Too Loose Small Block Dipstick Tube Options

[493 Mike]

Add solder to the block end of tube.

You would think with my background that might have popped into my head? I think that is a good solution! Tin that steel well and you have a soft/lubricating surface to slide in the hole.
Watch where this thread goes!
Mike

 

[mrhemi]

Silicone belongs in the bathroom.
Get the Loctite catalog out. One of the 600 series products will take care of that. Bearing and shaft locker application.

 

[not so famous bob]

When I re-inserted the same dipstick tube in the 340 I rebuilt, sure enough it was a tad loose. Now that it's installed and running in the vehicle, it wants to just fall on out. The silicone or whatever I used to secure it was a complete and utter failure. Any leads for me on a decent replacement? Working on a '72 Satellite Sebring Plus.

View attachment 1958999

swedge the end of it (swell it )

 

[EmitRDetsaw]

Heat the end of the tube up to cherry red and stick the business end of a needle-nose pliers into the end. Grab the handles of said needle-nose pliers and try to force them open, but not too much. Rotate the pliers 1/8 of a turn and repeat until you've gone all the way around. Don't get too froggy with the pressure. You're just trying to flare the end a bit to increase the interference fit. If it fits well but wobbles, look for the thinnest o-ring you can find made of BUNA-N material and lightly tap it into the tiny gap while the tube is in. It has worked for me in the past.

Or just use the Loctite 600.

 

[mrhemi]

Loctite RC/620 is what you want. It is high temperature and will fill a .015" gap. I wasn't in my shop the first time I mentioned it to confirm the number.

 

[BB BELLA]

I'd probably just slide a good fitting solid rod inside it and stake it a few spots with a punch and then some permatex for sealant!