Dip Stick problem ... 454 in 86 Holiday Rambler

[Hemi]

Yesterday I picked up our 86-holiday rambler from the shop who put a new set of exhaust manifolds...the old ones were leaking.

Anyway, when I got home I noticed that the dipstick was not fully pushed in....eventually I was able to get it fully inserted. Even before I took the motor home to the shop the dipstick was always very difficult to fully insert. I suppose what may have happened at the shop is that the new manifold might have put a small dent in the dipstick holder.

My question. I will need to fix this problem and I don't wish to even consider removing the right side manifold.

Thus I am looking for a substitute for normal dipstick, which is about 4 feet long. Anyone have ideas....? Possibly a thinner dipstick would work but the places I have called don't seem interested in making me a custom dipstick.

Perhaps someone with the older motor homes has had this problem...and found a good solution...

Thanks, HEMI

[Hemi]

Yesterday I picked up our 86-holiday rambler from the shop who put a new set of exhaust manifolds...the old ones were leaking.

Anyway, when I got home I noticed that the dipstick was not fully pushed in....eventually I was able to get it fully inserted. Even before I took the motor home to the shop the dipstick was always very difficult to fully insert. I suppose what may have happened at the shop is that the new manifold might have put a small dent in the dipstick holder.

My question. I will need to fix this problem and I don't wish to even consider removing the right side manifold.

Thus I am looking for a substitute for normal dipstick, which is about 4 feet long. Anyone have ideas....? Possibly a thinner dipstick would work but the places I have called don't seem interested in making me a custom dipstick.

Perhaps someone with the older motor homes has had this problem...and found a good solution...

Thanks, HEMI

[Wallaby Dan]

See if you can find a dipstick from a Chevy Astro, It was a little smaller and I used it to make a new dipstick when mine broke about 7 years ago.I needed to re-mark the quart low and full marks with Nail Polish.Good hunting! Capt.Dan

[DonavonP]

Piano wire??

[Hemi]

Capt Dand and DonavonP...both, great suggestions. Pianon wire is interesting as long as it regig enough not to bend while being pushed down the tube.

Again, many thanks HEMI

[RonNBama]

I putzed up the dipstick tube on my 1984 Barth 454 while installing headers. Tried to install an exact replacement, but managed to bend it too. I ended up installing a generic tube and stick from an auto parts house and filing my hi-lo marks on the stick. It was accessible from the wheel well (shorter) and I didn't have to raise the dog-house lid to check the oil.