Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Engine Tech => Topic started by: 20thanniver-ls on January 17, 2009, 10:04:55 PM

Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on January 17, 2009, 10:04:55 PM
:mad:  Ive been trying to replace my oil dipstick holder and cant seem to get it to fit right. I located the hole where the end goes, but when i try to slide it in, the holder stops and i cant get it to go any farther (im guessing its supposed to got to the lip in the holder) i cant beleive how something that seems so simple can be stumping me this bad.... anyone ever have this problem before or have any suggestions?
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: vinnietbird on January 17, 2009, 11:01:20 PM
Did part of the old dipstick tube break off in the hole?Perhaps that is what's holding you back.
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on January 18, 2009, 10:52:14 AM
Nah, the whole old dipstick came out rather easily, seems like my headers are in the way of me getting the correct angle for it to slide in, its really geting to be a pain
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: vinnietbird on January 18, 2009, 11:01:21 AM
What kind of headers do you have?I have BBK shorties and had to do a little grinding on the mounting tab but other than that,pretty easy.
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on January 18, 2009, 11:03:32 AM
Just stock mustang shorties, i really dont even remember which exhaust port it goes by ive just tried as many positions as i could
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: vinnietbird on January 18, 2009, 11:07:41 AM
Try getting a piece of sandpaper and going over the bottom of the tube and smoothing it a little.Maybe there's a little burr on it.Also,make sure there's no debris on the block where the tube goes in.Are you sure this new tube is the same kind?
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on January 18, 2009, 11:11:15 AM
Well i bought it from autozone and it said it would be a direct replacement for a 302/351, the boneyard here dosent have any 302's they only have 3.8's
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: vinnietbird on January 18, 2009, 11:18:41 AM
Most dipsticks from the stores are for the front mount tubes.I bet that's what you have.I may be wrong though.I may have a replacement in the garage.
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on January 18, 2009, 11:25:39 AM
Here is a pic of the one i got, not sure if it is a front mount or not though
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on January 18, 2009, 11:26:06 AM
Well its not a very good one but you can see the bends in the tube
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: vinnietbird on January 18, 2009, 11:28:20 AM
Front mount.The factory one curves forward.
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on January 18, 2009, 11:37:28 AM
That sucks, wish i would have known that before i bought it lol, if you have a spare would you be willing to part with it?
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: vinnietbird on January 18, 2009, 11:42:41 AM
I think so.I'll let you know later today when I get to the garage.Gotta find Daminc some springs if I have them as well.Stay tuned...........
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on January 18, 2009, 11:43:42 AM
Ok thanks ill be waiting....
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: ZondaC12 on January 18, 2009, 12:42:06 PM
Oh man I remember when my dipstick tube got all messed up and I had to get a new one...what a pain couldnt find the right one...ended up going to ebay...check there you might just find one. It was kinda a bunch of hand-waving I just messaged the guy asking him to measure it to compare with mine becuase the mustag one was different than ours or sooommmething stupid like that. :rolleyes: But it's worth a shot anyway.  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MUSTANG-COBRA-GT-LX-5-0-Dipstick-Tube-1986-1993-OA6_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ46098QQihZ017QQitemZ270330168056QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW  That one I would *think* is fine...looks right to me but again I seem to recall issues with length, I dunno. Just something to keep in mind so you get one that fits and gives you an accurate reading.
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: V8Demon on January 18, 2009, 03:55:57 PM
I had to bend mine slightly and get creative with a mounting tab.  I'll post a pic later....
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: vinnietbird on January 18, 2009, 04:19:50 PM
That Ebay one is the right one.I don't have one,only the dipstick itself.At least you know the problem now.
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on January 18, 2009, 06:22:48 PM
Thanks for all the help guys
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on January 23, 2009, 05:47:03 PM
Would not having any dipstick holder at all make the engine lose compression?
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: Thunder Chicken on January 23, 2009, 07:01:17 PM
It probably wouldn't lose compression, but you'd have a hell of an oil leak.

I've got a spare one on that engine that disappointed me so much. You can have it for the cost of shipping, which would probably be about $12 from Canada to you.
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on January 23, 2009, 07:37:29 PM
, i wish i wouldve known that before i bought one off of ebay for 25 (couldnt find one ANYWHERE around here) i really aprreciate the offer though, its real nice to see that someone isnt always trying to make a buck off of someone in need. :cool:
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: blu84302 on January 23, 2009, 07:52:50 PM
Yeah the autohole dipstick is a joke.  I had to sand it and get all the chrome off before it would fit in there.  And then it wasn't the right length and I think Claude fixed it up so it could be used.
Title: Oil dipstick holder....
Post by: 20thanniver-ls on January 23, 2009, 08:41:50 PM
yea, my problem was i was trying to put a front-mounted dipstick on the side, once i got the right one it was still kind of a pain in the ass cuz i didnt remember exactly what angle/side of the header it went in. i know realize it has to go EXACTLY the way it came out. Never thought it would be that frustrating.