Putting in a new dipstick tube?

[olin18]

My 360 in my GW does not have a dipstick. The tube is broken off due to rust about 2 inches is sticking out of the block. And that means that I can't check the oil lev, and that drives me nuts. I know that it leaks like coffee filter, and so I just have to guess when to put oil in it. And it ticks anyway, so a tick does not tip me off. So I have been tracking down a new dipstick tube for a while. I had one in my name and on the way but it turned out to be the wrong part. But now I have the tube.
Has anyone that has done this before give me some pointers on how to go about doing it. My GW is a 1988, is there a way to pull the oil pan without removing half of the engine. I am hopping that I can pull the old dipstick tube out in one piece, is that possible? Can someone recomend a good RTV to use on the 360.
If I can pull the oil pan without too much trouble I would like to, so that I can fix the leaking. Any insight would be great.

[GT71Wagoneer]

Try doing a search on "dipstick" there have been plenty of topics on this.

The site a has a great archive for tech stuff, use it and you will find.

Go here for a start http://www.ifsja.org/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi

Cheers GT

[olin18]

Thanks for the suggestion of using the search. I found a lot of good information and ideas for getting the old piece of dipstick tube out of the block. But one thing I didn't really find much info on was pulling the oil pan. what kind of a job is this? Is it as easy as takeing out the bolts, cleaning the seal off, and putting a new one on there, or are there a bunch of other things that need to come off to get the pan off. Is this an all day project, if it is not too bad of a deal I would like to replace the seal, but if it is a real PITA I may just hold off on it.

[JAllenWAG]

I had to replace my dipstick tube too. The hardest part was getting the new one in. The oil pan isn't too hard to get on and off. You just have to maneuver it around the front differential without the gasket coming out of place. I had to take mine off and hammer the old broken piece of tubing out from under the block. To get the new tube in I had to file down the rounded part that goes into the block to hold it in place because it wouldn't fit otherwise. Hope that helps some.

[Millerluck]

Have you tried getting the old one out without removing the oil pan first?

I was able to get a screwdriver under the lip that it stops at the block on and tap it up and out. It goes down into the block about 3 inchs and has a curv to it. But only 1/2 inch is a tight fit. How abought clamping vise grips to it and tapping on the vise grips? Nice gentel sharp taps work the best.

As for putting in a new one. I made a tool to tap it in from way up by the hood hinge and brake booster. Its a long steel bar with a spoon cut in the end. So you can reach way down to the lip in the tube and tap it in at the block.

I can mail it to you for free if you want it. Just send it to the next guy that needs it.

Let me know.

Later

Larry Miller

[ November 13, 2002, 03:32 PM: Message edited by: Millerluck ]

[Monkeyboy]

My dipstick tube is way loose anyway I can keep it in place without pulling the pan back off?

[bvibert]

Can you get the dipstick in without taking the manifold off? When I was assembling my engine I forgot to put the dipstick in. I had to pull the manifold off in order to get it in... Did I miss something?

[bvibert]

Originally posted by Monkeyboy:
My dipstick tube is way loose anyway I can keep it in place without pulling the pan back off?Do you have the bracket that attaches to the valve cover?

[Monkeyboy]

Originally posted by bvibert:
Do you have the bracket that attaches to the valve cover?[/QB]Nope!

I'm guessing I'm supposed to have one.

Whats it look like?

[bvibert]

Its a flat piece of metal that is kinda D shaped. It has two holes, one that slips over the dipstick, and the other that one of bolts for the valve cover goes through.

[Monkeyboy]

HAHAHA I think I have that piece is sitting in the back of my waggy.

I was wondering where that greasy little piece of metal was supposed to go :D

Thanks

[ November 13, 2002, 05:11 PM: Message edited by: Monkeyboy ]

[bvibert]

Always nice to figure out where those spare pieces the PO left off go :D I happy my description was adequate smile.gif

[Monkeyboy]

I actually left this part off by accident.

I had pulled the whole front of the motor apart and I took the valve covers off while getting the thing running.

I had a few parts left over :D

[olin18]

Thanks everyone for the advise. I am going to try and pull the old tube tomorrow after work and put the new one in. I think that I should be able to get the old one out without pulling the pan. But if trouble does bear its head, at least I know that pulling the pan isn't too big of a deal. Thanks again for all the advise, I will try to post an update in a few days when I get the project finished.