Has anyone ever found any info regarding the "proper" length of the oil dipstick on a 356 engine (specifically a 356 B engine)? I wonder if the little cap that stops the dipstick from going any further in when checking the oil can be slowly pushed up the dipstick with time, so one gets a false reading of oil level, false on the plus side. Appreciate any info/advice, or even a few measurements from the bottom of the cap to the end of the dipstick.
Thanks, Jerry Havel

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jerry havel

Don't forget there is a little O ring in the cap. Tom

A small amount of variation would not cause a problem any more than checking your oil level on a slight(tiny) incline would cause a problem. The reality is that perfection does not exist.

Just a note...VW dipsticks look right but are short and result in your 356 engine being WAY overfilled.

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Cliff Murray

 

'55 Cabriolet Racer

'57 Speedster

'59 Sunroof

'63 Coupe Pushrod GS 2133

'67 911 S

Just a tad over 8-7/8" from the cap's face.

Dick

were not some dip stick tubes different lengths also?

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Mdejonge
Restoration Design Inc.
61 roadster
57 speedster
63 turbo 356
65 VW transporter
05 997

Mike,
Limiting my comments to 3-piece-case, push-rod, non-modified 356 engines, I've never seen any.

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Back when I was building the engine for my Speedster (1983) I noticed that the dip stick seemed too short. I just assumed some numb brain had put a VW one in place of the original, the standard assumption. Well it seems that according to the “A” parts book the pre ’57 engines used 2 different length dipsticks, P/N 539.07.071 (225mm) & 644.07.070 (315mm) each requiring a different length tube. Interestingly the parts book does not specify what engines got which dip stick. The post ‘57engines (all) got the longer 315mm dipstick. Also you will notice that the pre’57 engines the dip stick tube was held in place by a tab and bolt as opposed the later pressed in version.

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Well, now I've seen one..........

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Larry-Good information! When I bought my '57 Speedster from the second owner in '94 I took the engine apart to see what I had. The car had been sitting since 1964. It had the original Super Solex single barrel carbs, early distributor, and early fan and fan housing. The cases were un-numbered replacement cases which were cast in 1963. The cam, roller crank, pistons/aluminum cylinders were '57 Super items. The cylinder heads were S90. The roller crank had one connecting rod that had been replaced and I assume that was why the new cases were needed.

When I put the engine back together and put oil in it I was confused when 4 quarts made little progress towards filling it. I guess that I wrongly assumed that the dipstick was a VW item because there were a few other VW parts where the car was parked for 30 years. I now think that the person that replaced the cases must have used the original short dipstick from the '57 Super.

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Cliff Murray

 

'55 Cabriolet Racer

'57 Speedster

'59 Sunroof

'63 Coupe Pushrod GS 2133

'67 911 S

Here is a picture of 3 dipsticks. On the bottom, a 225mm from a 356, and 2 others I am unsure of. The longer of the others measures about 177mm, while the short one with the large pull ring is 155mm. Could the others be VW, or perhaps for a 2pc 356 case? I don't happen to have a 2pc in the shop now to check them against. I appreciate any info the learned members can provide.

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I believe the lengths mentioned in the parts book is the the overal length. Pre-A's with 2 pc, cases may have VW dip sticks but I have no info on them.

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Dave,

My 55 early 3 piece case came with the type you have on the top in your picture.
It has a small round pull ring like the one you picture and also measures 177 MM.
I have no idea if it's the right one, the engine came to me in a million pieces in boxes and this stick was in there. The tube it goes in is like the one Larry has a picture of, ...it bolts to the case. I am hoping someone can shed some definitive light on this because I hope I've got the right one. Can't really remember how much oil I put in when I started the engine, I was too excited and distracted from finally getting this thing finished and started after being in pieces for 25 years. I just filled it to the stick. I'll have to drain it and check the amount on refill. I also have one of the oval shaped top ones like you picture but I know it came out of the 1600 core engine I bought from Pete Hussey a few years ago. It appears in pictures I have when I got it so I know there was no mix up.

And thank you Larry for the parts book reference. I can see what you mean about the tube being a bolt on instead of bayonette push in style. That's the way mine is for the 55 so that leads me to believe that the stick might be right also. But I was wondering which parts book your illustration is from,..the 57? Reason I am asking is that my Jan 55 parts book has a different illustration for the 3 piece case. It doesn't show the bolt in tube being on the same page as the stick. (The tube is on another page and is, indeed, a bolt in), and stick has a round head, not the more familiar oval head. Maybe this odd stick is just a 55 thing? (like the oil temp drilling in the bock near the fan housing, etc)
There were so many transition things going on in the change over to the three piece case this might be another one of those oddities of the 55 year (?)

The mysteries never cease to come.

Steve,

Don't forget that my parts book is for 356A's, 1600 (from where I took the illustration that I posted earlier). Now no doubt there were some changes between the 3-pc case 1500's and 1600's other than the P&C.

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If you use the VW dipstick it would take at least 5.5 to 6 quarts to register on the stick.
I have some know to be VW sticks I'll compare and measure.

Norm

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