Bent Dipstick
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From: Warfordsburg, PA
Bent Dipstick Well i had to take out the dipstick to get my headers in. So i took it out bolted up the header. tried to put the dipstick back in and...it goes in about 2-3 inches and starts to rub. i think i bent it. i thought about trying to bend it back so it would fit. but a friend told me that he once did that and the vibration caused it to break off inside the oil pan and he had to take all of the that crap off to get the end out. Im thinking about just buying another used or new. What should i do. should i just buy a new one? just in case, because the used one could be bent also.
I just rebent mine with a tubing bender to make it fit perfect again, i know a few people that just left their hedder loose after the header was up in on that side, then they put it back in with a dab of RTV, then bolted up there header.
Ive never heard of anyone having that bad of luck, but i guess it could happen if you were really agressive with it
Ive never heard of anyone having that bad of luck, but i guess it could happen if you were really agressive with it
if you can get it out again, take some 1000 grit sandpaper and sand the end of it down a little. just enough to take off the paint. it should slide down. or put it in the freezer for a little while
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i just decided to order a new one. because if you hold this one up you can def tell there is a lil bend in it. which sucks because i just spent $27 for something i already have. hopefully i dont bend this one!
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From: Cypress, TX
Well i had to take out the dipstick to get my headers in. So i took it out bolted up the header. tried to put the dipstick back in and...it goes in about 2-3 inches and starts to rub. i think i bent it. i thought about trying to bend it back so it would fit. but a friend told me that he once did that and the vibration caused it to break off inside the oil pan and he had to take all of the that crap off to get the end out. Im thinking about just buying another used or new. What should i do. should i just buy a new one? just in case, because the used one could be bent also.
that portion was bent about 1/2 way. I tried diligently to straighten it with
a tubing bender - it appeared to be absolutely straight, but when I would
insert it into the block, it always stopped at that same point.
I ended up buying a new one for $18 at the Chevy dealership and it slid
right in - well worth the $18 . . . not worth trying to "fix" the borked one.
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Same thing happened to me. The portion that fits down inside the block - well,
that portion was bent about 1/2 way. I tried diligently to straighten it with
a tubing bender - it appeared to be absolutely straight, but when I would
insert it into the block, it always stopped at that same point.
I ended up buying a new one for $18 at the Chevy dealership and it slid
right in - well worth the $18 . . . not worth trying to "fix" the borked one.
that portion was bent about 1/2 way. I tried diligently to straighten it with
a tubing bender - it appeared to be absolutely straight, but when I would
insert it into the block, it always stopped at that same point.
I ended up buying a new one for $18 at the Chevy dealership and it slid
right in - well worth the $18 . . . not worth trying to "fix" the borked one.
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From: Cypress, TX
passenger side if you can. Do a test fit first - from the top, put the tube down
and check how it's going to route to its hole in the block. You might have to
bend it slightly so that it can slide down straight into its hole.
If you do have to bend it, ONLY bend it at the top portion.
It's important that you DO NOT bend it in the section where it fits into the
block, or you'll be right back in the same situation. I turned the tube so that
it is was pointing to the radiator - after I slid it in a bit, I turned it to point
to the driver's side (the way it should be pointing) and had to bend it a bit
(up at its top portion) and then it slid the rest of the way in, then installed
its bolt into the block.
Dont force it, take your time . . . and if it doesnt want to slide in first try,
take a quick break, look things over, then give it another go.
