dipstick please

AndrewWolfeUK · 01-18-2006, 06:07 AM

Hello again,
after having dropped the dipstick into the oiltank, i need a new one.
I have had a look on the pelicanparts pages but they dont ship to England UK.
I have tried the Porsche main dealers over here but they say its a 4 week wait while they get one from germany, further more they want both my arms and the shirt off my back for it!

So i will pay $50 including shipping for one dipstick.

Its a 1973 car, anyone interested in helping me out and making a quick buck?

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Andrew

Pelican ships worldwide I believe . . .

See Shipping

Ian

Jims5543 · 01-18-2006, 06:39 AM

How about fishing the sucker out of the tank?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91519

Is it impossible to do? I have never tried.

safe · safe's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by AndrewWolfeUK
Hello again,
after having dropped the dipstick into the oiltank, i need a new one.
I have had a look on the pelicanparts pages but they dont ship to England UK.
I have tried the Porsche main dealers over here but they say its a 4 week wait while they get one from germany, further more they want both my arms and the shirt off my back for it!

So i will pay $50 including shipping for one dipstick.

Its a 1973 car, anyone interested in helping me out and making a quick buck?

4 weeks!!! Do they swim the channel with the parts??
Here in Sweden it takes about 1 week if they have to take the stuff from Germany.

scottb · 01-18-2006, 08:03 AM

Call or e-mail Pelican and ask them if they can ship via US Mail. The dipstick is so light, I can't imagine it would be very expensive to mail....certainly it would be less expensive than UPS or FedEx.

Good luck.

Navaros911 · 01-18-2006, 08:15 AM

They surely ship to the UK... I've bought thousands of dollars of stuff from them to have it shipped to Belgium and never experienced any problems (except for ^&&*# taxes and delays).

Ship with DHL/UPS/FDX if you want it quick, USPS takes ages.

David E. Clark · 01-18-2006, 10:15 AM

Andrew,

If you dropped it down the oil filler neck, you can fish it out with a coat hanger and some patience. How do I know you ask …!

austin552 · austin552's Garage

I think I have an extra I could send you. PM me if still interested.

cashflyer · 01-18-2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Navaros911
....except for ^&&*# taxes and delays....
...Ship with DHL/UPS/FDX if you want it quick, USPS takes ages.

You could always mark the customs manifest as "commercial sample" - no VAT due that way. Not that I am encouraging tax fraud.... Be sure you properly evaluate that item for commercial purposes. I recommend that it be put into a evaluation & testing program by using it in your Porsche.

For international business, I have had the BEST service with UPS. They even have specialists who can take care of all the customs paperwork for you. I have had the absolute WORST results from USPS, and even ended up paying import taxes twice on an item because they screwed up the paperwork. FedEx wasn't much better - but they do have a nice "space available" program for international shipments. It can mean big savings if you're not in a hurry. (just an FYI tidbit there)

Brad01mc · 01-18-2006, 10:57 AM

I don't recall if the dip stick is steel or Al. If steel, then why not trying to fish it out with a magnet?

Brad

safe · safe's Garage

They are stainless, I think. Anyway it's not magnetic.

Jims5543 · 01-18-2006, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by safe
They are stainless, I think. Anyway it's not magnetic.

I just checked mine with a magnet and your right it is not magnetic.

I guess a coat hanger or one of those parts grabbers would work. I would definatly give it a tty. I would think its worth about 30 minutes of trying to see if you can get it out.

If you really want to get creative, if you know a shop with a borescope you might be able to look in and see it. This might mean your draining the tank but it would be worth it.

Good luck!!

Ken911 · 01-18-2006, 04:29 PM

Who knows when you look in you might find several more? I forgot where but I read someplace where a guy had lost his in the oil tank and decided to tremove the tank to get it out and found several others in there keeping it company.

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

i'd want to keep trying to fish mine out first no matter what i think..give it a try..
ryan

safe · safe's Garage

Actually, if you are not very lucky, I think the fastest way to get it out is to remove the oil tank....

rob justice · rob justice's Garage

I reckon it would take a couple of hours (max) to remove the tank, give it a good clean. remove the level sender and fish out the dipstick.
The money you save would give you a free oil and filter change.

safe · safe's Garage

And as a bonus you could clean the area around and behind the tank. That will probably knock of a few lbs at the rear

AndrewWolfeUK · 01-19-2006, 07:27 AM

OK chaps, thanks for your help.
The rear bumper is part of the rear wings

so i wont be taking to oil tank off.

ianc · 01-19-2006, 12:27 PM

As someone else said, remove the oil level sender in the side of the tank and you'll be able to get it out. My very first dumbass move as a new 911 owner 10 years ago was dropping the dipstick in the tank, and although I couldn't fish it out the top, removing sender worked easily. Don't forget a new gasket; they're cork. I believe a fuel sending unit gasket is the exact same size, although they're made of rubber though,

ianc

safe · safe's Garage

I recently removed my oilsender, but I could not fish out my "spare".
Does anyone have a picture of how the internals of the tank look?