theoldsrocket

I need to identify if my block is correct for the year.

Block# 395558 with 7A heads

Are the 7A heads correct for 1972? thanks

joe_padavano

7A heads (upper case "A" that's smaller than the "7") are correct for 1972. Beware of 7A heads where the "A" is the same height as the "7". Those are the peanut port heads from the late 1980s 307s.

theoldsrocket

Thanks I'm sure the A is lower then the 7.

theoldsrocket

Also I got my broken dipstick out and now my after market chrome one won't fit, should I trim the chrome off?

oldzy

Here are my stock 7A 350 heads off my 1972.

theoldsrocket

those are the same as mine in the picture thanks

theoldsrocket

anyone know about the dipstick?

Lalo442

I had the same problem with my 69 350 had to grind lightly around the chrome dipstick to get it in I think mine is a Transdapt dipstick but finally made it in with some persuasion

theoldsrocket

Yeah mines transdapt to so I got it in now it just won't lock into place. PLEASE HELP.

Lalo442

It has to be a tight fit I think I used a 2X4 on the top end and tapped it until it it reached the ridge where it bottoms out sticks in pretty good ....hope it helps ...

oldzy

Banging a dipstick in from the top never worked for me. I had to use channel locks, needle nose pliers or similar on the lip near the bottom, and tap on the pliers to get it in.

theoldsrocket

Still no luck I tried everything, only thing I banged was my thumb.

JeremyTA

i had the same problem with my 330, i took a propane torch and heated it red hot and gently tapped on the "pressure fittings" evenly around to make them smaller and re-tempered the steel to make sure i didn't weaken it too much, looks ugly but fit..where are you located? i took out the 330 and if you're near by you can have it for free. it took about five tries because i couldn't figure out how to make steel larger(lol) but checking the fitting again and again and it worked fine.

i'm sure it obvious but i failed to mention thats what i did for the dipstick :-P