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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Projects Posts (NOT VEHICLES) => Topic started by: LTZ C20 on May 06, 2014, 02:20:06 pm

Title: New Dip Stick Tube
Post by: LTZ C20 on May 06, 2014, 02:20:06 pm
Hey all. Thought I would share this small side project I did last night.

I put new headers on my truck and in doing so I had to remove my dipstick tube. In doing that I bent and put a small hole in the tube. So I decided to build a new one using my old stock dipstick tube.

I have a chrome stick and tube from Mr. Gasket, nothing special. Turns out the metal the tube is made out of is not that great.

Here is both sticks and tubes.
Title: New Dip Stick Tube
Post by: LTZ C20 on May 06, 2014, 02:24:37 pm
Now here is the chrome tube damaged.

You can see here, I measured to two tubes, making sure they had the same arc, then using a tubing cutter, cut the stock tube to the same length as the chrome.

The two stick handles.

(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/07/besysaju.jpg)
Title: New Dip Stick Tube
Post by: LTZ C20 on May 06, 2014, 02:45:03 pm
I'm sorry the pics are out of order, I'm still learning how to post pics from my phone lol.

So then I primered the tube with engine enamel.

Then painted with low gloss black engine enamel.

Finally, I tried to stamp with a steel punch set, "SAE ROYAL PURPLE ONLY" into the opposite side of the dipstick. It didn't work, so I used an engraver instead. Doesn't look as good as I hoped but it's ok. That was kind of a stupid idea anyway. Haha.
Title: Re: New Dip Stick Tube
Post by: LTZ C20 on May 06, 2014, 02:48:34 pm
Will post the final installed pic tonight when done.




Title: Re: New Dip Stick Tube
Post by: bake74 on May 06, 2014, 09:21:21 pm
      Engravers are hard to keep steady, it takes patience and practice.  Both of which I have not mastered yet.   ;D
Title: Re: New Dip Stick Tube
Post by: LTZ C20 on May 06, 2014, 10:00:29 pm
Lol me either. Here's the final product.






Title: Re: New Dip Stick Tube
Post by: LTZ C20 on May 06, 2014, 10:01:28 pm
Installed.





Title: Re: New Dip Stick Tube
Post by: bake74 on May 07, 2014, 09:28:55 am
     Did you paint over the etching ?
Title: Re: New Dip Stick Tube
Post by: LTZ C20 on May 07, 2014, 01:48:16 pm
No I did not. I etched into the dipstick itself, which was chrome




Title: Re: New Dip Stick Tube
Post by: bake74 on May 07, 2014, 07:50:22 pm
No I did not. I etched into the dipstick itself, which was chrome

     Couldn't tell from the pic, but that makes since.
Title: Re: New Dip Stick Tube
Post by: LTZ C20 on May 07, 2014, 08:20:01 pm
Oh ok. Yea. I had the etcher on about medium cuz high felt like it was gonna grind a hole thru my workbench.