[DeTomaso] Dip Stick Tube Leak Solutions??

[Scott Couchman]

While poking around the hole where the tube enters the block, I found the old o-ring by chance. I is very hard and brittle after 35 years. I was able to match it up with a #8 o-ring that seems to fit the tube fairly well. I also found the remnants of the bracket (long gone) that mounted to the head. I was also successful at 'adjusting' the remaining bracket so it puts the tube in compression to encourage it to stay in the hole now. I've cleaned the hole and the tube and applied some rattle-can-color to make it look nice. When I put the tube into the hole, it seems to seat on a step about 1/2" deep. There is no 'flange' on the tube, and no way does it extended into the block 9"+. I think I'll install the new o-ring and some new hi-temp RTV (the bigger the glob, the better the job) and pray......

JDeRyke at aol.com wrote: In a message dated 1/5/08 7:46:58 AM, scottcouchman at yahoo.com writes:
 
 Besides seating into the block, my tube only has one secure mount to a valve cover mounting bolt (not sure if that's common or not??) and it just doesn't seem to make the distal end of the tube stay in place.   Any suggestions??? Ideas???
 
 The stock dipstick guide-tube had a bolt loop onto the front of the right head behind the alternator, and a second one up on the rocker cover. There was an o-ring at the entryway to the block but most of tose have cracked & broken. You need to add the sheet-steel loop for that head bolt back on (solder or braze), clean up the mess so fresh RTV will stick and things will be fine. Good luck-J DeRyke


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