What is the correct dip stick for a 70 stage one, and would a 70 GS 455 use the same one? My 70 GS 455 had the flat one without the tube, but it may have been changed before I got the car.
Frank Do you have an approximate month in 70 production year that you have seen no tube oil dipstick for SR code 70 GS 455 then going to tube? Maybe midyear Dec 69-Jan 70? What examples of cars have you seen?
November, 1973 parts book indicates; 70_____4600___________1234633 Adapter. (Tube) 70-71__All "A" (455 eng)__1234636 Rod. (Dip stick)
I'm not actually an expert on these cars (yet), but I've done a lot of research on this site since I've been here. I know you can't go by the parts book. I know a lot of info on V8 has gone missing. But...my understanding is that some cars had just a stick...no tube. I saw posts from many years ago discussing that. I don't know the dates if it's true. I THINK somewhere on here somebody (maybe Duane?) discussed the dates of the changes, coolant tank, lenses, rad cover, etc. I could be wrong......... http://www.v8buick.net/index.php?threads/455-oil-dipstick-and-tube.76981/
There is something in the assembly manual I think about this. I don't think it is a date thing. I believe 455 A body cars got the tube type if the car had power brakes. I believe 71 also got the same tube/ stick. There is a part number on the stick but not the tube. The assembly manual shows the correct part number. By 72 they used a different stick/tube#. I have taken apart an early 70 big car engine and also taken a 455 out of a 71 Electra both running originals. Both had stick and no tube. So the date thing goes right out the window.
Senior series cars did not have an interference problem between the dip stick and master cylinder because the engine was mounted further to the front of the car. The A body cars, with the engine closer to the firewall, did experience interference on those equipped with power brakes. This is the reason for the different oil level gauge rods and adapters. I would recommend using the part #s in my previous post on GS 455 cars with power brakes unless you are confident your specific car can be verified to be otherwise equipped originally. Show judges are unlikely to deduct points. Of the many cars I have owned, all were power brake equipped, and all had the dip stick with adapter.
The part numbers Jim gives concurs with the assembly manuals and those numbers are correct for a 70 with Power brakes. It fails to say A body but I think this was a mistake as all the big car 455's I see in big cars had no tubes. So this set up is correct for a 70 Stage-1 with Power brakes to answer the original question. Without power brakes used the farm tractor type dip stick with #1230489. The 71 shows the diagram again but this time it says A series but nothing about power brakes. I think what confuses a ton of people is most salvage 455's were from big cars so the simple basic dipstick was there and not tube. Check out the diagrams. Funny they show two part numbers that make up the tube assembly but it comes as a unit? Many mysteries in these books. These pictures are a mistake. Correct ones are in next post.
Rich, The 70 assembly manual page that shows the drawing with the dipstick tube is dated 1/17/69 which looks like to me the GS 455 used the tube right from the beginning.
Interesting Dave. I am curious if an early production (fall of 69) 70 GS Stage 1 or GS 455 manual drum brake car would get Oil dip stick tube. My understanding was any 1970 BB GS car regardless of brake option would get oil tube.
While on the subject, does anyone know why some of the dipstick tubes are curves and some are straight?
Rich, I am guessing your example would not have the tube as the 70 assembly manual implies only power brake cars got the tube in 70. I have several magazine articles from 70 with an early built 70 stage 1 4 spd with manual brakes. I will have to see if there are any clear shots of dipstick
They all curve if left in the engine. Leave it out and it may straighten out over time. The style used with no tube is less likely to curve as the tube is curved.
Pics below are of my 10C, 3rd week of Oct 1969, 70 GS 455 4 speed car with no oil dipstick tube. Note, that this car is all original, untouched ,unmolested manual steering and manual brake car.
Rich. Your car, being manual brake equipped, may be absolutely correct with the #1230489 non-adapter style gauge rod. Being that the 1970 assembly manual fails to specify the car series, it is entirely possible such installation occurred on the assembly line. I don't think any one can speak in terms of absolutes with regard to cars assembled more than 40 years ago. If there is any question about correctness of an individual part, all we can do is defer to what the show judges want. Even then, there is some question of correctness, but at least no point deduction will result.
Jim I have always felt that part of the SR GS 455 and SS Stage 1 engine content dress accessories was oil dipstick tube adapter for these A body coded engines in 1970. However, this Framingham 70 GS 455 manual brake car proves otherwise, it has the ordinary SF code big car oil dip stick in block. Possibly Buick used no oil tube when no power brake option was ordered on 70 BB GS cars only on early build cars and was changed mid year like coolant tanks and rad toppers? It would be interesting to find other manual brake 70 GS 455 or GS Stage 1 cars and see what dipstick arrangement they have in relation to cowl build date of body?
