I am looking for a dipstick for a 1988 camaro 305 tpi motor (hole is on the passenger side). Several sites list Mr. Gasket 6238 as a fit, but the listing on Mr. Gasket's website shows it will only work on 1982-1985 camaros. When I asked both summit racing and mr. gasket tech support for help explaining why the discrepancy (tube size, stick length, upper attachment point placement, etc) all the lazy support people would say is "our records show it will not work for a 1988 motor".

What is different on a 1985 motor that requires a different part for the 1988? Does anyone know why the only part most places list as fitting is a $60+ Lokar flexible tube? Is there a way I can modify the 6238 dipstick to make it work? Considering the number of Third Gen Camaros and Firebirds made from 1986 - 1992, it seems strange to me that there would not be a readily available affordable aftermarket dipstick.

 

Go toa junkyard and grab a nice one. I looked for many months and when I finally ordered one from GM, it's way too short of a dipstick tube. You can always get a Lokar one or something custom, the GM one has been discontinued for some time now

 

I believe the 80 -85 RHS dipstick engines use the old style dipstick boss cast into the block which comes halfway up the block and just has short tube extension; where as the boss on the '86+ engines is lower down closer to the oil pan requiring a longer dipstick which also has a support tab off the exh bolt

 

I put a Lokar flexible braided one it mine, it was a little shorter than i expected, the handle comes out right next to stock headers, but i like it. it was $80 i think.

 

The Lokar dipstick is so far down you have a hard time reaching it with all the emission stuff on there and like was already mentioned it is right next to the headers .