thanks for all the info. I wonder if I'm not better off just making my own as John did.
summit sells a few dipsticks that it says are for a Pontiac with TH400. Cheapest one is $20.99 (part# TRD-4995).
guess I'll have to think about it. I have a couple of incorrect dipsticks laying around that I could piece together into something that'll work so maybe I'll just do that.