327 Upper and Lower Dipstick Tubes

[Mark H.]

When I disassembled by '64 engine (L75), there was no lower dipstick tube installed, only the upper. I'm doing reassembly now and the fit is very loose in the block. I did some reading, and realized that there is supposed to be lower tube installed first. My understanding was that you drop the lower tube in the hole in the block, then install the upper tube with the special tool.

Sounds easy, but there is no way the upper tube fits inside the lower tube, or vis versa. I purchased a lower tube first. Drops in the hole in the block with no problem, flange at the top stops it from dropping all the way through the hole. My exisiting upper tube also fit in the hole in the block - very loosely - so my hope was it would fit inside the lower tube and expand things somehow to a tight fit. No dice. Not even close. So I bought a new upper tube. This would have a tight interference fit with the hole in the block, and the put-it-in-the-freezer-first advice makes total sense if the lower tube is abandoned. But I don't see any way to install them both using the hole in the block. What am I missing? How does the lower tube get installed?

Thanks!

[Leif A.]

Re: 327 Upper and Lower Dipstick Tubes

Mark,
The lower tube goes into the hole and bottoms out approximately 1" below the top of the hole in the block. The upper tube is then inserted into the same hole and bottoms out on top of the flange of the lower tube. Be sure your new upper tube has the correct bend in it so that it fits closely to the exhaust manifold when installed. Additionally, if the upper tube is loose (as you say) a little RTV slathered on the base, before install, should hold it tightly enough.
Note: The upper tube is NOT supposed to fit inside the lower tube...it simply butts up against it.

[Larry M.]

Re: 327 Upper and Lower Dipstick Tubes

As far as I can remember, the lower tube installs from the bottom of the block with the pan removed.

Larry

[Mark H.]

Re: 327 Upper and Lower Dipstick Tubes

As far as I can remember, the lower tube installs from the bottom of the block with the pan removed.

Well, that is clearly my problem. Thanks very much for setting me straight. Which end goes into the block- the flanged end or the straight end?

[Ray G.]

Re: 327 Upper and Lower Dipstick Tubes

Hello;
Leif Anderson instructions are correct. You may need to file or grind a slight taper on the upper tube to get it started.
The installation tool you mention is Kent-Moore. Think there are pictures of it in Chevrolet service manuals.

Ray

[Mark H.]

Re: 327 Upper and Lower Dipstick Tubes

Hello;
Leif Anderson instructions are correct. You may need to file or grind a slight taper on the upper tube to get it started.
The installation tool you mention is Kent-Moore. Think there are pictures of it in Chevrolet service manuals.

Ray

Sorry to be dense. Are you saying the lower tube goes in from the top (outside the block) or bottom (inside the pan)?

[Larry M.]

Re: 327 Upper and Lower Dipstick Tubes

The lower tube goes in first from the top. It cannot be correctly installed from the bottom.

Then the upper tube goes in from the top, butting up against the flange on top of the lower tube.

[Mark H.]

Re: 327 Upper and Lower Dipstick Tubes

The lower tube goes in first from the top. It cannot be correctly installed from the bottom.

Then the upper tube goes in from the top, butting up against the flange on top of the lower tube.

[Leif A.]

Re: 327 Upper and Lower Dipstick Tubes

There is a ridge machined in the block that will stop the lower tube in place...that is what the upper flange is for on the lower tube.

[Mark H.]

Re: 327 Upper and Lower Dipstick Tubes

Thank you all for the help!

[Bill S.]

Re: 327 Upper and Lower Dipstick Tubes

I have been chasing this elusive Kent Moore Chevrolet Small Block Oil Dip Stick Tube Installer tool for quite some time. Does anyone have the KM tool number by chance? Thank you

[Mark H.]

Re: 327 Upper and Lower Dipstick Tubes

I have been chasing this elusive Kent Moore Chevrolet Small Block Oil Dip Stick Tube Installer tool for quite some time. Does anyone have the KM tool number by chance? Thank you

https://www.classicchevy.com/chevy-o...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Larry M.]

Re: 327 Upper and Lower Dipstick Tubes

As far as I can remember, the lower tube installs from the bottom of the block with the pan removed.

Larry

Mark:

Sorry I gave you some wrong advice. My memory fades from time to time .

What I was remembering was trying to get a small broken piece of the UPPER tube out..........which required removing the pan and driving the LOWER tube out of the block taking the broken piece with it. A long bolt was used to fit inside the lower tube to give it more rigidity during this extraction (hammering) process.

Then both tubes are installed from the top of the block.........as others have said.

Larry