&*#$F%% dipstick - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

buckola · 06-09-2004, 07:09 PM

I'm 3-5 hours away from completing my vortec upgrade when the dipstick shaft breaks of in the block

. I've tried everything to remove it. heat, pry bar, pliers vice grips...even tried holding a piece of cheese in front of it. Looks like I'll have to pull the engine like I should have in the first place. Up side is I can replace pan gasket and seals

ChrisK10 · 06-09-2004, 07:43 PM

Tough break man! It's always the little things isn't it..

**68 Stepside** · 06-09-2004, 07:47 PM

I was able to stick a large straight blade screwdriver in mine, and twist it a little to break it loose. It came right out. But the odds of that happening for you are probably between slim and none. I just got lucky.

68C15 · 06-09-2004, 07:55 PM

try this. takes 2 guys.
thread a 5/16 tap into tube, clamp vise grip on top of tap, have buddy hold vise grip straight out while you go underneath with a straight prybar & small hammer. hold prybar against visegrip & tap on end of bar. works about 50% of the time but worth a try.
just did the same thing on a olds powered front wheel drive motorhome today.

FRENCHBLUE72 · 06-09-2004, 07:56 PM

I used a little flat blade screw driver to push the tude together just enough so that I could use a pair of needle nose plier's to pull it out..

*1972C10* · 06-09-2004, 08:14 PM

I have used Lag Bolts Like for wood and screwed them in a ways and pryed them out.

BtnkBndt · 06-09-2004, 10:43 PM

A slide hammer (dent puller) will do the job too.

chevymad · 06-10-2004, 12:18 AM

I've screwed some allthread into it, then dropped on a spacer and nut. Tightened the nut and pulled it right out.

bobs409 · 06-10-2004, 10:13 AM

I put up with a broken dipstick tube on mine for years! Then one day, I decided to remove that broken piece for once and for all so I used a large EZout extractor. Worked like a charm!

Life's never been sweater since.

buckola · 06-10-2004, 11:01 AM

Gee.. I thot I was the only pathetic loser to have that happen to them

I wasn't expecting all these tips and suggestions ! You have inspired me to continue the good fight

thanks heaps guys

steve

jimfulco · 06-10-2004, 11:20 AM

Did you lose the stick or did the tube break off? If it's just the tube, thread a bolt into it & use a small open end wrench & a hammer to tap upward on the bolt. If it's the stick, I'm of no help whatsoever.

buckola · 06-10-2004, 12:06 PM

The tube broke off at the block...the stick is safe and sound. I'll have to use a tapered punch and try to open up the tube end cuz i mangled it pretty bad using vise grips, chisels etc. Once I get the tube "some what" round all attempt all the suggestions.

thanks

buckola · 06-10-2004, 08:02 PM

Well...I tried most of the suggstions but to no avail. i'll swipe the easy outs from work tomorrow and give that a try. If this fails, what do you think the chances are of dropping the pan or at least moving it out of the way enuff to drive out the tube from the bottom with a brass drift. Does it sound crazy enuff that it might work?

BobbyK · 06-11-2004, 04:50 AM

I'll bet you could just dive it into the pan.Then lower the pan enough to fish it out with your fingers.
Just a suggestion.

buckola · 06-11-2004, 12:15 PM

If the easy outs don't work,

thats the next plan Bobby

06-09-2004, 07:09 PM	#1
buckola 1 Wrench / 10 Knuckles Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Burlington Ontario Posts: 179	*&#$F%% dipstick** I'm 3-5 hours away from completing my vortec upgrade when the dipstick shaft breaks of in the block . I've tried everything to remove it. heat, pry bar, pliers vice grips...even tried holding a piece of cheese in front of it. Looks like I'll have to pull the engine like I should have in the first place. Up side is I can replace pan gasket and seals __________________ 1970 GMC Custom Vortec Heads, Edelbrock Performer Intake, Crane 272 Energizer, Hedman Full Length HTC Headers 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8. 1/4 mile 13.3 1973 Z1 900 Kawasaki ( all original)

06-09-2004, 07:43 PM	#2
ChrisK10 1971 C20 Custom Camper Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ames/Shenandoah, IA Posts: 1,435	Tough break man! It's always the little things isn't it.. __________________ '71 Chevy C20 Custom Camper, 454, TH400 '97 GMC K1500 5.7L

06-09-2004, 07:47 PM	#3
68 Stepside huh? Join Date: May 2000 Location: Washington, Illinois Posts: 5,690	I was able to stick a large straight blade screwdriver in mine, and twist it a little to break it loose. It came right out. But the odds of that happening for you are probably between slim and none. I just got lucky. __________________ Someday when I'm lonely, Wishing you weren't so far away, Then I will remember Things we said today. RIP El Jay

06-09-2004, 07:55 PM	#4
68C15 blood type; Retumbo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: next to my reloading bench Posts: 10,269	try this. takes 2 guys. thread a 5/16 tap into tube, clamp vise grip on top of tap, have buddy hold vise grip straight out while you go underneath with a straight prybar & small hammer. hold prybar against visegrip & tap on end of bar. works about 50% of the time but worth a try. just did the same thing on a olds powered front wheel drive motorhome today. __________________ Man rule #77...if you own a 67 stepside with a caddy 472 you will never be in danger of loosing you man card

