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Dip-Stick Tube Oops

Cool Zr2

By Cool Zr2
in Ask A GM Technician

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Cool Zr2 Enthusiast

Cool Zr2

Posted
Posted

I removed my headers off my truck today to do some work to them and I ended up snapping the tube off at the block, well, about 1/8th inch in.

 

Now, what would be a good solution to getting out the rest of the tubing in the block? Can I take a drill bit that is the same size as the hole and drill out the remainder of the tubing untill the tail (in the pan) falls out? Then use a pen magnet to get the tail out of the pan and flush the hell out of the motor with a case of oil to get the shavings out? I'm thinking of a soft bit that can cut the tin fine but won't harm the block. I have my old 305 here so I can determine the proper size to use, that dipstick tube comes out without a problem.

 

Its a real pain in the butt to drop the pan cuz the whole front diff has to come with it. So anything that will save me time will be awesome.

GM-Tech Senior Enthusiast

GM-Tech

Posted
Posted

If you can, I think it'd be better to just drive the whole piece in and let it drop into the oil pan. A piece of tube laying in the bottom of the pan isn't going to hurt anything.

 

It's been a very long time since I removed one of those tubes. I'm thinking there's an inside section that goes in from the inside of the pan. But it's been years since I really paid any attention to that and could be wrong.

Cool Zr2 Enthusiast

Cool Zr2

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Its a one piece tube, slides in from the out side and there is a "stopper" in the pipe, so I'm guessing pushing it into the pan would be my option, my pen magnent should get it out of the pan.

 

Thanks!

GM-Tech Senior Enthusiast

GM-Tech

Posted
Posted
Its a one piece tube, slides in from the out side and there is a "stopper" in the pipe

 

Oh yeah, I remember those. Used to use a crows foot to install them as I recall.

71GMC_3/4T Enthusiast

71GMC_3/4T

Posted
Posted

I broke a dipstick tube off in an old 350. Headers...

 

I thought I could pull the pan and drive the tube up from the bottom. I found that the hole was smaller at the bottom end, stepped near the middle of it's length. I ended up drilling it out with the oil pan off, but it was a pain to keep the drill bit straight.

 

I would suggest starting with a drill bit smaller than the OD of the tube and working your way up. Maybe pump some thick grease down the hole and try to blow it back out with the shavings when you're done?

 

I guess if the tube extends down into the pan, you might be able to pull it on down through if you get creative with vise grips, baling wire, and a pry bar. Good luck to ya!

snoman Senior Enthusiast

snoman

Posted
Posted
I broke a dipstick tube off in an old 350.  Headers...

 

I thought I could pull the pan and drive the tube up from the bottom.  I found that the hole was smaller at the bottom end, stepped near the middle of it's length.  I ended up drilling it out with the oil pan off, but it was a pain to keep the drill bit straight. 

 

I would suggest starting with a drill bit smaller than the OD of the tube and working your way up.  Maybe pump some thick grease down the hole and try to blow it back out with the shavings when you're done? 

 

I guess if the tube extends down into the pan, you might be able to pull it on down through if you get creative with vise grips, baling wire, and a pry bar.  Good luck to ya!

 

 

 

 

 

Try a tap the will start to cut into the pipe some from inside end but it not too large and when you get a good bite (but before you thread it in too far and possibly swell the pipe) grab the tap with a pair of vise grips and try to pull nipple out. Be carefull not to bend tap because they are a bit brittle.

Cool Zr2 Enthusiast

Cool Zr2

Posted
  • Author
Posted

OK, the tube is broke off about 1/8th of an inch into the block, now, I would rather loose a finger than to take the oil pan off of my truck.

 

If I determine the correct size of the hole from my 305 on my stand, and get a wood bit, it should scheer out the tin and not harm the iorn right? being that it is a soft bit? and then flush out the shavings and fish out the rest of the tube from the oil pan via the plug hole with a pen magnent?

snoman Senior Enthusiast

snoman

Posted
Posted
OK, the tube is broke off about 1/8th of an inch into the block, now, I would rather loose a finger than to take the oil pan off of my truck.

