[DeTomaso] "Dipsticks you can actually check" Final answer

[Rob Dumoulin]

First of all a big thank you to all that offered assistance, especially
Garth and Chuck. The dipstick tube from the vendor had to be trimmed, bent,
and coaxed, but installed once I removed my valve cover. The upper mounting
bracket is not in the right place, but I'll fix that later.

If I had to do it all again, I would have made my own and used the
information from Garth and Chuck as reference. I question why I pay a
premium for  Pantera Parts from vendors that are not even close to being
correct.  If I were to install as received and was reassured by the vendor
that it was correct, I estimate it would have taken 15 quarts of oil before
it registered on the dipstick which was over 5 inches too short.

If you buy from a vendor like I did, make sure they check their
measurements.  The only ones that matter if you are replacing both dipstick
and tube are the distances with the dipstick fully installed in the tube
from the flare that limits the tube depth into the block to the low and
high marks on the dipstick. Make them measure before you buy and if they
give you the answers they gave me, run away.

Stock Dimensions:
Length of tube below the ridge that bottoms out on the engine block:
9-15/16"
Length of tube, above ridge: 25"
Total length of tube: 35"
Tube diameter: 3/8"
Full mark of dipstick: 11-9/16" below the ridge
Add mark on dipstick: 12-3/8" below the ridge
End of dipstick: 13-1/4" below the ridge
Ford TSB calls for dipstick to be 38" - Measured from tip to the bottom of
the handle 'cup'