06-09-2004, 10:43 PM	#7
BtnkBndt Pennyless Fool Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Forney,Tx Posts: 439	A slide hammer (dent puller) will do the job too. __________________ "Who owns this car with the peace sign, the mag wheels, and four on the floor?" 67 Short Step 283/TH400/4.11

06-09-2004, 07:56 PM	#5
FRENCHBLUE72 PROJECT 7DEUCE Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: GRANTS PASS OR Posts: 21,606	I used a little flat blade screw driver to push the tude together just enough so that I could use a pair of needle nose plier's to pull it out..

06-09-2004, 08:14 PM	#6
1972C10 Account Suspended Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 2,686	I have used Lag Bolts Like for wood and screwed them in a ways and pryed them out.

06-10-2004, 12:18 AM	#8
chevymad Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: skamokawa, WA, USA Posts: 527	I've screwed some allthread into it, then dropped on a spacer and nut. Tightened the nut and pulled it right out.

06-10-2004, 10:13 AM	#9
bobs409 1969 Custom 30 wrecker Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Pottsville, Pa Posts: 2,611	I put up with a broken dipstick tube on mine for years! Then one day, I decided to remove that broken piece for once and for all so I used a large EZout extractor. Worked like a charm! Life's never been sweater since. __________________ Bob 63 Impala 283/PG/3.36 (under restoration) 66 Impala 327/PG/3.36 66 Chevelle SS 409/M22/3.55 69 Chevelle 307/PG/3.08 (future restoration) 69 C10 short stepside 454/TH350/3.73 69 Custom 30 tow truck 350/4 spd/4.10 (resto done, CRUISIN TIME!) 71 Cheyenne 20 fleetside 350/4 spd/4.10 71 Chevelle 6/PG/3.08 72 Chevelle 454/M21/4.10

06-10-2004, 11:01 AM	#10
buckola 1 Wrench / 10 Knuckles Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Burlington Ontario Posts: 179	Gee.. I thot I was the only pathetic loser to have that happen to them I wasn't expecting all these tips and suggestions ! You have inspired me to continue the good fight thanks heaps guys steve __________________ 1970 GMC Custom Vortec Heads, Edelbrock Performer Intake, Crane 272 Energizer, Hedman Full Length HTC Headers 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8. 1/4 mile 13.3 1973 Z1 900 Kawasaki ( all original)

06-10-2004, 11:20 AM	#11
jimfulco Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Shreveport LA Posts: 3,170	Did you lose the stick or did the tube break off? If it's just the tube, thread a bolt into it & use a small open end wrench & a hammer to tap upward on the bolt. If it's the stick, I'm of no help whatsoever.

06-10-2004, 12:06 PM	#12
buckola 1 Wrench / 10 Knuckles Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Burlington Ontario Posts: 179	The tube broke off at the block...the stick is safe and sound. I'll have to use a tapered punch and try to open up the tube end cuz i mangled it pretty bad using vise grips, chisels etc. Once I get the tube "some what" round all attempt all the suggestions. thanks __________________ 1970 GMC Custom Vortec Heads, Edelbrock Performer Intake, Crane 272 Energizer, Hedman Full Length HTC Headers 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8. 1/4 mile 13.3 1973 Z1 900 Kawasaki ( all original)

06-10-2004, 08:02 PM	#13
buckola 1 Wrench / 10 Knuckles Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Burlington Ontario Posts: 179	Well...I tried most of the suggstions but to no avail. i'll swipe the easy outs from work tomorrow and give that a try. If this fails, what do you think the chances are of dropping the pan or at least moving it out of the way enuff to drive out the tube from the bottom with a brass drift. Does it sound crazy enuff that it might work? __________________ 1970 GMC Custom Vortec Heads, Edelbrock Performer Intake, Crane 272 Energizer, Hedman Full Length HTC Headers 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8. 1/4 mile 13.3 1973 Z1 900 Kawasaki ( all original)

06-11-2004, 04:50 AM	#14
BobbyK Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,Mi. Posts: 1,772	I'll bet you could just dive it into the pan.Then lower the pan enough to fish it out with your fingers. Just a suggestion. __________________ 71 blazer,350SBC,approx.375HP,700R4,factory GM TPI.Dual electric fans,33x12.5x15 ATR on stock suspension. Petrolia,Ontario,Canada but working in Port Huron,MI. See ALL my Blazer pic's HERE

06-11-2004, 12:15 PM	#15
buckola 1 Wrench / 10 Knuckles Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Burlington Ontario Posts: 179	If the easy outs don't work, thats the next plan Bobby __________________ 1970 GMC Custom Vortec Heads, Edelbrock Performer Intake, Crane 272 Energizer, Hedman Full Length HTC Headers 2006 Dodge Charger SRT8. 1/4 mile 13.3 1973 Z1 900 Kawasaki ( all original)



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.