Thread: Aftermarket dipsticks

Tweet

Originally Posted by roadster32

Dave i've not had problems with the real lokar sticks but there are a lot of copys of Lokars out there and they never seem to seal correctly. I have got them to seal by installing slightly thicker O rings, HTH

Steve - when Lokar sent me the second, I was able to put a little bit larger O-rings on but the grooves need to be opened some for even larger and right now, all my tools aren't handy. The hole in the case almost seems like it was enlarged a little.

I know a lot of people use silicone on them Dave but i've found it makes the situation worse, i fit them with a smear of grease, but the cheap copys won't seem to seal with anything. Annoying having oil leaks isn't it

Originally Posted by roadster32

I know a lot of people use silicone on them Dave but i've found it makes the situation worse, i fit them with a smear of grease, but the cheap copys won't seem to seal with anything. Annoying having oil leaks isn't it

Steve - I wouldn't have any complaint if it was a cheap knock off. It is an $100+/- Lokar firewall mount and installed per their instructions with just a little bit of silicone - their verbal instructions. This is the only component on the car that has leaked - ever. I wont even tell you how many pan gaskets it took - that real narrow cut out place on the pan rail just wouldn't seal so I ended up with a new pan, flanged bolts instead of my ARP $tuds plus a very thick cork gasket instead of my favorite neoprene composition Fel-Pro's. Now, that first pan - a TCI, was not even flat at that cut out. I ended up with a Spectre Performance 5455 from Summit - and it is a nice part.

Update

I ordered a Hughes locking dipstick which arrived this afternoon. Of course, with the engine set back, needed some modifications. First of all, the mounting tab they had welded on it - no idea where that was supposed to bolt as it wouldn't have fit anything back there. Also, the actual dip stick itself - about an 1.25 too short as only about a half inch projected from the end which would have done a good job measuring the case. I ended up cutting about 1.75 off the tube and with eyeball measurement will be off of the pan bottom by a little less then a half inch. I didn't have to cut the stick itself, just the tube. I then made up a new tab and tacked it to the tube, painted it and will install either later today or in the morning. It will be a bit tough to fill the trans as it's w-a-a-a-y back there. Hopefully no more leaks, but.............

Now, the Lokar. The original o-rings were #015, 1/16x9/16x11/16. I had originally replaced them with #113, 3/32x9/16x3/4. I could and will eventually try the #207 which are 1/8x9/16x13/16 as the groove is big enough. This should stop the sloppiness and leak. That's for another day though.

Dang I love these cars and the aftermarket parts we use. If I had to start with the tranny out of the car, I would convert to pan fill instead and plug that case fill hole. It would then be made up of threaded fittings instead of the press to fit - then pray it doesn't leak cause you can't successfully use any sealer there.

what about a little grease on the O rings? or even vasaline. But, I have no experience with aftermkt O- ring'd dipsticks. That's just a thought.

Originally Posted by Matt167

what about a little grease on the O rings? or even vasaline. But, I have no experience with aftermkt O- ring'd dipsticks. That's just a thought.

Matt - the OEM O-rings were too small in cross section(1/16), the next(3/32), evidently still too small so now, if I ever reinstall the Lokar, I'll try a 3rd size(1/8) cross section. Any grease - maybe for assembly if needed, but ATF would dissolve it and then - leak.

Now, with saying that, gotta go put it together, fill it and see if it drools from some where else

It has been a month since I installed the new dipstick along with the 4 quarts of (re)filtered ATF which means the level is well above the transmission dipstick hole. The floor/drip pan are still dry. I haven't driven the car yet (back yard/front of shop snow just disappeared this week) but that to me is a good sign. A very minor, 1-2 drips in 4 months, from the front timing cover is the only thing left marking this cars spot.

Now, coffee break is over and back to the body realignment project