Flexible oil dipstick stock truck - ED-5001 correct?

[xanth]

Ok, so did something pretty dumb, have my newly rebuilt engine about 95% installed. Planning on finishing it up tomorrow and firing it up... but oops, forgot to install the oil dipstick. :squint:

messed with it for a bit and just can't get it in w/out removing the manifold. dont really want to do that, next thing you know, i'll crack an exhaust pipe or something else stupid.

After a quick search on here, looks like Lokar Ed-5001 might be the right one. Anyone use it? Any issues with it reading the right oil level? Does it fit properly? pop it in and go?

Appreciate the help.

 

[midnightbluS10]

Re: Flexible oil dipstick stock truck - ED-5001 correct?

Looking over old posts, it seems people were having problems with it. Too big for the hole and possibly the wrong length.

 

[REVEREND HARMON]

Re: Flexible oil dipstick stock truck - ED-5001 correct?

The problem i found is the angle of the hole for the dipstick. It hugs the block not like a sbc. I took this dipstick and shaved one side off it and used it.i made sure it went into the pan enough to read the oil properly.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190379407277&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: Flexible oil dipstick stock truck - ED-5001 correct?

I made the same mistake - I'm getting the stock one from GM parts direct or somewhere else. The flexible one looks cool and seems good but it was too thick to fit in the hole and like HARMON said, it points the wrong way.

 

[ghettosled]

Re: Flexible oil dipstick stock truck - ED-5001 correct?

just take the manifold off.. sounds like a pain but it is the best solution. The angle and tight clearance makes it nearly impossible to press down around the manifold and inside the block without beating it in (then messing up the dipstick)

i've been there several times.. after wasting hours trying to make something work it would have taken 1/2 the time and aggravation if i just removed the manifold and started from scratch.

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: Flexible oil dipstick stock truck - ED-5001 correct?

just take the manifold off.. sounds like a pain but it is the best solution. The angle and tight clearance makes it nearly impossible to press down around the manifold and inside the block without beating it in (then messing up the dipstick)

i've been there several times.. after wasting hours trying to make something work it would have taken 1/2 the time and aggravation if i just removed the manifold and started from scratch.

x2

 

[xanth]

Re: Flexible oil dipstick stock truck - ED-5001 correct?

Thanks everyone, looks like i'm pulling the manifold off today... if she's not running today, she will be tomorrow :tup:

 

[Z SKI]

Re: Flexible oil dipstick stock truck - ED-5001 correct?

It can be done but as other people mentioned, the diameter of the block fitting pipe needs to be turned down and only .25" of the tip of the dip stick will show any oil.

I was going to make it longer but I decided just to scribe a line as to where the new full line was.

See ya,

 

[Syclone#892]

Re: Flexible oil dipstick stock truck - ED-5001 correct?

I went through the same thing, shave part of the block and the dipstick so it would fit, also cut a lot off the brass part of the dipstick as it ran into the 4 bolt mains

When I rough measured the dipstick it looked like the level would be quite a bit off. I called lokar and they said it should be fine but they do sell the wire rod in 1 inch increments, it was pricey for what it is but that would have made it perfect.

When I got my engine together and in the truck I put the same exact amount of oil I normally do in it and let it run for a bit and to me it looks like the dipstick is perfect and not off, if its off its only by a little bit :tup:

My oil pan has been slightly modded and does take a touch more oil than usual and when the dipstick goes in it clips the side of the main cap and bends a little bit so I don't know if those 2 things make it work fine for me but so far so good.

So in the grand scheme of things the easiest route is to pull the manifold and install the stock one but the lokar looks a ton better

Good Luck!

 

[Windedv6]

Re: Flexible oil dipstick stock truck - ED-5001 correct?

When I did my Lokar dipstick I turned the tube down on a lathe then bent it put it in from the inside out (pressed fit) so I knew it cleared the main cap.

I left the tube at the required length as I didn't want to take the chance of it getting grabbed and pulled into the rotating assembly. The tube goes beyoud the bottom of the rotating asembly.

John