351W Oil Dipstick Routing

[kiteoregon]

When i put the dipstick in the most natural position in really does not fit. Do you just bend the tube as needed to fit? Also see that it's hitting my headers as it currently sits.

http://imgur.com/WSrGpLu
http://imgur.com/YBhuTKF


If you are supposed to bend it, what is the best way to bend without creating a kink or breaking the tube. Maybe there is a different part that would work better.

Thanks
KO

 

[Broncobowsher]

Carefully bend as needed. Keep the radius of the bend as generous as possible.
I usually just bend by hand or maybe press against my thigh. If you have an old V-belt crank pulley that you can attach to something solid (screw it to the wall will work) that does a good job putting a mild bend in tubing. Go slow and check often.

 

[KyleQ]

I would have blocked the pan and used the boss in the block, better angling.

 

[70_Steve]

As broncobowsher says, bent to fit. But the bends in the tube can only be in one plane. The dipstick it's self is flat, and will only bend in one plane.

 

[01Dudley]

http://www.dufftuff.com/Lokar_Flexible_Engine_Dipstick_351W_5_8L_Screw_in_p/2367.htm

Or just use one of these dipsticks.

 

[mattt]

Yes, you need to bend the tube and the mounting bracket to get it to work with headers. See my finished product picture here, http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189465&highlight=dipstick

If your block is late model & has the dipstick passing thru right above the pan rail, try that one since it points forward already and eliminate the pan dipstick.

To bend the tube on mine, I laid the tube in a hand tubing bender and worked the tube in the direction it needed to go. I wasn't able to use the hand bender completely and work the tube around, but laying the dipstick in the radiused part kept it from collapsing when bending. I hope that makes sense....hard to put to words.