 

If I determine the correct size of the hole from my 305 on my stand, and get a wood bit, it should scheer out the tin and not harm the iorn right? being that it is a soft bit? and then flush out the shavings and fish out the rest of the tube from the oil pan via the plug hole with a pen magnent?

 

 

 

 

 

I would not do that. I would try a tap and pull or drop pan and tap it out because if you bore it out you could damage hole, break bit and get it stuck in there and if you are sucessfull you will get a lot of scrap in pan that you will never flush properly without dropping it. A tap and pull will yeild the least amout of scrap in pan.

Cool Zr2 Enthusiast

Cool Zr2

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I'll see, but its seized in there pretty bad.

 

also, I don't see how drilling this out would be any different than installing a plug for the oil line on a S/C.??????

 

If I can't flush the shavings out, than the filter will get them right?

snoman Senior Enthusiast

snoman

Posted
Posted
I'll see, but its seized in there pretty bad.

 

also, I don't see how drilling this out would be any different than installing a plug for the oil line on a S/C.??????

 

If I can't flush the shavings out, than the filter will get them right?

 

 

 

 

 

They have to go thru the pump to get to the filter and risk gauling the pump and filter can bypass when full or oil is cold and thick. If you cannot pull it from above, you really need to drop pan and do it from below.

Cool Zr2 Enthusiast

Cool Zr2

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Well, this is what I did.

 

Tried to use a coat hanger and bent a sharp 180 in the end to try and pull it out from the inside, and used a slide hammer, it didn't budge, the tube is seized in there pretty bad.

 

So, i took the top 5 inches of the tube and cut it off the main part, and slit the bottom 2 inches of this peice so I could give it a taper. I put a tiny bit of black rtv on it for good luck and taped it in.... well, pounded it in and its in there just as good/bad as the other tubing. So the tube is inside of the first tube...get it? Its sealed up tight and serves the same function as it did 4 days ago but shorter and betweem my #6 and #8 pipes.

 

Then I took the dip stick and cut it to length and put the top/stopper back on and its good to go. I just have to keep out of the deep water untill I put my lift on and replace the goobered up mess I got my self into.

 

I'd host a pic of it but I don't have frontpage on my new pc yet, the custom fabbing looks really good and even though its just a dip stick, it makes the engine bay less crammed than it already is.

snoman Senior Enthusiast

snoman

Posted
Posted
Well, this is what I did.

 

Tried to use a coat hanger and bent a sharp 180 in the end to try and pull it out from the inside, and used a slide hammer, it didn't budge, the tube is seized in there pretty bad.

 

So, i took the top 5 inches of the tube and cut it off the main part, and slit the bottom 2 inches of this peice so I could give it a taper. I put a tiny bit of black rtv on it for good luck and taped it in.... well, pounded it in and its in there just as good/bad as the other tubing. So the tube is inside of the first tube...get it? Its sealed up tight and serves the same function as it did 4 days ago but shorter and betweem my #6 and #8 pipes.

 

Then I took the dip stick and cut it to length and put the top/stopper back on and its good to go. I just have to keep out of the deep water untill I put my lift on and replace the goobered up mess I got my self into.

 

I'd host a pic of it but I don't have frontpage on my new pc yet, the custom fabbing looks really good and even though its just a dip stick, it makes the engine bay less crammed than it already is.

 

 

 

 

 

An interesting fix that shows some well thought out ingenuity too! :thumbs:

Cool Zr2 Enthusiast

Cool Zr2

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Here is a couple pics.

 

And no my valve cover gaskest arn't bad, I spilled 1/2 a quart of mobil one when I changed the oil..... :thumbs:

 

And I also noticed that my motor mount adapter plate seems to have a bit of sag to it, my drivers side dosen't do it...... must be the weight when it torques.... Gotta get a new one i guess.

 

5225677f.jpg

 

8c1ab8fd.jpg

 

039e9d53.jpg

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