What a dipstick!

[jcode68]

I got this dipstick from Summit for my 347 and am having some trouble putting it in. The old style timing cover is brand new. I used some penetrating oil on the end and attempted to "persuade" it into the hole carefully with a rubber mallet, also tried a steel hammer with a block of wood. I get it in maybe 1/4 inch. Seems like it is too tight of a fit, so I used some sand paper to remove the chrome finish at the base and retried to no avail. I don't want to damage the cover or the dipstick, so I thought I would seek advice from the experts here before I have regrets. How did you guys do it? Thought about using heat, but didn't want to burn up the fresh paint etc. Thanks in advance for the replies.

 

[zookeeper]

They can be a bear to get in undamaged, but here's what I do: you need to make a tool to drive the base of the dipstick into the cover. Use a small piece of tubing with an inside diameter a bit larger than the dipstick tube, but small enough to catch the lip on the tube. Then cut away one side of the tube so you it can sort of "wrap around" the tube just above the lip. You should now have a tube that contacts three sides of the tube at once, leave it long enough to give you a chance to tap, not beat, the tube into place. It is a tight fit, but the thin tube will drive into place with a little patience and a few firm whacks with the hammer. Good luck.

 

[brianj5600]

Freeze it! And heat up the cover.

 

[jcode68]

Thanks for the replies. I thought about the fire and ice method, maybe I will try that first. If not, I will look for some tubing the make the tool suggested. Anyone else have a suggestion? Anyone else running the same dipstick?

 

[jcode68]

Dipstick Drama

Well, I decided to install that dipstick this weekend that I have been putting off so long before dropping the engine back into the car. I purchased this dipstick from Summit (the one I got has a bend in the tube) and despite best efforts couldn't drive it in without bending the tube. So I decided to take the tube off the old motor, clean, prep and paint it up real nice and put it in. This to me looked like a better plan since it lined up better and had the bracket/standoff in perfect position (new one had alignment issues) but it wasn't meant to be. I tried heating the timing cover and lightly tapping the tube in, but it would only go in 1/4 inch and stopped. In the process of removing it, the metal had weakend and snapped off, so I am back at sqaure 1 amnit: Since the original tube has a better alignment for the mounting bracket, I think I want to get an original replacement for this project. I checked some catalogs last night, but couldn't find one listed. Any ideas where I can locate one? If anyone has used the one I got from Summit, how did you mount the bracket? On the plus side, my new 347 looks right at home in the fresh engine bay just beggin to be finished and go for a rip.

 

[Pakrat]

Since the problem with both old and new seems that it only goes in 1/4" have you considered that maybe it's the timing cover that is not machined properly?









Have you tried the ENOS brand dipstick yet, kew kew kew.

 

[jcode68]

Since the problem with both old and new seems that it only goes in 1/4" have you considered that maybe it's the timing cover that is not machined properly?
Have you tried the ENOS brand dipstick yet, kew kew kew.

Yes, I did consider this, but since the dipstick does in to a point, I figure it's just a tight fit. I mean it's only a hole, right? What could be wrong with it? I really hope it's not the cover since it's installed and I would really, really not want to have to remove and replace at this stage of the game. I also thought I would give my local engine machine shop a call to see what they suggest since they must install these things all the time and might have a tool they could lend me.

 

[66HertzClone]

I used a flared nut wrench and a mallet in addition to the fire and ice method. I was able to get mine fully seated.

 

[jcode68]

I used a flared nut wrench and a mallet in addition to the fire and ice method. I was able to get mine fully seated.

Hmm, flare nut wrench, I didn't think of that. I could see that potentially working. Has anyone installed the same dipstick I got from Summit and if so, how did the mount attach to the head? I can't see how it ligns up with anything?

 

[66HertzClone]

Your Summit link shows every dipstick available for your combination, not just one.

 

[jcode68]

Your Summit link shows every dipstick available for your combination, not just one.

Strange, the link brings me to the specific dipstick. Plug in this part number to the search box: FMS-M-6750-B302

 

[66HertzClone]

Got it now, I think that is supposed to line up with the large threaded hole on the right cylinder head. I have a different stick and tube than you do, but mine is connected there. It is also the pivot bolt for the alternator.

 

[jcode68]

That is what I would have thought also, but it's not even close. It's suppose to be for 289/302 motors, but I can't see it working without doing some sever bends in the tube. I'm looking for an alternative tube. I like the look of the dipstick and plan to resue it with a different tube. It's the little things that slow a project down

 

[66HertzClone]

Mine required some manipulation in order to line up. A real PIA but I did manage to do it without kinking the tube. The stick does not slide easily into the tube, but since I'm the only one who will be doing it.