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Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! #2714070
11/08/19 08:06 PM
11/08/19 08:06 PM
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West Plains, MO
DrCharles Offline OP
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Today I put the stud girdle and windage tray back on my 451 (K-frame and pan are still off). So far so good.

So I thought, "While I'm under there, let me line up the dipstick bracket with the unused engine mount ear, and put the bolt in." It's an aftermarket chrome one (I know, I know) which never did fit quite right. down

The 13-year-old Permatex #1 or #2 I sealed it with is now hard as concrete, and while trying to tap the bottom of the tube in (small wrench around the base, tap with hammer) I managed to crack the tube. OK, I'll drive it back out. WRONG! Tore it right off at the base with about 1/8" stump sticking up. mad

Fortunately the access to the area is good - but I can't get that #$%^ stump out of there! I can push a screwdriver or a punch right through it from below, but can't catch the edge.
Not enough on top to grab with a vise-grip. I tried to tap it and thread a bolt in but 1/4-20 is just a bit too small and it pulled out. May be able to use M8 or 5/16.

I may borrow or buy a right-angle drill and try enlarging it a little at a time. It's pretty soft steel, probably left-over coat hangers.
Or perhaps weld something to it and drive it out, or maybe use a slide hammer if I can get around the header tube.

Any other tricks? I'm nervous about heating it (might crack the block there)...
bawling

Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: DrCharles] #2714082
11/08/19 09:02 PM
11/08/19 09:02 PM
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Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
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If there is still a lip above the block, I think I'd try collapsing the sidewall by using a screw driver or a dull punch and tap the edge towards the center. If you can get the lip to begin to fold in, you can work your way down into the hole. If you get the tube sidewall to collapse towards the center on the full length of the broken tube, you can probably pull the tube out with a needle nose pliers. Worth a try before you bring out the drill. Gene

Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: poorboy] #2714092
11/08/19 09:51 PM
11/08/19 09:51 PM
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Maryland
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MoparMike1974 Offline
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Stick an EZ-out in there and turn while pulling out. I have removed several like this. Usually once you spin it a little it will pull out easy.

Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: MoparMike1974] #2714107
11/08/19 10:57 PM
11/08/19 10:57 PM
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Michigan
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A727Tflite Offline
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I used to plug that hole with a B engine header bolt. Try one of those ground perfectly flat at the tip. Should knock it right out.
Good luck and hope it’s works for you.

Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: DrCharles] #2714119
11/08/19 11:58 PM
11/08/19 11:58 PM
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Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Offline
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I use a stock SB 318,340 pushrod to drive them out from the oil pan side of the block with a hammer on the end of the push rod with the other end against the broken off piece of the tube scope hammer up


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: DrCharles] #2714125
11/09/19 12:40 AM
11/09/19 12:40 AM
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s. e. pa.
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calrobb2000 Offline
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5/16 or 3/8 all thread drive it out from bottom !

Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: calrobb2000] #2714126
11/09/19 12:43 AM
11/09/19 12:43 AM
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West Plains, MO
DrCharles Offline OP
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I plan to try that, if the hole in the stud girdle is big enough to pass the rod... I'm NOT going to take the windage tray and the girdle with shims all off again! wrench

Cab, I don't have any small block parts. Back in the mid-80's I bought a 318 Valiant, pulled and sold the 318/A904 and stuffed a 383/4-speed into it laugh

Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: DrCharles] #2714401
11/10/19 12:06 AM
11/10/19 12:06 AM
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Alberta
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4mulaS Offline
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I’ve used a small socket to tap it out from the bottom


66Scar
Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: 4mulaS] #2714482
11/10/19 11:34 AM
11/10/19 11:34 AM
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Nebraska
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4406bbl Offline
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Weld a proper size tap to a big nut, attach a slide hammer, comes right out. If you cant get to the bottom.

Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: 4406bbl] #2714497
11/10/19 12:20 PM
11/10/19 12:20 PM
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West Plains, MO
DrCharles Offline OP
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Thanks, but I already broke a tap that way (threaded it in, vise-grips firmly clamped to the square end, tap vise-grips with hammer). Nose of the tap snapped right off in the hole.
(Fortunately I was able to drive that fragment back out from the bottom).
Taps and easy-outs are so hard that they are brittle and don't take well to impacts.

Today I will try collapsing the tube into the hole with a small punch. It's going to hit 70 today so a good day to lie on the concrete. Tomorrow night - 16. Don't like the weather in MO... wait five minutes!

Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: DrCharles] #2714546
11/10/19 02:40 PM
11/10/19 02:40 PM
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West Plains, MO
DrCharles Offline OP
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Got it! up

First I tried punching around the top to try and collapse the tube. No dice, chips just kept breaking off the top.

I took a long 1/4" drill bit. and a long extension, and had JUST enough of a straight shot past #1 tube to drill the center of the tube.
Then I tapped it for 5/16 coarse thread as far as the tap would go. (Supposed to use a 17/64" bit, just a hair bigger, but I didn't have that handy, and wanted deep threads anyway).

Next step was to use a Grade 8 bolt in the new threads. Tried using a small socket with a couple washers on top, and turning the bolt as a puller. Naturally, that didn't go deep enough so it stripped the top few threads frown

So I put the washers under the bolt and screwed it all the way in until it bottomed.
Tried a slide hammer, but couldn't get a good purchase with the hook tip and didn't feel like making a bracket to adapt the larger threaded end of the slide hammer.

