I'm building a 39 Dodge pickup on a 91 Dakota Chassis. I'm using a 5.9 out of a 97 Dodge truck.
I'm having an issue with the dipstick, it fits tight in the tube, and stops all together when it gets to the first curve on the rear sump pan. I've had the pan off and on 3 times now. First I tried to remove the dipstick tube, but it won't come out. I've tried to insert a 5/16" rod from the bottom and tried to drive it out, no go. Then I pounded a 1/4" round rod all the way through the tube (from the bottom first, then from the top). Even after the 1/4" round rod has passed through the tube, it feels like the dipstick is turning just before it enters the block, and when it gets to the curve in the pan, its facing the wrong way and can't follow the curve in the pan. With the pan off, the dipstick will go through the tube in the pan just great, and I know the tube in the pan is lined up with the dipstick tube because that 1/4" rod will pound through the dipstick tube from the top until it hits the curve in the pan. I can't understand why the 1/4" round rod goes through everything up to the curve in the pan, but the dipstick tube wants to turn as it enters the pan in such a way it won't go through the curved in the pan. The worst part was this combo of motor and pan were together in the last vehicle they were in. I believe the dipstick tube may have gotten bent in transit.

After fighting with it all day, I've cut the tube off about 2" from the block, if I can lay the stick horizontally flat, and go straight at the remaining dipstick tube, I can force the tube through the pan, but it has to be a straight shot, something that will never happen when the belts & radiator are in place.

Is there a kit I can add the dipstick to the side of the oil pan and plug off the original dipstick tube hole? Gene