I am wandering what approach to take in removing my broken dipstick tube on my 1978 Chevy K10. It is broke off right where the tube enters the block (yep, on the driver side) The engine is still in the truck. Can I just drop the pan and put vice grips on the end of the tube and pull it through? Or try to beat it down through with a pc. of 3/8 drill rod, slighty ground down. I was thinking of installing a "flexible" oil tube from Lokar if I ever get this one out. Also, does anyone know of a longer dipstick and tube, such as one from a motorhome, that I could adapt in? I hate standing on top of those 33" tires to check the oil! <img src="graemlins/crash.gif" border="0" alt="[crash]" />

You might try a easy out. screw it in then take some vice grips and try pulling it out.

Because of the high number of 3.8 head gaskets we did at the Ford dealership I worked at it was not uncommon to break the dipstick tube every now and then. We always found it easiest to drop the pan and knock it out with a punch/driver from the bottom. You could try throwing a little heat on her before you tap her out.

before you pull the pan you could try to pound an awl between it and the block then you should be able to grab it with some needle noses.

This is funny; I just had this happen to me also. Only mine broke off as I was installing it. Cheap after market from Checker. Any how, I got it out like Awsum said, I drove in an easyout and turned it untill it moved ,then got under the car and used vice grips and a hammer and it came right out. Worked for me. If it doesn't for you then its drop the pan time.....Glennk <img src="graemlins/pain.gif" border="0" alt="[pain]" />

Ahhh.... Get a large Concrete nail (the squared off ones) tap it in, and turn back and forth gently untill it(the dip stick) loosens, then work it a lil more, and pull it out with the vice Grips. I have only had 1 of prob 20 not come out for me like this, that same nail is also the best easy out, Dirt cheap, strong, hard, and they bite Damn good. Give it a shot, 5 min and a 2 cent nail is alot better than dropping the pan, IMO. If it don't work, you can come back and cuss me, I can take it... Lol

Any more about that cement bolt? I went to Home Cheapo today, and the guy had no idea what cement bolt you were talking about. They also had no "easy-outs," just something from blackndecker that you put in your drill. Wasn't so sure about that thing....

I think he might be talking about a concrete anchor. The have a pin in the middle that you drive down to expand the bottom of the anchor. If you did this on the dipstick it might swell enough that you could pull it and the tube out together.

I would just use a small chisel to bend one side of the tube in towards the middle and then grab it with some needle nose's.

Chris

No, I am talking about a simple Concrete Nail, just ask for that, a Concrete nail.

all lefthand dip sbc have a two piece tube the upper end extends into the block about 3/4in, try turbos10 idea it should work. good luck.

broken tube must come out from top, lower piece cannot be pulled or pushed into pan.