Finally, used a punch to poke the end of the bolt from below... and the bolt+tube slid right out with a couple of decent whacks. boogie

This would have been much harder with the steering box, K-frame, and oil pan in the way. Oh well, lesson learned... When I put in the replacement dipstick, I will make it a snug fit, not an interference fit, use a non-hardening sealer like Hylomar, and the mounting ear will keep it bottomed. No more "hammer it in" for me!

Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: DrCharles] #2714609
11/10/19 07:19 PM
11/10/19 07:19 PM
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Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Offline
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Most of the new tubes I buy and use need to be ground down some on the oil pan tip end to get them to start, most but not all need this. If it will start a tiny bit you can use a 1/4 inch bolt stuck into the top of the tube to drive it in all the way, you may need to straighten the top part of the tube so it will drive the tube straight in instead of bending first scope


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: Cab_Burge] #2714619
11/10/19 07:40 PM
11/10/19 07:40 PM
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Omaha Ne
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TJP Offline
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Originally Posted by Cab_Burge
Most of the new tubes I buy and use need to be ground down some on the oil pan tip end to get them to start, most but not all need this. If it will start a tiny bit you can use a 1/4 inch bolt stuck into the top of the tube to drive it in all the way, you may need to straighten the top part of the tube so it will drive the tube straight in instead of bending first scope

iagree
I always modify as needed for a "slip fit" and use a bit of RTV, knowing that someone, somewhere down the road will thank me . beer

Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: TJP] #2714623
11/10/19 07:46 PM
11/10/19 07:46 PM
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West Plains, MO
DrCharles Offline OP
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Oh boy, did I learn that lesson the hard way wink At least nobody was cussing me out, somewhere down the road whistling

Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: DrCharles] #2714726
11/11/19 09:59 AM
11/11/19 09:59 AM
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Holland MI Ottawa
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2boltmain Offline
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Learned this from Bobby Likis car Clinic. Find a small deepwell socket that fits tight in the remainder of the tube/block. Tap or push socket in. Grip the tube (now reinforced with the socket) with vise grips and work, pry- slide hammer out. This assumes some tube is available to grab.


Keep old mopars alive.
Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: TJP] #2716868
11/17/19 08:15 PM
11/17/19 08:15 PM
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West Plains, MO
DrCharles Offline OP
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Originally Posted by TJP
Originally Posted by Cab_Burge
Most of the new tubes I buy and use need to be ground down some on the oil pan tip end to get them to start, most but not all need this. If it will start a tiny bit you can use a 1/4 inch bolt stuck into the top of the tube to drive it in all the way, you may need to straighten the top part of the tube so it will drive the tube straight in instead of bending first scope

iagree
I always modify as needed for a "slip fit" and use a bit of RTV, knowing that someone, somewhere down the road will thank me . beer


Got my new dipstick in black (on ebay, $12.95 shipped) this weekend. About 0.374" at the business end, and it would not start by hand. I worked it with emery cloth and a file for a few minutes, and got it down to a nice round 0.369". A light push would get it halfway in. A thin coating of ultra RTV and a (small) plastic-faced hammer, and tapped it gently in. Bolt through the engine mount ear and hopefully THAT won't be a problem any more smile

As best as I can measure, the full mark on the stick lines up with the top of the sump baffle. Once the RTV cures overnight on the new Superformance pan gasket and I can torque the pan rail fasteners, I'll put 7 qts in and doublecheck where that ends up (Milodon says the 30930 is 7 qts).

Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: DrCharles] #2716888
11/17/19 08:51 PM
11/17/19 08:51 PM
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Bend,OR USA
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Glad you got in in there snugly, hopefully it won't leak now up


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: Cab_Burge] #2718515
11/23/19 12:16 AM
11/23/19 12:16 AM
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West Plains, MO
DrCharles Offline OP
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This week I finally got everything back together, including reseating the studs so they protruded the correct amount, and Loctiting them in place.
With Andy's reinforcing rails and the windage tray added, the six 3/4" bolts supplied with the girdle were too short so I replaced them with 1" (after carefully checking depth on the two holes in the rear main cap).

I just poured seven quarts of oil in (Milodon says it's a seven quart pan), and after waiting an hour, rechecked the dipstick. The level is about 1/3 of the distance above the ADD line to the FULL line... If I measured correctly, the FULL line should be just above the top of the sump baffle. Will run it with 7 qts initially. On the street I won't be launching hard enough to worry about the possible need for an extra quart. work

Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: DrCharles] #2718523
11/23/19 12:49 AM
11/23/19 12:49 AM
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Cab_Burge Offline
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It's not the launch that causes oil starvation in most BB Mopars, it is lack of oil returning to the oil pan fast enough to keep the pick up covered in oil work Which usually occurs in high gear above 5000 RPM or when you let off at the end of a 1/4 mile run shruggy
A good crankshaft scraper is your friend on this up scope

Last edited by Cab_Burge; 11/23/19 12:52 AM.

Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Broke off dipstick tube... Need help! [Re: Cab_Burge] #2718525
11/23/19 01:04 AM
11/23/19 01:04 AM
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West Plains, MO
DrCharles Offline OP
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Hmm... My first 383 A-body with a full stock pan would lose oil pressure on takeoff even with 3.23 rear gears and a shift well below 5000 rpm work
Went to a deeper pan and never had the problem again. But I didn't have too many opportunities to keep my foot in it through all four gears (3-4 shift was about 110 mph) tsk
Anyway I'll definitely keep a close eye on it. I suppose an extra quart of oil shouldn't be a problem...

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