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Dipstick problem............

vandelay industries

vandelay industries

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Need a solution for this problem:

1) It's an 87 block 4.3 v-6 (this itself may be a problem as i'm not totally sure if they take the exact same size dipstick tube as a v-8 small block?)



2) i have the dipstick tube from an 86 block. It does not seem to fit the 87 block. OR maybe it is correct, but it's too hard to get it to go in with the engine in the truck. (YES, i know i should have taken care of this BEFORE the engine went in......)

END GOAL:
i want to plug the hole so it doesn't leak----i'm not too concerned about having an actual functional dipstick in there.

(i've already gone 2 years with out one, and i've done this on previous engines as well; i just change oil every 10,000 miles and it seems to work.)


QUESTIONS:

1) Is the dipstick hole size the same for all 90 degree v-6 engines----from 78 to 2015, or was there a change somewhere?
a) Do ALL 4.3 v-6's have the same dipstick tube hole sizes? Or was there a change sometime?

2) Do V-6 and v-8 (sbc) have the same dipstick hole size for the year same ranges? I.e., 1955-79, 86 and newer etc. i have a hunch, they are not the same size.

3) What do you suggest i do?

4) Aftermarket solutions?


With the previous 305, i could not run a dipstick into the block because the exhaust manifold would not allow this, so i took the bottom part of the dipstick tube (apparently this was a two piece?), put the tube in the block, and put a bolt into the tube that had enough interference so that it was real snug and it worked.

With this v-6, IF the dipstick is correct, i'm thinking of cutting the tube down to an appropriate size----so i can tap it down in there and then plug with a bolt.

Or try a 9mm bolt by itself; 3/8" just a little too big, 5/16" too small.
 
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UPDATE: Now that i think about it, the dipstick tube is likely NOT right size because if it were, i likely would have installed it before putting the engine in the truck.........?
 
They usually are a very tight press fit--to install the few I had to,I used a box end wrench over the tube ,put it against the rolled shoulder on the tube where it butts against the block,and tap it in with a hammer,using the wrench to transfer the blows and drive the tube in the block..

Guys I know who bought Mr.Goodwrench engines that had the dipstick on either side,used tiny freeze plugs to block off the un-used side..one guy I know used a lead fishing sinker ,to cork off the other hole so he could drive his truck to work the next day after installing the engine over a weekend..just mashed it in with a hammer!.

Personally I'd cringe at the thought of having no way to check the oil--true if its not leaking ,it "should" stay full,but leaks happen,and oil can be consumed without much smoke being seen--I would fear running it low on oil and ruining it..
Are there NO listings or OEM parts available for your V6 any more ?..I'd think an oil dipstick tube should be available,they rust away often enough ..
 
dyeager535 said:
This link work? http://s831.photobucket.com/user/dyeager535/library/Truck/New truck engine GM PN 12530283/Dipstick and tube?sort=3&page=1

I want to think the 4.3L is the front 3/4 of a SBC (roughly) so what works on the 350 won't work on a 4.3L? Hopefully those pics are good enough so you can make a determination.
Click to expand...

Link works, but i'm still unsure of the right size. My dipstick likely IS the right size but it's just too hard to install with the engine in the truck----a few minutes ago, i even removed the exhaust manifold, put the dipstick in the freezer and still just too hard. Can't get good clearance to get a good whack with a hammer----with the closed end of a box wrench over the nub.

i did recieve a 9mm bolt last week. (these are VERY difficult to find.........:frown) Not sure of the name of the part that is closest to the head, but it tapers out just a bit to form a tight seal. So i think i'm going to go with this route and put a little silicone near the top. The leak without the dipstick and nothing plugging it was not THAT bad----[although bad enough.....] i have run it for over two years like this.

Oh P.S. while the 4.3 basically is a 6cyl version of the small block, there are differences----such as oil filter pad not being in the same position. Can't imagine the reason for that.........? You would think that the dipstick tubes should be identical too, but my research may indicate otherwise----although i'm still not sure........:frown
 
Since the oil filter and dipstick are around the 7 and 8 cylinder positions, and the 4.3L I believe is 1-6 of the SBC, that would make sense. They would have had to redesign those specific locations

What I found as shown in the pic is that essentially the only thing that changed on the SBC's at least, is the length of the tube and dipstick, along with the tube bends. Depth in the pan of course is all the same, but the tube and dipstick length itself changed based on application.

I didn't mention this before, but are any of the dipstick tubes supposed to be a force fit? The one on my L31 crate is not, and I tried a brand new GM dipstick and a used one I pulled out of the donor. All have essentially zero friction fit at the block, they all rely on the bracket/bolt on the head to keep them in the block. On my older two piece rear main 350 the tube was also not a press fit, but that was drivers dipstick, and the older block, so I don't know if any of those were supposed to be a force fit either. Never leaked, regardless.
 
UPDATE:

The "shoulder" of the 9mm bolt (i guess that's what you call the part near the head?) tapered out to form an interference seal (not a lot though). So, i put a little Permatex "Right Stuff" on there and stuck it in the engine. This will have to do for now---and until the engine comes out of the truck. Don't got no time to get it perfect.

P.S. You want a "fun" (frustrating) way to spend a Saturday? Try finding a 9mm bolt-----i dare you.
 
Run a 3/8 bolt on a sander? Might also work to run a 3/8 tap in the hole, then seal with an O-ring under the bolt head, like the dipstick tube does. Maybe a dipstick tube could have some material taken off, as well, to fit in there.
 
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