Deep Water Fording Kit On A 6.5T/4L80E Truck

I'm going to be installing a 6.5 turbo engine and 4L80E in my truck in the very near future. I've got both the engine and the transmission currently (and a bunch of smaller parts needed).

Before I got those I was in the process of piecing together and installing the deep water fording kit on my 6.2/TH400 truck.

I figured the engine oil dipstick/tube and trans dipstick/tube had to be different given the different applications so I took a look at the -387-24P TM to see what it shows. Frankly the info it gives doesn't make much sense.

For the engine, it shows PN 12339844 for the tube and 12339846 for the dipstick which is the same as for the A0/A1 DWF kits. I figured it could be possible but given the differences, I wanted to do some more looking to be sure. I found this document and I also found this. What I eventually came up with were 2 different DWF dipsticks and 4 different DWF tubes listed as being possibilities...

- The original TM recommended 12339844/4710-01-202-8245 tube and 12339846/6680-01-185-3202 dipstick




- Tube 12469130/2590-01-475-3438 (which is shaped differently than the 12339844 tube) and dipstick 12339846/6680-01-185-3202




- Tube 12506777/2590-01-595-8831 as well as tube 12506919/2590-01-653-1528 and dipstick 12506918/6680-01-593-8949


(12506777)


(12506919)


(12506918 )

It appears the yellow topped hardware is actually taller/longer, possibly to clear the 400A alternator according to that link to thirtyfive21.com. Not sure what the difference is between the two yellow topped tubes except the mounting brackets on them. Tube 12506777 does come up as discontinued on HPG's website though.

So which is the correct one for a 6.5T with 200A alternator? Pretty sure it isn't the one recommended in the -387-24P TM given the different shape of the 12469130 tube that is referenced specifically as being for the turbo but, is the yellow hardware only really needed for the 400A trucks?


And then we get to the transmission...

The TM shows a PN of 5582842 for the tube. The only parts source that has a listing for that is HPG which cross references to NSN 4710-01-179-4346. That NSN then cross references to 12339147-2 which is the tube for the TH400.

I do know that the regular 4L80E 12469144 tube is shaped distinctively and much longer to clear the turbo exhaust crossover pipe:



so, there's no way the DWF TH400 tube could clear.



The TM also lists 5582843 for the trans dipstick which crosses to 12339847, again the TH400 dipstick.

That document above, however, lists 6680-01-466-7238 as the 4L80E DWF dipstick though which crosses to 12460314 and is listed as being for the non-turbo.



That's nearly identical to the one that's used with the standard 12469144 tube. I'm guessing, is only difference is in length.

I've also seen 12460314 listed as being a DWF dipstick.

The checklist document, however, lists 4710-01-179-4346 as the tube which crosses to 12339147-2, again, the DWF tube for the TH400. Clearly that tube will not work with that dipstick and clearly neither will clear the turbo exhaust crossover.

That's the only info I can find on the transmission DWF setup though.

Since the standard dipstick is a locking/sealing type, is the standard dipstick and tube appropriate for DWF use? That's the only conclusion I can come to.


A third discrepancy I've come up with in the -387-24P TM is it listing the vented power steering reservoir cap when the 6.5 turbo uses the remote reservoir. No idea how the DWF would tie into the power steering in that situation, if at all.


So, anyone have any answers on what would be correct?

I might have the tube and stick for a turbo truck.

86humv said:

I might have the tube and stick for a turbo truck.

Click to expand...

Which tube and dipstick for which component?

Right now I've got engine oil tubes 12339844 and 12469130, as well as engine oil dipstick 12339846.

For the transmission tubes and dipsticks I've got the TH400 12339147-2 tube and 12339847 dipstick, as well the 4L80 12469144 tube and 12469145 dipstick.

Trans type, stick is turbo model, but got to look for a matching tube.

86humv said:

Trans type, stick is turbo model, but got to look for a matching tube.

Click to expand...

Ok, cool. When you get a chance, could you shoot me a PM with pics and prices. I'll probably have you add that to my current order.

Almost forgot, I wanted to update this so anyone else searching for the info in the future can find the answer.

Working with 86humv, we found there is no deep water fording specific trans dipstick and tube.

The 12469144 tube and 12469145 dipstick are the only dipstick/tube option. So, apparently the locking/sealing mechanism of the standard flip top dipstick is sufficient to seal it fully.

Once I get a chance to try installing the 12469130 tube and 12339846 dipstick on the engine I'll update again.

ryanruck said:

Almost forgot, I wanted to update this so anyone else searching for the info in the future can find the answer.

Working with 86humv, we found there is no deep water fording specific trans dipstick and tube.

The 12469144 tube and 12469145 dipstick are the only dipstick/tube option. So, apparently the locking/sealing mechanism of the standard flip top dipstick is sufficient to seal it fully.

Once I get a chance to try installing the 12469130 tube and 12339846 dipstick on the engine I'll update again.

Click to expand...

The 12469144 tube and 12469145 dipstick are 6.5 turbo / 4l80e specific only.
The NA 6.5 tube is bent different and stick is shorter.

86humv said:

The 12469144 tube and 12469145 dipstick are 6.5 turbo / 4l80e specific only.
The NA 6.5 tube is bent different and stick is shorter.

Click to expand...

Good point! Thanks for adding the clarification!

ryanruck said:

Which tube and dipstick for which component?

Right now I've got engine oil tubes 12339844 and 12469130, as well as engine oil dipstick 12339846.

For the transmission tubes and dipsticks I've got the TH400 12339147-2 tube and 12339847 dipstick, as well the 4L80 12469144 tube and 12469145 dipstick.

Click to expand...

Trying to figure this one out myself for the deep water fording kit (dwf), looking at alot of the conflicting information online.

So the 12339147-2 tube and 12339847 dipstick are for the TH400 3-speed transmission attached to the 6.2 litre engine?

And the engine oil tube & dipstick for the 6.2 motor are 12339844 (tube) & 12339846 (dipstick)?

If we know what the tube and dipstick configurations are for the 6.2/6.5/6.5t engines & 3L80-TH400 3-speed/4L80E 4-speed transmissions can we post all the definitive answers here?