Dip Stick Tube Query

[AlfaLofa]

I'm wondering how far to drive a new dip stick tube into the front cover.

Brian Buckland's book gives a distance of 4.1" between the top of the dip stick tube and the base of the plate.

But is this distance parallel to the tube (fig a) or perpendicular to the bottom of the base plate (Fig b)?

Any advice would be welcome.

[elanfan1]

Haven't done the maths but the actual difference between the two calculations must be tiny I certainly don't think it would affect how much oil you would put in.

Ducks and waits for someone to do the figures to prove me wrong!

[john.p.clegg]

OOOhh no,not another Trig. question....

Bill...?

John

[ericbushby]

Steve,
mine is 4.1" measured vertically but to the highest point of the rim, not as you have shown it in diagram 'b' to the low point.
Possibly easier to measure down the tube to the hole you are knocking it in to. :- 2.825"
As usual I cannot say that mine is right.
Eric in Burnley
S3SE Type 45

[AlfaLofa]

Thanks for that Eric - I did wonder about the highest/lowest part of the rim but didn't want to complicate things even further.

I'll follow your suggestion and use your measurement down the tube.

Cheers
Steve

[englishmaninwales]

Steve,
mine is 4.1" measured vertically but to the highest point of the rim, not as you have shown it in diagram 'b' to the low point.
Possibly easier to measure down the tube to the hole you are knocking it in to. :- 2.825"
As usual I cannot say that mine is right.
Eric in Burnley
S3SE Type 45

Eric
Is there a typo - do you mean 2.400" ? That is the measurement I get on my original with a 4.1'' vertical height.
I'm just doing this job with a Burton supplied front cover.
Just for people to be aware, there is a difference in the casting height of the boss, into which the tube goes, from the datum of the lower flange to the lowest point of the hole in the boss, compared to the original. This difference is 0.25''.
This will result in an error if one measures down the tube to the hole off an original and apply that measurement for fitting the tube to a Burton cover.
I'm hopeful that the 4.1'' vertical height to the highest point of the tube is the correct measurement as that is how I've installed it!
Edited to add: I've just spotted that the angle of the tube is also different, about 15 deg shallower viewed from the front, so the 4.1" height won't work either for the Burton front cover. Looks like back to basics with a sump oil fill and the tube height adjusted and compared to the original front cover/dipstick tube . Easy on the engine stand.

[ericbushby]

Nope, it has hardly moved. I have measured it again and it is now 2.827" to the hole with 4.1" vertical height. I believe it is all original type, but it might help if somebody else measures theirs. I have found that you can never take anything on face value.
Eric in Burnley,
1967 S3SE DHC

[englishmaninwales]

Maybe I'm wrong and I need to re-measure!!

[AHM]

Look for a topic started by the late Mickle

He measured sump volume there are 2 lengths given in different WSMs

[CG901]

Having read this thread out of necessity (I am installing a Burton front cover) let me offer my measurements based on my Mk 1 engine (LP4474LBA). My dip stick tube measurement per the diagram is consistent with others at 4.1". My dip stick part no. is 105E 6752B. I measure the angle of the dip stick tube on the original front cover at 68 degs from horizontal compared with 56 degs on the Burton cover. The original cover, with dip stick fully seated, protrudes exactly 6 inches in length measuring from the bottom line of the front cover to the tip of the dip stick. This would lower the tip of the dip stick 5.56" into the sump (measured from the bottom line of the front cover. For the Burton cover, given its lower entry angle, requires the dip stick to be slid down the tube another 0.71" to reach the same depth in the sump.

Please find problems with my approach. It's a first pass and I may have missed something.
Here are some photos of each cover.

[englishmaninwales]

Fitting my Burton front cover, in the end, I got the tube in the approximate position, and when the engine was complete, dry filled with 4 litres ( to include the filter) and after the first run, marked the dip stick. Too many variables, different dipsticks, sumps, dipstick tubes, angle of tube etc.

As an aside, with Burton supplied front cover and back plate, firstly check the back plate is true and not distorted - mine was and I exchanged it. Secondly, do a complete trial fit of the Burton front cover, backplate, cylinder head and chain/ sprockets. The front cover required significant fettling on the inside to give enough clearance for the chain when correctly tensioned. My items were recent purchases so yours may be part of the same batch. I had a huge row with Burton about this, as it was due to poor positioning of the casting core for the internal coolant passage to the pump.

I used anaerobic sealant between the front cover and back plate mating faces and all appears to be oil tight!

Good luck!
Malcolm

[CG901]

Hi Malcolm
Thanks for your comments. Very helpful.
Scott