[ericwy]

Here is the picture showing the dipstick tube attached 1" to 1.5" below the AC bracket.
Not obvious in the picture is that the dip tube bracket is bent upward towards the AC bracket (They obviously tried to make it fit, before rigging it up as seen)

[johnsma22]

Can you see how far the tube that inserts from the inside of the block is sticking out (GME157)? Did they forget to install the intermediate tube and instead stuck the A/C extension tube directly into the block?

[ericwy]

Originally Posted by johnsma22

Can you see how far the tube that inserts from the inside of the block is sticking out (GME157)? Did they forget to install the intermediate tube and instead stuck the A/C extension tube directly into the block?

I cant get to the car, its back in the booth for base coat. Let you know when I can.

Thanks for your patients,

Eric

[ericwy]

Originally Posted by johnsma22

Can you see how far the tube that inserts from the inside of the block is sticking out (GME157)? Did they forget to install the intermediate tube and instead stuck the A/C extension tube directly into the block?

Sorry its taken me so long to get back with the tube configuration.
I finally was able to get under the hood this morning while the body shop had the hood open sanding the clear coat.

There is a intermediate tube (GME157?) extending out of the block. The upper tube (GME157C) is inserted into the intermediate tube but as seen in photo does not reach to compressor bracket.

Eric

[ericwy]

Originally Posted by ericwy

Sorry its taken me so long to get back with the tube configuration.
I finally was able to get under the hood this morning while the body shop had the hood open sanding the clear coat.

There is a intermediate tube (GME157?) extending out of the block. The upper tube (GME157C) is inserted into the intermediate tube but as seen in photo does not reach to compressor bracket.

Eric

Picture from another angle.

[engineer]

If the upper tube pressed into the block was not inserted completely or put in at a wrong angle, the upper AC tube will not be in the correct position to attach to the bracket. there is only that one style of AC tube and dipstick, so I doubt they changed that for some other one. So it looks to me like the tube pressed into the block was not done correctly. On mine, I fit up everything before I put the pan on to be sure the angles and heights were correct. Also to check stick does not contact any moving parts in the block. Once closed up, there is no way to easily check if indeed the stick shows the correct level. mine is 6 quart stick while the 5 quart stick is almost the same mark and is the same overall length. So if the tube is not angled correctly, the mark will be off. At this point, guess you can drain all the oil and refill with correct amount and see if stick shows full mark.

[johnsma22]

That is very strange. Did they modify or shorten the intermediate tube? How far up the block does the intermediate tube extend? The intermediate tube is 9" long, with about 1.5" of that retained in the block. It should extend up to just past the exhaust manifold. This isn't the greatest photo, but it shows the location of the dip stick. Like engineer stated, if they installed it at the wrong angle it won't locate the upper A/C tube in the right place. Unfortunately, there is no way to fix it without dropping th oil pan.

[ericwy]

Originally Posted by engineer

<snip> So it looks to me like the tube pressed into the block was not done correctly. On mine, I fit up everything before I put the pan on to be sure the angles and heights were correct. Also to check stick does not contact any moving parts in the block. Once closed up, there is no way to easily check if indeed the stick shows the correct level. mine is 6 quart stick while the 5 quart stick is almost the same mark and is the same overall length. So if the tube is not angled correctly, the mark will be off. At this point, guess you can drain all the oil and refill with correct amount and see if stick shows full mark.

Last oil and filter change with 6 quarts puts the level halfway between the add and full marks on the dipstick. How can I tell the difference between a 5 qt and a 6 qt dipstick?

Originally Posted by johnsma22

That is very strange. Did they modify or shorten the intermediate tube? How far up the block does the intermediate tube extend? The intermediate tube is 9" long, with about 1.5" of that retained in the block. It should extend up to just past the exhaust manifold. This isn't the greatest photo, but it shows the location of the dip stick. Like engineer stated, if they installed it at the wrong angle it won't locate the upper A/C tube in the right place. Unfortunately, there is no way to fix it without dropping th oil pan.

Its a long story but, gist of it is shop that built the engine went out of business just after I got my car back (I was lucky to get it at all). They made over 30 assembly goofs that I have been slowly correcting. This dipstick thing is just one.

When I get the car back from the body shop (this week?) I will take some carefull measurements of the tube sticking out of the block. One thing I can tell you is there
is a small kink in the tube where it enters the block as though they tried to bend the tube upward. Possibly they were trying to make it all fit.

I want to thank you guys for helping me with this, and I am sorry I am not able to provide the info quickly.

Eric

[milkcrateracing]

For the record, that worked perfectly. It took a little convincing (read: hammer) because my main studs were getting in the way, but it's all put together now.

Thanks TransAMrit for the picture. I finally have an understanding how all the pieces go together. The upper dipstick tube has to installed before the pan goes on. Oh well, to late for me.