My '05 MGM

[packman]

I think this car is trashed. I treid the tool and got it very snug. Pried and hammered the dipstick tube without movement. After a little while, the tool popped out of the tube; and now it won't thread in. Even if I get the car towed to the mechanic; I think they will have a very hard time getting what remains of that tube out of the block. It's almost like it's welded in there. I don't even think dropping the pan would do anything; as hammering from the bottom (if it can be done) probably won't get it to move. I have no idea how the worker at the plant that this engine came from got that dipstick in there.

[Arquemann]

Heat and violence is the answer.
If it's still a problem after that, make it someone else's problem.

The dipstick tube is attached to an engine block, they're not going to suggest an engine replacement to remove a goddamn dipstick tube.

[Tiggie]

I've knocked the remnant of a dipstick tube into the oil pan on one occasion with a 302. It was an accident. It lived in there just fine since the oil pickup screen kept it from getting sucked up.

[packman]

It's going to the mechanic. I drained the oil and flushed the dipstick tube with WD-40 to get anything that might have fell in there. I shoved paper towels in the dipstick tube and put the header back up; semi-permanent. I was going to start putting up the exhaust, but the bolts that came with the Flowmaster collectors are too short. So I will make a trip to Home Depot and get something temporary until I can find grade 8 stainless bolts of the proper length. Just gonna wait for this storm to end and begin putting up the rest of the exhaust.

Sorry for freakin out yesterday. It's frustrating when my projects fight me tooth and nail.

[friskyfrankie]

Although things look difficult now, hang in there and when all is said and done, you will enjoy the success all the more!

[packman]

I got it piped back to the X-pipe. Spent a good amount of time getting the exhaust the same length on each side. My not-so-straight edge said I was 1/16" off; so I am going with that. Evening crept in fast and I had to call it quits when I realized that I hadn't eaten anything all day. When I crawled out from underneath the car, my legs were jello. After I made myself a late lunch; I felt a bit better; so I flanged the X-pipe in the basement and will put it up tomorrow if I get back early enough.

[packman]

Going to try and put up the exhaust tonight, if it's not too windy outside. I got nothing done over the weekend. My Mom got a bad stomach bug and had to take care of her. Yesterday, the wind numbed my fingers and I could only put up the exhaust hangers before quitting. If it's like that tonight; I might just throw glasspacks up there and run it to the mechanic like that. And then deal with getting real mufflers up there when I get it back.