Need engine and tranny dipstick tubes

[phoenix]

My '79 440 engine is being rebuilt on my newly acquired 24-footer. Mechanic says previous rebuilder pieced the engine dipstick tube together with a sleeve. Wants to find a one-piece tube.  The tranny tube was kinked in a towing accident when the engine blew, so it also needs to be replaced. Mechanic says these items are not available in salvage because they are specific to American Clippers... fabricated to meet space requirements for A/C, etc.  Can anybody help?  I'm hoping to have it ready for Crescent City!!!

[mollerus]

I think our Clippers were built on standard 1 ton Dodge Chassis using the engine and accessories as they came from Dodge.  Modifying the accessories like re-positioning the AC, the generator, or either of the lubricant check/filler tubes would have been very expensive for the small number of units produced and would have added significantly to the cost of the rigs.  Irv Perch was in a competitive business and cost containment was the name of the game.  He may have designed a special dog house but even then I doubt it.  I think your mechanic is wrong.  Go to a larger well established (old) wrecking yard.  If they have a blown 440 and/or a blown 727 transmission from a 78 or later  ¾ or 1 ton truck or van they will be happy to sell you the parts.  They usually don't like to sell those parts off a good engine or trans. Another source might be "parting out" adds in your newspapers.  I recently purchased a 79 transmission tube and dip stick for $10.00 and plan to try to install it on my 1977 transmission to replace the broken rinky-dinky electronic dipstick that the 1977 and earlier rigs used.  Good luck.  Bob

[handyman]

Elvira Bobs right I was out looking for something else and came across a 77 van 1 ton and the dip sticks were the same as my clipper find another junk yard