broken dipstick tube ... help please

well i havent posted in a whyle because everything was doing ok for me and the 73 cj is running great .... now i have a new problem..... the dipstick tube broke off ... i think a stick or something caught it and broke it ... i plugged it with a bolt so i could get it home ... how hard are these things to replace ... and can you find one .. its broken flush with the block .. what a pain in the butt ... ahh

 

What a drag!!! Whatever you do, you have to be careful because you've got a clean shot right into the oilpan for all kinds of crud.

 

You can try useing a screw to get it out, but the easiest way I found is to drop the pan and punch it out. Mine is broke off right now. I have been driving with a quick fix until I can get another and change it. I put the dip stick in the tube then set it back in place. Using the dip stick brace on the rocker cover, I put blue RTV around the tube at the block. Been Driving like this for about five months now. I haven't done any 4x4ing this way yet. Walt

 

I too have tried using the screw method in the past to no avail. I ended up dropping the pan and tapping it out. Based on my experiences, I would say don't waste your time with the screw and drop the pan and get it over with.

Good luck.

 

can i get a new one ? or do i have to make one ?

 

Should be the same as the tube for an AMC 360, and still available from the dealer. Either that or find a Wagoneer at your local pick-your-part.

<edit> http://www.bjsoffroad.com/cartgenie/prodInfo.asp?pid=306&cid=3

 

Got a slide hammer? You may be able to make some sort of 'hook' an tap it out from above.....

 

If you drop the pan to get it out (I did this, same issue as you have), be aware when installing the new one to put the oil pan on first, then put the dipstick in the tube when inserting the tube. I didn't do this the first time and the tube was misaligned and the stick wouldn't seat. I seated the tube with an open end wrench fit across the block ring and had someone gently tap a long steel rod with a hammer - the end of the rod was sitting on the wrench. After the misalignment install, I ended up destroying the tube to get it out so I could install another one in the proper location (with the stick in so it lined up properly).
My Jeep dealer had a heck of a time finding the tube and stick for my 77 304 - he said the part number changed "about a billion times". I don't know if this helps, but the 304 part numbers are: Tube: J3190848 ($4.88) and the stick (indicator): J3224880 ($5.25).

 

thats good advise thanks i think im gonna order one from bj's off road i contacted every dealer in mid missouri and had no luck ... what did you use as gasket for the pan ... rtv and a gasket or just gasket or just rtv ?... the guy who owned the jeep before me really liked rtv ... i have red and blue all over the place ... i also need fo find someone to build mounts and weld them on to the tub back to the frame ... its not held on too well ... i can see the frount of the tub lift up when the clutch is pressed down ... but i need it for the winter so now will have to do ill just have to be carefull

 

I used a gasket and Permatex Ultra (comes in different colors), spreading the sealer on both the block and the pan - nothing leaks at all. I didn't cement the front/rear seals, tho - just a light coat of oil (they come in the pan gasket kit). Try the dealers again with the part numbers I gave you - my dealer's parts manager took it as a personal challenge to find the stuff and tracked down the changes to the parts numbers. Some dealers won't do what he did (maybe he was bored).

 

This happened to me on the 360 in my Hornet, and I had luck with an Easy-Out that is normally used to remove broken screws/bolts. I sprayed some penetrating oil around it , then tapped the easy out in and rmoved it with some vise-grips. I got a new tube from one of the AMC parts suppliers out there like Kennedy American.

 

I tried the easy out but tried using it by "screwing" it in - never gave it a though to try tapping it in. Mine was broken off about 1/8 - 3/16 inside the block, maybe it wouldn't have mattered, but I'll have to keep the tapping idea in mind.