dip stick tube

[Slyclone]

Just wondering if anyone here has ever had the dipstick tube snap off. Mine was weak, on its last leg on this typhoon and it snapped off clean on the bottom.

Noticed it was missing...I tried to put a dipstick in and it bad only going so far.. Tube looked bent or kinked I than saw it was welded. I went to remove dipstick tube and the repair area close to the bottom snapped. Wonderful.

I thought I was going to be able to pull it out but there's at least 5 inches still inside. I think when the tube was welded by previous owner or some one it expanded the metal and the tube was not able to fully go in.. Or pull out.

So my question now is.. Is the only way to remove it from the bottom? Which requires a mega-ton of work...? I think I remember lifting the engine on my syclone ( with trans out) and than tearing the timing cover/oil pan gasket. Just when I thought things were going OK.. This turns in to a huge operation. I removed the starter and thought it would buyvme a little space to work.. Not enough to get a good bite on it. Anyone have this happen??:roll:

 

[pearl91chevy]

Re: dip stick tube

Last two times I've had a dipstick tube break off, I've threaded in a lag bolt and had good luck getting the broken portion out

 

[Slyclone]

Re: dip stick tube

Not a bad idea Jesse. Unfortunately I am past that as I ended up pinching tube trying to remove. There may be 3/8 of a inch sticking out. I thought it would be a easy thing to drop the pan. But forgot how much work that requires. I'm only mainly concerned about doing it with trans in.. And clearances.

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: dip stick tube

Not sure what a lag screw is but you should be able to pull that portion out. The block won't let it deform too much - that's how pipe benders allow you to form the metal when making lines etc.

Taking the pan off seems excessive.

I forgot to install my tube when I built my motor. The only way to correct it is by removing the manifold.

With the correct machine screw, you should be able to pull that remaining piece of tube out. How much of it sticks out of the block?

 

[Slyclone]

Re: dip stick tube

I remember being in there not too long ago in my syclone. Lucky me I some times take step by step photos to refer back to.

Thing is, I just dont recall messing around with the diff at all.

The trans was out in the syclone so it was a little more open.

Let the fun begin. :rotf:

 

[wildphil]

Re: dip stick tube

I pulled my pan just like Dave said.

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: dip stick tube

Probably a bit late now but did you consider a stud/bolt extractor for the piece of oil pipe sticking out? Either the Easy Out or the grip nut?

Lots of work there. Hope it goes ok.

 

[Slyclone]

Re: dip stick tube

Its so tight on that side. Even with the starter out. I could barely move my hand/wrench around in there let alone flip the tool to get a different bite.

I used a pair of channel lock type plier to grip the little nub and use leverage force against the block and lift on a angle out. Did not work.

Sad to say, the easiest way for me to get to it is from underneath. I visioned me just tapping the tube out.. the way it goes it. I really think the tube has expanded from the heat/weld and is why it wont come out. When I first observed the oil dipstick tube in engine bay it had no dipstick and was not in the bolt hole on the head it was about 1/2 inch higher.

I went to a local junky yard and was able to pull one right out from a similar truck, manifold still on. Took a little work, but nothing of the nature to have one snap.

 

[Slyclone]

Re: dip stick tube

I am going to finally go forward with this operation. I pulled a dipstick from a different generation blazer/jimmy and don't want to go through all the work and find out its not right. I just ordered one new from GM finally came in.


Hope it all goes well. You sure I have to remove all the front steering linkage? Went to go forward with this and noticed the engine does not have the lift hook points. Brackets are missing. Going to have to figure that out.

 

[Slyclone]

Re: dip stick tube

DaveP you werent kidding about getting creative with the 18mm hex jam hidden.

 

[Ty1642]

Re: dip stick tube

I remember one differential nut in the frame that was tough to get to. The trick to that one was that a box-end wrench just barely fit through a hole in the frame below the nut. The hole was too small for an open-end wrench to fit through. If that is the same one you're fighting with, it's pretty simple when you figure out the tool that's needed.

 

[Slyclone]

Re: dip stick tube

That's the one.

Anyone care to shed some light on this. First time removing front diff. It is the driver side hidden one.

I have a few offset wrenches, box end wrenches.. I cruised right through all this untill now.

No socket will make it up there. I'm stumped. I know there's a way.. I'll keep trying in the.mean time pans ready to come out as soon as I get that one last bolt undone!

 

[Slyclone]

Re: dip stick tube

Well I got it. That one little bolt. Such a bugger. Spent all day doing this "4hr" job and its folding over in to another day.

Was pretty hard to get the pan off. Almost thought it was not possible. It came off I struggled. Was not easy.

The thing that I'm even more irritated about is the dipstick on the inside is mangled as well. Its going to take a lot of work to get it out. Being that the tube has pinched both sides it wobt pass through the block hole. I thought this was going to be pretty easy.

Also I got the pan off and the gasket is tucked inside the timing cover. Now that I'm re thinking about this job... Do I also need to remove the front timing cover? I don't have the instructions or book so I'm kind of left in the dark. Last time I did this type of work shown in the pic ( syclone) I put up i did replace the timing cover. I just can't recall if I have to take more apart. The reason I'm asking is because that section of gasket stayed behind and is still up there. And I just have a feeling I am going to have to undo a megaton more things things

 

[Slyclone]

Re: dip stick tube

Here it all is. I named the job the "ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ" Makes sence? It just reminds me of a funny story someone told me when I was younger ( how they got locked up and "escaped" using a hippys guitar string to cut through the prison bars all night..) probably wasnt true but is wishful thinking. While I was under there I thought how I was Clint Eastwood escaping from Alcatraz.

This job SUCKED. By far all the tight spaces I been This SUCKED.











Hell Yeah, Excecuted

 

[Z SKI]

Re: dip stick tube

Aftermarket rods in there too, main studs... More parts of the puzzle.. I wonder what pistons it has??

 

[Slyclone]

Re: dip stick tube

Oh yea I know right. I noticed it has Eagle H beams. And a forged piston. I got the number in my head. 12442? One of them. It is also stamped 5.7 on piston. I am not sure if they speed pro but I can tell they are a forged alloy by the looks.

Billy the kid ( kid I bought truck from) told me it was rebuilt. I am still waiting on him to relay me the cam card but it will never happen . not too concerned anyway. Truck runs great after this episode. It seemed like a DOG before... Now when i depress the gas rpm are smoother and shoot right up. Before it had seemed a little hesitant, and it def. Bogged from a start/take off.Nothing like loosing oil pressure. It sure was a long haul. Under truck all day. I didn't have any help nor anyone close by. I did end up loosing 3 of the scatter shield fasteners. Only have 1. Swear some one kicked the cover and they are gone. Also , I lost the jam nut to the diff upper mount.. In the frame. Can any one tell me what the trick is?

I also bought a brand new dipstick from GM and ruined it right away trying to seat it with the wrong tools. I ended up using the one I didn't want to even use in the first place which was from a 1995 or 1996 style GMC jimmy/blazer