68 dip stick drilling
 

Anyone drill their lower dipstick tube? Ames says I need to drill out to 3/8 to fit the upper tube for ac. I tried drilling and it just got tube red hot although I'm sure the bit was dull. The motor is on a stand so I can flip upside down so no worry about metal shavings.

There should be NO driling in any dipstick tubes.

IIRC the upper AC tube is fitted outside of the lower tube.

They are both the same size, and catalog says to drill motor dip tube to insert upper. The dip tube in the motor is a little thicker wall than the upper

Maybe you could try a swaging tool.

I carefully tapped a 3/8" drill bit in about an inch to swag the opening.. Extension fit fine.

If Ames is telling you to drill out (??) the lower tube to fit the AC extension tube, that person doesn’t know what they’re talking about, or the ext tube is made wrong and that’s the “fix”.

Every AC extension tube I’ve seen is a slip fit into the lower tube. Should have a shoulder inch or so up that stops it in the lower tube, then a welded on bracket that you bolt to something up top to keep it all together.

So you didn't actually spin the drill? You just tapped it in to stretch the tube?

That's what they say, the tubes are both the same size so they won't slip together

Here's a screenshot

Yes. You got to be careful though and support the lower tube while gently tapping with the hammer. Tap it in a bit, rotate the bit and tap some more working your way in. Nice to have an extra set of hands to support the lower tube. It doesn't require much to expand the tube and I was able to press fit the extension with a little effort.

Great, thanks for all the replies

So I started as you mentioned, tapping in the drill then twisted with vise grips. I then went to drill on slow speed. I had to keep a wet rag behind tube. I also took a little material off the upper tube with Dremel and sand paper. Fits mint now, lines right up with ac bracket

Are the tubes the correct length for the indicator rod now?

Yes the mount lines up to my ac bracket

Concerning drilling the dipstick tube, this has only been recommended in the past with a dipstick that is completely out of the engine. We agree and do not recommend drilling it out while in the block. We've found the upper tube to be a few thousandths too large, so we recommend in some cases removing some material from the upper tube with the best method that works for you; sanding, non-aggresive wheel, dremel tool, etc. The intermediate tube can also be swedged outward slightly to allow the press fit of the upper AC tube.

Thank you!
Kyler @ Ames