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Regular
Posts: 62
| Hi my 1955 coronet wagon has a relatively loose dip stick tube so when I check engine oil the tube tries to lift out also rather than just the dipstick any easy fixes out there I’ve tried loctite it’s the 4.4 v8 thanks Phil |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9604
Location: So. Cal | Find a drift that is slightly oversize for the hole in the tube. Probably .005"-.01" bigger is my guess for how much it would need. The round end of a drill bit could work. Heat the end of the tube just below red-hot and push the drift into it to enlarge it. Pull it back out quickly before the tube clamps around your drift. Otherwise, you may have to heat it again to pull it back out.
A different approach that doesn't require heat, is to put a snugly fitting drift into the tube and then dimple the outer surface of the tube with the face of a shrinking hammer or sharp chisel to create a rough cross-hatched surface texture on it. This will only work if you need around .001-.002" of extra material, but you also risk making the tube smaller by hitting it if the drift doesn't fit tight enough. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 827
Location: Northwest Iowa | Phil ;
the easiest way I have found to enlarge a dipstick tube is to clean the end that goes into the block well and
tin it with solder , it should enlarge the OD of the tube about .005 , while tapping the tube into the block
any excess solder will easily scrape off and you should have a very snug fit into the block.
good luck;
J.W. Duhn |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 9604
Location: So. Cal | Solder doesn't easily wet to bare steel. But you could use brass instead - then file it to fit. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 827
Location: Northwest Iowa | Solder on clean proper prepared steel works just fine here in Iowa;
probably because we can still get quality flux and lead - tin solder that
like so many other good things has been banned and - or outlawed in California ! ! ! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 443
Location: Beaumont TX | The above fixes are the best but I have had good luck using JB Weld or black gasket maker RTV for fixes like this. JB Weld would be best for this fix. You have to have very clean surfaces on the end of the tube and the hole in the block and they need to be scuffed up. You put it only on the outside of the tube and insert the tube and the excess comes out on the tube up top, not in the engine. This may be something to try if you don't have the stuff to solder or braze the tube or you don't feel comfortable enlarging the diameter of the tube. Enlarging the tube would be the most original type fix. |
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Regular
Posts: 62
| Thanks for the replies I have managed using a snug fit drift and popping the tube |
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