlane dipsticks. According to Ford TSP Bulletin 5, Article 34, the length from tip that touches the oil to the lower edge of the grommet-stop near the handle should be 38.0". There is an illustration of this. You should have a copy of these TSPs since there are hundreds more running changes published by Ford engineering from '71 to '75. All vendors carry reprints of the original pub, quite reasonably. Note that this measurement assumes that no one has messed-about with the tubing the dipstick travels through. I don't know the tubing length, but given the proper dipstick length, it should be easy to pour in one qt at a time & calibrate your assembly. Either a stock 5-qt or aftermarket 8- or 10-qt will read the same as the depth is identical.

Thanks Jack for the reference, I looked it up and the diagram is self explanitory for measurement. My stick is still too long (that's what she said), but claibrating from the proper amount of oil put into the engine as you mention would be the best bet. I am just not sure if I have an 8 or 10 Qt pan, or if the rod that the stick goes into has been modified (but I would assume no one would mess with that in modifying their car).

Does,
I know you are well meaning, but don't assume "...no one would mess with the tube..." On the street rods I used to build it came into fashion to use a 3"-4" tube rather than the 6-8" factory unit.

the length from the insertion into the block is 9 13/16 inches. The length of the stick has no bearing on the measurement of oil. Just the burn factor of your arm when you check the oil...



Greg